Knoxville council rejects resolution seeking explicit line-item amendment authority over mayor's budget

Councilwoman Parker introduced a resolution asking the City Council to record its understanding that council may amend the city budget by line item and may adopt an alternative budget ordinance when a majority rejects the mayor's proposed budget. The resolution, listed as item 11d on the agenda, drew a long debate about the meaning and limits of the city charter.

Parker said she brought the resolution "in hopes that it would allow us an opportunity to have a discussion about our budgeting process." She told colleagues she had attempted an amended budget ordinance in May and later received a written opinion from the law department saying that her amended ordinance conflicted with the charter. Parker argued the charter's broad delegation to council (she cited section 4.01) supports at least some line-item amendment authority and that appropriations ordinances require council to list nonprofit recipients and amounts precisely.

Council's attorney, identified in the meeting as Mr. Frost, told members he represents the body and not…