The Ames City Council went over the 2007-08 and 2008-09 budgets Tuesday night in front of group of administrators, citizens and journalism students covering the meeting as a class assignment.

The meeting started with brief budget hearings from the Commission of the Arts, the Analysis of Social Service Evaluation Team, the Public Art Commission and the group that works with Ames’ partner cities.

“Our commission is now entering its 20th year,” said Fred Lewis, member of the Commission of the Arts. “We try and focus on how the city will be served by the arts and help fund groups with that purpose.”

The Ames International Partner City Association detailed its plans to send delegations of citizens to Ames’ partner cities of Koshu, Japan, and Frydek-Místek, Czech Republic.

“We’ve entertained delegations from Koshu earlier this year and had our largest youth group yet,” said Laura Lynn Boettger, of the Partner City Association. “We plan to send our own delegations to Koshu in June and October of 2008.”

After the groups gave their budget hearings, the forum was opened up to members of the public who wanted to give their thoughts on what groups have done well in the last year.

Rick Sanders, Ames resident, was one of many present to complement the Story Theater Company, a group of ISU students that helps organize young people and orchestrate productions.

“Eleven months ago, their first play was produced in the City Hall Auditorium,” he said. “Since then, 150 local children have been in classes or productions, and they’ve had more than 3,000 audience members for their productions.”

Another group with many representatives present was the Hunziker Youth Sports Complex.

“We did get $25,000 and a very nice road last year,” said Matt Carney, of Ames. “But I’d like to speak about continuing funding our organization, because we still have need for money.”

After the throng of public speakers, the council spent the better part of an hour discussing amendments to the 2007-08 budget, which included an environmental sustainability study, alley paving and further education about global warming.

By the time the council had finished amending the budget and finished the meeting, City Manager Steve Schainker warned the council of possible low contingency funds.

“If we put all of these items into the budget, we would have about five to seven thousand [dollars] left until about June,” he said.