Citizen's budget committee vote laid over

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - A measure that would have created an advisory committee to look over Mobile's finances is a no go for now, while the battle to generate revenue rages on.

A short and to the point city council meeting meant council members laid over voting on a possible ordinance that would establish a Citizen's Budget and Finance Advisory Board.

Council Members Gina Gregory, John Williams and Bess Rich proposed the idea.

Gregory said it would be made up of seven people, and each council member would nominate one.

She also said the members could not hold leadership roles with organizations that receive city funding.

The board's job would be to take a closer look at the city's finances and report its findings.

Council Member William Carroll supports the idea.

"There are multiple municipalities that have similar committees set up like this. I really don't have a problem with it, I think I'll support it," Carrol said.

On the other hand, Council Member Fred Richardson isn't so gung ho.

Richardson said there are too many people trying to look at the files as it is, and its just wasting time instead of generating money.

"If the real auditors went in and a man that was director of finance for the state of Alabama and we've got five auditors on our payroll, what is a group of civilians going to do?" Richardson said.

Richardson does support a committee formed by Council President Reggie Copeland, which met Monday for the first time. Some say that committee was formed for one purpose in mind - to generate support for a sales tax increase.

It already has the support of Council Members Richardson, Copeland, and Jermaine Burrell.

Gregory, Williams and Rich do not support it.

That leaves Carroll.

"Until all the facts are in, and until everybody has taken a look, and until a lot of questions are answered with 100 percent confidence, I'm going to remain quiet. And when it's time to vote, I will vote," said Carroll.

A Birmingham auditing firm met with city council members Tuesday afternoon to present findings of an independent audit that was performed.

Barbara Drummond, spokesperson for Mayor Sam Jones' office, said the audit is done every year, and the firm was chosen through the bidding process.