Charter commission rejects 3‑and‑3 split for BET, requires at least one member from each council district

The Charter Vision Commission on April 15 declined to change the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) appointment authority so that three members would be appointed by the mayor and three by the common council. Instead, after further discussion, the commission added a requirement that the BET include at least one member from each city council district and directed staff to draft language to codify staggered terms and set a transition start date of Feb. 1 for new appointees.

The commission’s alternative proposal, advanced by Commissioner Ed Camacho, inserts a “political and geographic balance” provision into 7‑2‑a‑2 of the charter requiring at least one BET member from each council district. The commission voted to adopt that amendment; the motion passed with one abstention. Commissioners also agreed to require staggered terms for BET members and to set the practical start date for newly appointed members at Feb. 1 (to allow time for mayoral appointment and council confirmation after the January organizational meetings).

Why it matters: The BET approves the city’s capital and operating budget items and has an advisory role in finance matters. The commission’s decision stops short of changing who nominates BET members — the mayor and council will retain appointment roles as currently structured — but it changes geographic representation rules and creates a schedule to move the board toward district representation. Supporters said the district requirement would prevent up to two council districts from being left without representation; opponents warned that mandating appointment splits could politicize or rigidify a process that typically involves negotiation between mayor and council.

Details of the votes and next steps: The commission first removed the 3‑and‑3 proposal from the table for consideration and then voted on the 3‑and‑3 motion; that motion failed. The commission then voted to add the district‑representation language (the Camacho amendment) to section 7‑2‑a‑2; the motion passed with one abstention. Commissioners instructed staff to draft precise charter language, including transition provisions to move from the current appointment timing to the new district‑based requirement and to codify staggered terms so appointments do not all expire at once. The commission asked staff to verify current BET appointment expirations so drafters can prepare a transition plan.

What was discussed: Commissioners debated whether formalizing mayor‑ vs. council‑appointed seats would add desirable accountability or would over‑rigidify a process that, in practice, involves negotiation between mayor and council members. Some commissioners urged checking council members’ preferences through outreach before deciding the appointment split. Others argued for codifying the status quo but adding geographic checks to avoid leaving districts unrepresented. The group also discussed practical mechanics: existing BET terms, holdover rules when successors have not been appointed, and how to avoid leaving the board short during budget season. Commissioners settled on a Feb. 1 effective date so mayoral appointees can be submitted and confirmed during the January organizational period.

Quotes: “What this does is it prevents the freeze out of up to two districts,” Commissioner Ed Camacho said in support of adding district representation language. Commissioner John Levin described his earlier 3‑and‑3 proposal as aiming to “improve BET accountability,” while other commissioners said they were concerned the 3‑and‑3 split would create needless rigidity in a process that typically relies on negotiation.

Ending: The commission asked staff to draft the exact charter amendment language and a transition plan for the next meeting. Commissioners also asked staff to compile the current list of BET members and the expiration dates of their appointments so the proposed transition can be precisely timed.