Earlier this month, the Pensacola City Council made two amendments to Mayor Ashton Hayward’s proposed 2013 budget. The mayor then vetoed one of council’s amendments. In vetoing the amendment—which removed marketing money from the MIS budget and placed it into the council’s own budget—Hayward said the city needed the funds back in the marketing budget. Members of city council have raised issue with the scope of the mayor’s veto power, suggesting that Hayward may veto an amendment, but cannot return funds to the MIS budget. In order to override the mayor’s veto, at least six council members must vote for the override before midnight Thursday, the day of the next regular council meeting. Council also meets today for its Committee of the Whole.
City Attorney Jim Messer issued his statement on this matter this afternoon: