The Shreveport City Council reversed field Monday, approving an additional $100,000 for summer jobs less than a week after denying the budget boost.
The vote was again a narrow one: 4-3. This time, District B Councilman Jeff Everson voted in a special meeting to support the mid-year budget amendment requested by Mayor Cedric Glover. Everson who had requested a rehearing of the issue after last Tuesday’s vote said he had come to realize the breadth of the program’s value that puts to work about 250 young people – ages 16-21.
The council already had approved $300,000 for the program that at one time used federal dollars but which is now locally funded. The mayor asked for the additional money because of the demand: the city received more than1,500 applications. The budget amendment will fill about 90 more positions that pay $7.25 an hour.
Everson joined Joe Shyne, Rose Wilson-McCulloch and Council Chair Sam Jenkins in support of the amendment. Sticking with their “no’’ votes were Michael Corbin, Oliver Jenkins and Ron Webb.
The mayor argued that the budget amendment signaled a commitment to the city’s young people at the same time the city has gotten tougher on public safety issues that affect them, such as cruising.
District C’s Oliver Jenkins, however, had concerns that the request comes outside the council’s usual budget process in the fall. He called the $100,000 figure arbitrary in that it wouldn’t put all the applicants to work. Corbin has had questions about who the jobs are going to and voiced concerns about other municipal needs that range from streets to utilities.
Glover countered that the city’s budget shouldn’t be a static document, that the council has appropriated dollars before outside the budget process for programs such as the Shreveport Symphony.
Jenkins also had question about the legality of public dollars underwriting jobs in the private sector. About 60 of the job placements are with private employers. City Attorney Terri Scott said such expenditures are allowed if they serve a public benefit or service.