The city is working on its budget. They start with a proposed budget put together by the city manager. From that they will arrive at a finished product. They have special budget meetings set up for Thursday and July 9, both at noon at city hall.
Looks like there might be a very slight tax increase. The alternative is to cut some things, like aid to the museum, and reorganizing the senior center a bit, and other smaller things.
an aside - They did talk about foregoing their own pay. I didnt realize how little that is. They each get just less than $1,000 per year. That's $75 a meeting, or $4,900 for the year for all five.
That probably doesnt even cover the cost of their campaign and gas to the meetings.
The budget crunch is caused in part because the valuation of the city has gone down about a million dollars. That has been cased by the state having given tax exemptions on business machinery and equipment.
That tax break from the state - for existing businesses - has taken that much money from the city.
The question becomes, do you go ahead and raise taxes a little to cover that, or do you cut whatever you have to cut.
The commission's attitude seems to be one of making the necessary cuts in order to get there.
They also reorganized some positions that became open as a result of retirements. Leslie Shook was promoted to city clerk from assistant city clerk.
Here we have more people being promoted from within ... is anyone going to object the way they did to Archer being promoted?
We also had a very minor version of the dog and pony show last night. Frazee is making progress on his place, so the city is letting up on its pursuit of the matter.
But the attorney was there and tried to make some more arguments about zoning issues.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
16 comments:
What about the extra $20,000+ they spent on Archer's salary compared to what Russell was making. Seems they were a little quik to hand out that kinda raise without considering the consequences.
Now if our taxes ARE raised, it will have the appearance that it is because of that.
Don't you think $20,000 is a minor increase when you are talking millions of dollars in a budget? It is very possible who ever was hired would have rec'd the salary that is being paid to Mr. Archer. Remember it wasn't this commission that hired Mr. Russell it was the previous commission and they were the ones that set the salary.
There is some semantics involved here.
They are paying Archer 20k more than they were paying Russell.
BUT, Archer only got something like a five percent raise. He was already making more than Russell.
Russell was in line to get hefty raises for two straight years.
So while the city is paying more for a CM now, it is not paying for a chief of administration, .. so it is still saving money.
I would imagine that the director of admin will be making about what doug was,
so in the end, its not that great of an increase
Also, I rejected a comment because of an accusation about another poster. If youll remove that, ill allow your post.
I hate to say this, but I hope they cut back on some of the expenses. From what I am hearing, we are going to get hit with federal tax increases soon. I do not think we could handle the increases in gas, food, property taxes, fed tax and others at the same time. At some point, we are going to sink!
I was mistaken... you guys are right... I was not thinking... I am bad for our community, and a traitor to Ark City. I am dumb, and you are smart.
The Three Amigos are the best thing that ever happened to this town... My signature on a petition should NOT have amounted to a hill of beans, and I'm glad they were smart enough to see that... Ark City doesn't need a Lowes, or Applebees, or any other businesses... The downtown businesses have the best prices and service that we are likely to find anywhere else, no matter how far we drive... Illegal aliens should be allowed to stay and get welfare and social security, and vote for the next president... Guns kill people, plain and simple... Outlaw guns and no one will ever die again, except for old age... The ACPD has NEVER pulled anyone over without probable cause to do so... and the city manager doesn't make nearly enough money.... and the lower city workers already make too much and don't need raises... Abortion is not murder because those little babies don't have a soul until they pop out anyway, and GOD BLESS YOU ONE AND ALL!
happy?
sg,
Are they cutting your posts tooooo much?
I'm sensing a lil dis-ease here.
jj,
I did like it much better before the restructuring.. but, hey, does my vote count on this... probably not.
ok, let's just try to work together. reading this blog used to, and I say 'used to' be an enjoyable experience. But now the wait time is dulling the joy.
haha Have fun folks!
i dont edit the posts at all.
ive only rejected 1-2.
and im trying to pass things through when they are posted. they come to my email at work first.
there might be a solution to some of that.
those of you who are regulars, get in touch with me personally.
jj
SG, The first step is recognition!
Finally something we agree on, sarcasm!
Thanks for you input.....mc
jj: I hereby authorize you to edit my post. You can take out the part I put about sg and how he might have a "special" way to help make up for the budget shortfall. Please go ahead and print the rest. I appreciate you not editing it and printing the part you didn't find objectionable, but now I can't remember what else I wrote. So please go ahead and print the rest without that part you didn't like.
Thanks.
We are going to have more tax increases no matter how hard its fought. My personal opinion(and no one is going to change it) is the real s*** started hitting the fan when the U.S. put troops in Iraq. Afganistan is understandable. Should of had the large concentration of troops there and not everywhere else. These little middle east countries been fighting forever and a day. Soon as they pull out the troops it is going to go right back to the same political unrest as before. They don't want or need us there and all other countries that was in Iraq was smart enough to recognize that and pulled out. All the money spent on war in Iraq could be focused on our people and looking for more our own oil. Instead, some specific members in a political party in our country are trying to make their selves look like bigshots to the rest of the world and now we are really paying for the meddeling, with a larger national debt, raising taxes and having to make budget cuts. Why should SOME of those rich ol' men up there care,they don't have to worry about where to cut or not cut in the personal budget, after all they are the only ones that can afford the high gas and food prices today! It is time to stop their high maintanance materialistic values and take care of our own home country now such as our high insurance premiums that the middle class cannot or barely afford. Our homeless, disabled and mentally ill people sure could use a helping hand. Our country is smart and rich enough that NO ONE that lives on US soil should be without a roof over their head and a full stomache at the end of the day!!!!
Sorry to those that feel a name only counts on posts i forgot to put mine on the anonymous July 6, 2008 10:55 AM post.
I could be wrong about SG but if he thinks like me, he might be angry because in AC, unless you are the right person or have the right last name then it doesn't mean squat when you try to be heard or get involved.
Donna: I disagree with your post almost entirely. While the right "last name" helps, anyone can step up and be counted. You say "unless you are the right person...." ANYONE can be the right person. You just have to act and speak accordingly. As Charles says all the time "Stand Up and Be Counted!" Stand when you speak. Listen to others. You will be heard. Anyone who has good things to say and gets involved will receive a fair listening. Your harping is like all the voters who say their vote doesn't matter. They are absolutely right about that....when they don't show up to vote!
Hate to tell you this, but i do vote!
hate to hear it!
.....when they don't show up to vote!
___________________________________
You're the one that implied that I don't vote. At one point in my life, i did try to make my voice heard, it obviously didn't amount to beans. Like I said though, it is my opinion and I am fine if someone else disagrees, that is their opionion. Everyone has a right to their own views and if we all thought exactly alike, life would be very boring!!
its raise and bonus time at the city right now, why don't you investigate that and see who got the good raises and bonuses and who didn't. see who padded their pockets AGAIN while the employees out doing the work got shafted again
Post a Comment