Raleigh’s recently adopted $697 million budget was sharply criticized this afternoon by Wake County Republican Chairman Claude E. Pope, Jr.
In a speech before the Wake County Republican Women’s Club, Pope said the council’s budget was stuffed with unnecessary spending at a time when everyone, particularly governments, should be cutting back.
Pope criticized the council’s decision to not reduce funding for the arts, and also took a shot at City Manager Russell Allen for accepting a $10,000 raise.
Pope compared Raleigh’s budget, which increases spending by $53 million, unfavorably with Wake County’s budget, which reduced spending by $30 million.
Pope said the presence of three Republicans on the Wake Board of Commissioners showed that the GOP is the party of fiscal responsibility.
“We applaud the efforts of the Wake County Board of Commissioners,” Pope said. “In contrast to the city, the county commissioners passed a budget that cut spending, showed compromise and fiscal restraint.”
Pope also criticized the City Council for adding $1.85 million in new spending by reducing the amount the city will put towards paying of existing and future debt.
“If you put off paying your mortgage for a year, you would no longer have a house to live in,” Pope said.
Pope praised Councilman Philip Isley, the only Republican on the 8-member Raleigh City Council and the only councilor who voted against the budget.
Pope said after his speech that he hadn’t spoken to Isley since the budget was adopted on Tuesday.
At least one of Pope's criticisms showed an unfamiliarity with Raleigh’s budget. Pope said the city should have cut inspectors since new building permits have dropped as the housing bubble has burst.
“Have any of these jobs been cut?” he asked.
The city’s adopted budget cuts 15 positions from the Inspections Department.
After his speech, Pope fielded questions from reporters. He said the City Council’s recent actions are an opportunity for Republicans to win back seats. City Council elections are officially nonpartisan, but the number of Republicans on the council has been shrinking in recent years.
Pope acknowledged that the GOP needs to field a stronger slate of candidates this fall.
“The Republican Party needs to do a better job fielding qualified candidates,” he said.
The filing deadline for this fall’s election is July 17.
Business reporter David Bracken came to the N&O in 2004. He covers commercial and residential real estate. Contact David at 919-829-4548 or 
Comments
Bravo GOP
Fri, 06/19/2009 - 17:20 — concerned2Bravo to the local GOP for making some noise about this debacle.
@ RonB - I'm sure Republicans would have been much more satisfied with a "lesser" facility and more money in their pockets during this economic difficulty!
@Real_Americans_Think - Nice name - too bad you don't. So you would suggest that the entire budget is police, fire, medical? What planet did you come from.
To the rest of us: Last year, the 'tough' decision was whether or not to go to Disney World. This year, the tough decision is to get rid of your car with a payment and buy a clunker that's paid for.
Those of us who are not drowning in our own debt make decisions every day to live within our means. Why can't the government simply do the same?
Not sure if people here are blind or not
Fri, 06/19/2009 - 14:48 — drewcruisinAre you people blind? Dem, Lib, Con, Repub, it doesn't really matter if you use a little commonsense.
If Wake County, Raleigh, or the State of NC continue to spend money it is only going to cost you more everyday and in every paycheck.
Are you really sure you want to pay for projects that have zero value to anyone in this state? Should anyone be getting raises at this point? Should city works be like everyone else in the US and be thankful they even have a job?
Maybe we can cut the hours for the police to pay for Mr. Allens raise. Or take a few fire trucks out of service so we can have more art projects?
When a house gets broken into or burns down, who are you going to blame then? Of course the police or the fire dept. Not the city government who spends "our" hard earned money.
I would like to thank the council...
Thu, 06/18/2009 - 21:55 — bonexx...for helping increase my property taxes by over $1,000 last year. Yup, they raised them some money and now they is dead set on spending every penny and then some. Good fiscal planning in these times of financial hardship.
PS: I forgot to mention the bill I just got for $700 for a sidewalk on the OTHER side of the street....
Rightwingers have no ideas
Thu, 06/18/2009 - 21:40 — Real_Americans_ThinkPope has no ideas - the Repugs can't run on anything - their record of fiscal irresponsibility and social extremism is a nonstarter. their naysaying potshots at Dems just prove that Repugs have nothing to offer. "the council’s budget was stuffed with unnecessary spending " like what? police, fire? medical?
the raleigh budget is a disgrace
Thu, 06/18/2009 - 16:47 — tboard47regardless of republicans or democrats
vote all the idiots out
Taking credit where it isn't due.
Thu, 06/18/2009 - 16:21 — RonBThe three GOP members are in the *minority* on the Wake County BoC. So should the Democrats who drew up the county's budget and passed it be praised? Of course not.
We don't need "leaders" that call for cuts that... wait for it... have already been made. And if you don't pay for a house you haven't built yet, nothing is lost.
If your "strong" candidtaes like Tom Fezter and Mike Regan had their way, Claude, your party's covention last weekend would have been in a lesser facility.
Luckily voters are smart enough to realize this and vote accordingly.