The role of the City Council in the budgetary year is restrictive. After it's adopted, we can't do much about budget modifications. We can only make suggestions, then vote the budget up or down. What we can do is provide oversight to the agencies. The Council can raise issues and awareness in the City as to what we see as the impacts of the cuts on the areas for which we have oversight.
Oversight is a powerful weapon.
We can call in commissioners and other officials to testify and can create public awareness and public support. Over 100 agencies were defunded. We uncovered all of this. This oversight process creates awareness and encourages constituency groups to get involved. It sparks attention that the City budget process is in business all year round and that advocates should stay on top of issues all through this next year.