Where is Toledo's 2010 budget?

DOWNTOWN TOLEDO - There's a lingering question in the city of Toledo this weekend. Is the 2010 budget ready to go?

The answer seems to depend on who you ask. Although some within the city say it's done, others say it's not.

Residents and the media were told that the 2010 budget would be ready by Friday, but as of 10 p.m. the budget has not been released.

"It's now completed," said Mayor Carty Finkbeiner earlier Friday. "When I left the office, we're putting the finishing touches on it. But it has to go to the printer and it will go to the printer this afternoon. There will be some print work done on it (Saturday). It will be done, but it won't be distributed until very first thing Monday morning."

So with that statement FOX Toledo sent a Public Information Request for the electronic version of the Glass City's 2010 budget.

It was never sent to the FOX Toledo e-mail in-box.

According to the finance department, it is still being finalized for the printer.

The 2010 budget is due to the council, and most importantly you, the taxpayer on Nov. 15.

Nov. 15, though, this year falls on a Sunday.

"The budget will be released on Monday morning," Mayor Finkbeiner said.

So what's in the 2010 budget? There was some talk that Bob Reinbolt, the mayor's chief of staff, has said there would be no tax increases.

"Well, I don't know that I heard him say it in exactly those words so I think maybe your tape or his voice, one or the other ought to validate me before I comment further," Mr. Finkbeiner said.

Of course, the next budget is the next mayor's problem, Mayor-elect Mike Bell, the city's former fire chief and state's former fire marshal.

"When you're facing the kind of challenge the incoming mayor and the incoming council are facing, I want to make certain that we have dotted every I, and crossed every T," out-going Mayor Finkbeiner said.

As for the council members who will comb through this budget, Mr. Finkbeiner had a cryptic message.

"I know the council has some work ahead of it in 2010, and it would be helpful if some of that work was accomplished in 2009, and I'll let that work speak for itself when we present the budget," he said.

There will be some sort of carryover deficit from 2009 to 2010. The exact figure isn't clear, neither is what exactly the 2010 deficit itself will be.