2009 City Budget - My Views

The 2009 City Budget includes some good projects for the upcoming year. "B" Street will be resurfaced from 15th to Lincoln, new water lines will be installed along Lincoln Street east of Woodlawn preparing in advance for the resurfacing of that street in 2010, and much needed repairs should be made to Fair Street south of Lincoln.

We've also budgeted $100,000 for water line repair/replacement and $100,000 for sewer line repair/replacement.

However, there is still too much money budgeted for non-necessities.

In hard economic times, such as we are in now, I believe tax dollars should be spent on the basic necessities the citizens want and need; public safety, streets, water, electricity, and sewer. IF there is money left over without raising taxes, then funding for parks and recreation improvements can be planned. But only if there is money left over. People can survive without parks and recreation; they can't survive without security and the basic necessities such as food and water.

And we are in hard economic times. Just the other day I purchased a flat of meat, and I jokingly asked the clerk to make sure she demagnitized the package thoroughly as I did not want the alarm to go off as I went through the exit door. While I was making a joke, in reality there was nothing funny about rising food costs, especially for our elderly and those living on fixed incomes. Fuel costs are increasing as well adding an extra burden on our citizens who must commute to work. In fact, the cost of everything is on the rise.

During these times, it is important that we are good stewards with the tax money we collect. Obviously rising fuel costs affect City services because fire trucks, road graders, and sanitation trucks don't move without fuel in the fuel tank. Taxes must be collected to ensure the equipment stays on the move to provide services to the citizens.

Our employees also feel the pinch of the economy, and we should compensate them as well. They too, feel the rising costs of living. Yet while the cost of living has increased 11% over the last two years, City wages will increase
less than 6% in that same time frame. The City strives to hire the best employees to provide you services. We can buy top of the line fire trucks, police cars, dump trucks, and road graders all year long; none of that equipment moves without a qualified employee driving it. We make every effort and spend great sums of money training and preparing them to perform your services well. But if we do not provide them with an adequate wage on which to live, they will go elsewhere where they can earn more money. Why should we invest time and tax dollars in an employee only to lose them to a neighboring community or private industry? Are we in the business of spending tax money training employees to work for someone else?

These are the primary reasons I voted against the 2009 budget. I feel cuts could have been made in other areas to provide our employees with a decent wage increase, cover increasing fuel costs, and still provide you with the basic services you need without a great increase in taxes.

Once the approved budget book has been finalized, I will post it on my website for your review.