EAST POINT, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
The City of East Point thought they were ready to move forward on a new budget, with a big increase for the police force. But at the last minute, council members hit a snag – there weren't enough votes.
The council was poised to give the police department a $1.6 million raise, but now it's back to the drawing board.
One by one, residents gave council members an earful over their proposal to eliminate 18 open, unfilled positions in the police force.
Council member Alexander Gothard set the record straight - there would be no cuts to police.
"As far as police cuts, there will be none. There will be none," Gothard said.
But when it came time to vote, the 2013 budget stalled.
"Four 'no's will not adopt a budget," said East Point Mayor Earnestine Pittman. "The ordinance to adopt the budget fails."
After weeks of discussion the council now goes back to the drawing board and some residents are frustrated.
"Everybody was hoping that this budget would pass, we don't understand why it didn't pass or why it failed," said resident Randall Johnson.
The council meets again on July 1 with yet another version of the 2013 budget.
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
