Mayor Palmieri – No Veto, No Endorsement

Jefferson County Mayor Palmieri released a statement on Tuesday, July 30, 2013, regarding the fiscal year 2013-2014 budget and 10 cent additional ($2.15 total) tax levy that was approved by majority Commission vote on Monday evening. The Mayor stated that he is not comfortable with the budget itself, which includes a deficit of around $5 million dollars, nor is he in favor of the method of funding the budget that was approved by the Commission. Palmieri had already vetoed one portion of the budget that was previously approved and that veto was overridden on Monday evening. In light of the fact that there are not enough votes on the Commission to uphold a veto, the Mayor stated that he will let the budget pass as it stands with no Mayoral veto. He reiterated that his decision to forgo his right to veto should in no way be taken as an endorsement of the Commission’s decision. Rather, he has determined that it is pointless and only prolongs the process for the tax payers of Jefferson County. The Mayor also stated that the County is on the edge of serious fiscal decline and to ignore the costs associated with large scale building programs and continue to push the taking of full fiscal responsibility down the line is detrimental to the future of Jefferson County.