The Monroe City Council approved the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year on Tuesday night, though the decision was not unanimous, suggesting concerns about the financial plan that will take effect May 1.
The council made several modifications to Mayor Friday Ellis’ proposed budget, including raises for select city employees, a $100,000 allocation for the Southside Economic Development District (SEDD), and additional funding for infrastructure improvements at the zoo and each councilmember’s discretionary fund would be increased from $20,000 to $60,000.
These amendments sparked debate among council members. Councilman Doug Harvey opposed the budget, claiming the additional expenses disrupted the budget’s balance without proper explanation of how they would be funded.
“The amendments adopted present an unbalanced budget,” Harvey stated after the meeting.
Minister Verbon Muhammad defended the council’s changes, emphasizing that they had conducted several budget hearings to identify available funds for the modifications.
“We came to the meetings and found places in the budget to fund the changes we suggested,” Muhammad said. He directly challenged Harvey’s assessment, adding, “If Doug Harvey had come to the meetings, he would know what we found, but he didn’t come to a single budget hearing.”
Harvey said Wednesday, whether he came to the meetings or not, he can count, and the budget is $940,000 out of balance.
Councilwoman Gretchen Ezernak from District 2 attended the budget hearings but still expressed reservations about the final plan. In hearings, Ezernak was opposed to raising council members discretionary funds to $60,000.
Muhammad remained adamant about the budget’s integrity. “We are trying to help the people and workers. Regardless of what Harvey says, the budget is in balance,” he insisted.
Mayor Friday Ellis did not attend any of the budget hearings either.
He has the option of vetoing the council’s budget, which would, in effect, submit the mayor’s budget, unless the council overrides his veto.
