Portsmouth City Councilman Bob Mollette on Monday wanted to increase the 2007 recreation budget from $40,000 to $100,000. But the idea was voted down by the rest of the Council.

“It's better to have Chris Murphy (service director) come up with a plan for the city's $60,000 first,” President Howard Baughman said.

The discussion occurred while City Council was passing the Capital Improvements Budget. That budget deals with buying and maintaining the city's assets.

The CIP, general fund, enterprise, special revenue, bond and trust fund budgets form the city's total yearly budget, which usually is around $25 million to $30 million.

Passing the CIP budget can be a tedious experience, as Council members often question department heads on why they need money for a particular purchase.

But Mollette's request was one of only a few hangups as City Council passed the CIP budget.

“You've had two weeks to address these issues,” Vice President Marty Mohr said to Mollette. “Yet nothing happened until tonight. Let's pass the budget, then you can ask for the $60,000 later.”

Mollette said the money could have come from an unencumbered $582,000 fund the city has.

He wanted the money dedicated to McKinley Pool, Branch Rickey Park, Mound Park and other city parks.

“I'm trying to support the service department to make sure there is money for recreation,” Mollette said.

He also expressed concern over passing the CIP budget on only its first reading.

City Council is supposed to give an ordinance three readings before passage. But it can pass ordinances after only one or two readings and frequently does so.