Halfway through his return term to office, New Albany Mayor Doug England is committed to seeking re-election in 2011.

England will be 67 years old by the time his position is up for grabs again, and he’s coming off neck and back operations this year. But the Democrat said there’s unfinished business to conduct.

“As long as my health holds up, I’m still very interested in the position if the people want me back,” England said.

England was mayor from 1992 to 2000, and admitted times were different nationally and in New Albany.

“It was not easy, but it was easier to be mayor then,” he said.

England has been met with budget shortfalls, infrastructure woes and salary freezes, not to mention the hurricane winds that pounded the city in September 2008, or the Aug. 4 flood that still has property owners reeling.

“We had a lot of things that tried our patience, but we came to the task,” England said.

Despite the setbacks, England deemed 2008 and 2009 as successful years for New Albany. A refurbished riverfront amphitheater, another completed segment of the Ohio River Greenway and the start of Grant Line Industrial Park West have happened on England’s watch.

Downtown has welcomed several new businesses in the past two years, not least of which the Floyd County branch of the YMCA of Southern Indiana.

Spring Street Hill Road has also reopened, which was a campaign promise made by England. As was improving code enforcement, which in England’s view has also been accomplished with the help of city neighborhood associations.

The $6.7 million federal grant that will be used to refurbish foreclosed homes in the S. Ellen Jones neighborhood will help further the initiative of making New Albany a cleaner, more livable community, England said.

But there are plenty of obstacles England will have to confront in the next years. Under-funded or overspent, depending on which elected leader defines the pattern, the city’s police and fire budgets continue to create deficits.

England said New Albany is lucky to have reserve money to gap the shortfalls as it did in 2008 and 2009, but the City Council has yet to dedicate funding to cover the anticipated shortage for 2010.

The administration has asked for $1.5 million in Economic Development Income Tax money to be shifted to the public safety departments to maintain service levels next year.

That request was defeated on first reading in December, with some council members saying they would prefer to wait until the middle of 2010 before allocating more funding.

The council’s relationship with England has been sometimes icy. England vetoed the council’s public smoking ban in 2008, while the council hasn’t gone for all of the mayor’s requests either.

The council remains in a lawsuit with the Stormwater Board

— which is appointed by England — after it approved raises for three employees despite an ordered pay freeze.

The council also greatly reduced the amount of funding England requested for paving, and has been sometimes critical of how information has been shared with it in regards to spending.

There have also been calls for better management from the council after an audit released this year by the State Board of Accounts pointed out flaws in record keeping during 2008.

England said the council’s job is to legislate and approve funding, while his responsibility as executive of the city is to manage spending and operations.

The line has sometimes been blurred, but England believes the two wings of New Albany’s government can still work well together in 2010 and 2011.

Though property tax caps have limited resources for local governments, England holds to the goal of no layoffs next year. Anticipated annexation along Charlestown Road should add to the city coffers in 2011 if the city can weather the shortfall until then, England said.

Finances will be the main prerogative between the council and mayor, England predicted.

“The main thing is we have to keep a good, balanced budget,” he said.

Residents should be optimistic about the future of New Albany with the new investments downtown and the promise of more jobs from industries such as Kemper Foods International, England said.

Deputy Mayor Carl Malysz said his boss is committed to getting the most out of his staff. England left a lucrative private venture for the mayor’s office, showing he’s not in it for money, Malysz said.

“He did not miss a beat while he was out on leave due to his back surgeries. He probably should have rested more than he did,” Malysz said.

He added he was “flattered” when England asked him to serve in his administration.

“It’s only been two years, but it has been one hell of a ride,” Malysz said.

Looking ahead, England wants to complete more paving, provide additional opportunities for homeownership by improving neighborhoods and extend the city’s tax roll by enticing more businesses and residents to locate to New Albany.

The riverfront will continue to be his treasure, as England said the amphitheater is already booked for several weekend performances next year.

He’s also looking forward to implementing some of the plans of the 2013 Bicentennial Committee, including establishing a downtown park.

England said his workers — most of whom have been without a raise for two years — deserve the credit for the accomplishments of 2008 and 2009, and will be counted on heavily for his aspirations over the next two years.

“I’ve been really impressed, with as bad as the economy is, the dedication of the city employees,” England said.