WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. May 5, 2004, UPDATED 8:45 P.M. E.D.T.: The Mayor's Executive Officer, George Gretsas, confirmed today that though the Common Council had arrived at a consensus on a budget that would raise taxes 12.7%, Mayor Joseph Delfino was not part of that consensus, as WPCNR had previously understood from Gretsas. Gretsas told WPCNR that the Mayor wanted to discuss the numbers and impact of the 12.7% city tax  increase vs. the 7.9% tax increase proposed by the Mayor,  with Anne Reasoner the City Budget Director before making the "Decision." Gretsas said at 5:45 P.M. the Mayor was not in agreement with the Common Council that the 12.7% tax increase was the way to go, later Monday evening, Mr. Gretsas backed off that statement, saying  in Gretsas's words, "The Mayor hasn't made up his mind (on 7.9% or 12.7% tax increase) one way or another."

Asked what the current hard figures from Albany on the Sales Tax collections to date were, Gretsas said he did not have those figures in front of him. He said that Decision Night would be convened on May 26.

Asked if he had heard whether or not he had heard about whether Fort Lauderdale had arrived at a decision on City Manager, Gretsas said he had not. (Mr. Gretsas is a finalist for that position.) At about 7:45 Monday evening, Gretsas said he received word from Fort Lauderdale that the City Commissioners were going to "discuss"  whom they should hire for the position tomorrow.