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News Briefs - Feb. 17-March 2, 2010
City of St. Louis
Slay proposes 2011 budget
As the Board of Aldermen prepares to debate the fiscal year 2011 budget, Mayor Francis Slay in late January issued a draft of proposals to cut nearly $30 million from the city’s $520 million budget.
Among Slay’s suggested cuts are: eliminating duplication between departments, such as consolidating the city and county crime labs and training facilities, and combining the circuit clerk and court offices; eliminating park rangers; closing recreation centers; increasing energy-efficient practices; reducing trash pickup to once a week; reducing the number of building inspectors; cutting several middle-management or clerical positions; and eliminating subsidies for several non-profit organizations, including Teach for America, Grand Center Inc., and the Regional Health Commission.
Additionally, Slay has proposed reallocating nearly $27 million and increasing general fund revenue by more than $3 million, primarily through adjusting license taxes for inflation and increasing fees.
None of the changes are official, and according to Slay’s website, www.mayorslay.com, are instead suggestions intended to stimulate discussion among aldermen as they work out the city’s budget.
“It will be smaller and less expensive than the government we now have,” Slay wrote on his website. “It will have to be smaller and cheaper because revenues have declined in St. Louis the same as they have in every city and state in the country. It will have to be smaller and cheaper, because you cannot reasonably be asked to pay much higher taxes.”
The Board of Aldermen must adopt a new budget by July 1.
Garden names Raven’s successor
The Missouri Botanical Garden’s board of trustees has appointed Peter Wyse Jackson, director of Dublin’s National Botanic Gardens of Ireland, to succeed Peter Raven as the Garden’s president.
Raven, who has been the Garden’s president since 1972, will retire in July 2011. During his nearly 40 years with the Garden, Raven has launched a master plan, opened several themed gardens — including the Ottoman garden, the children’s garden, the Japanese garden and the Chinese garden — and increased the Garden’s membership from 4,000 to 40,000.
Born in Kilkenny, Ireland, and educated at the University of Dublin, Wyse Jackson has served as director of the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland since March 2005. During his tenure, he has emphasized organic horticulture and home gardening, as well as prioritizing environmental sustainability, biodiversity and conservation.
“The Missouri Botanical Garden is one of the top botanical institutions in the world, internationally known for its global scientific endeavors and as a cultural institution,” Wyse Jackson said. “It is an honor to have been selected for the presidency at this prestigious institution. … I look forward to working with the wonderful staff and leading this already superb center of science and horticultural display to even greater heights.”
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