Don Ryan is having second thoughts about just how precious his vote really is.
Ryan is a trustee in the Village of Hempstead, and the budget that took effect Friday became law after four village trustees voted against it and only Mayor Wayne Hall voted for it.
“It is illogical,” Ryan said. And he promises a fight — uphill he concedes — to change the state law which mandates that a village budget become law if a majority of trustees cannot agree on an alternative budget.
Ryan’s proposal:
Bill Murphy
1. Change the rules so any unpassed village budget automatically reverts to the previous budget.
2. Mandate that department heads present spending recommendations to both the mayor and a trustee assigned to the appropriate department.
3. Create of a Citizens Advisory Board that could make recommendations during the budgeting process.
“I realize this might not be easily achieved, but it is something that simply makes sense and should be corrected,” Ryan said. “I will do whatever I can to make it happen.”