By Associated Press
Birmingham, AL – Birmingham's next mayor will face a daunting financial dilemma.
He'll inherit a city with $21 million in unbudgeted expenses, declining revenue and the prospect of significant program cuts.
William Bell and Patrick Cooper face each other in a runoff election Jan. 19 and both have already come up with plans to address the situation.
Bell wants to restructure the city's capital spending and refinancing bonds.
Cooper wants every city contract scrubbed to make sure the city is getting what it pays for.
Both agree the city needs to bring in an outside expert to create controls so the city doesn't face another shortfall crisis.