It's one of Mayor Alvin Brown's favorite phrases, trotted out at  announcements of policy changes and of new hires: The buck stops with the  mayor.

Now, the buck's path there is getting shorter.

Nine months into his administration, Brown is finishing up implementing  changes that consolidate a range of areas under his direct control.

The most recent is one he has talked about since taking office; namely,  having the city's economic development office report directly to him.

Legislation now creeping through council will shape the organization, but the  head of the office is already listed as reporting directly to the mayor. That  brings to six the number of direct reports: four jobs Brown created or elevated,  plus two kept from the previous administration.

(A third job, inspector general, that reported to former Mayor John Peyton  was eliminated by the City Council.)

Brown has also said that other offices, including the head of the agency in  charge of downtown development and the one marketing the city for sporting  events will report directly to him, although they're officially lower down on  the official organization chart.