Ronnie Belton sat silently, impassive, as the debate about cutting the Duval County courthouse budget raged around him.

It had recently been revealed that the Alvin Brown administration had eliminated an elevated walkway planned for the new courthouse, a walkway at the very top of State Attorney Angela Corey’s wish list — and Corey wasn’t happy with the decision.

Almost an hour into the City Council committee meeting discussing the issue, the city’s chief financial officer stood to explain why he made the cuts.

“We do not want this project to come to an end in May and have cost overruns or items we’re embarrassed to have here,” Belton said.

That wasn’t an answer that necessarily made those opposed to the cuts any happier, but it summed up Belton’s approach to his $157,000-a-year job.