Council Member Keiffer Jackson Mitchell, concerned about lax accountability for city school construction spending, is proposing stricter controls before city funds are approved for future projects.
Mitchell, who chairs the City Council?s Taxation and Finance Committee, will add amendments increasing the council?s control over funds to a bill that would authorize an additional $36 million bond for school construction at the next council meeting Aug. 14.
“The whole issue is accountability. They?re asking for permission to borrow more money, without accounting for the last bond we approved,” said Mitchell, D-11th District.
The amendments would require quarterly status reports to the City Council; a four-month limit on the time between completing plans and bidding on a project; and full accounting of pending projects to be submitted to the council by Dec. 31. Mitchell said the city school system has not yet properly accounted for past funds, including $32 million approved in 2002.
Mitchell said he has not received adequate explanations for delays in projects for which city had borrowed funds to complete, including $6.5 million approved for Dunbar High School?s renovation.
“The Dunbar situation is the worst,” Mitchell said, arguing that the delays in the project ? now scheduled for completion in 2009 ? exemplify the problem.
Mitchell said he also will introduce a resolution calling to dissolve the city and state partnership.
“Let the city have control of their schools again.”
