Thursday, September 17, 2009
WELL THAT FIGURES
City officials on Wednesday announced a preliminary surplus of an estimated $3 million to $5 million on the books as of June 30. The preliminary figure in the last fiscal year came as a result of saving on various expenses where feasible. “It didn’t come without a lot of hard work,” Mayor Linda T. Johnson said, praising city staff. The figure is the early estimate of an audit that will be completed in October, Finance Director Dale Walker told the city council on Wednesday. That figure, Walker said, is a snapshot of the city’s position on June 30. Council members almost immediately began thinking of ways to use the excess money.
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24 comments:
Okay, so tell me I should be thrilled. The Council’s overtaxing has produced a surplus. And the members – except for Councilman Barclay – are getting all jittery about how they are going to spend your money. Even Parr referred to this surplus as a “windfall.” Just so you know, not one of them suggested giving the money back to the citizens.
I think we should view budget shortfall and surplus situations differently and more business-like because they're going to occur every year, to some extent.
When a local government incurs a budget shortfall, it must either reprioritize and decrease the budget by the amount of the shortfall, or it must supplement the budget by "borrowing" from the "rainy day" fund, if that's deemed essential. Taxpayers would likely want their elected and hired officials to choose the first option.
When a local government incurs a budget surplus, it should, without fanfare, deposit it in the "rainy day" fund. During the following year budget process, that surplus should be targeted to either remain in the fund, or be the first dollars devoted to funding the highest priority items in the coming budget. Taxpayers would likely want their officials to choose the second option because that yields a decrease in tax burden--something always welcomed but seldom practiced.
Bottom line: Tax revenues represent the hard-earned resources of the tax payers. They should never be viewed as a windfall, and they should always be spent prudently--just as if they were the elected and hired officials' own hard-earned resources.
What do you think?
How about jsut giving it back to the taxpayers as ecessive taxes. The property taxes should be reduced by an amount to return the money that hsould not have been taxed. The thinking that we will spend or keep it as "our money" shows how little reguard the people paying the taxes are viewed. We did not even get a mention in Parr's plans. That goes to show where we fit in his skemes.
I also agree that any excess funds should and must be turned back to the people. This spend it now attitude held by so many on council shows all that is wrong with our Suffolk leadership.
Save the millions fire the eight!
Councilman Brown once propheticaly said; "we must live within our means and if we can't, we must increase our means." Rest assured friends they will spend any surplus long before the next budget cycle. If they don't then they step on the slippery slope of managing expenses with income. This is totally alien to their thinking. They will make us pay for bulk garbage, pay for false alarms, pay for more of Ann Sewards' follies, pay, pay, pay.
Raises for all on council, job well done...sarc VOAI...
how about giving a 1% raise to the employees of the City of suffolk since their cost of liveing and merit raises for the last year was 0
surely they are worth 1%
Why give our already well compensated, currently employed over staffed, vested, medical-dental covered, pampered, city employees a raise? Does anyone believe water can be squeezed from a stone. As most Suffolkians see it, if they don't like working in the safe and wholesome environment of city government they should try it out here in the real world.
Some of that money should go back into Downtown redevelopment. Downtown is at deaths door thanks to the Mayor's "closed checkbook" proclamation upon taking office. Since then there have been 0 new businesses, 0 revitilization, and 0promotion of Downtown. Reestablish the position once held by Elizabeth McCoury, whose sole focus was bring new life to Downtown. It's time Council recognizes the true HEART of Suffolk and stop trying to force everything towards Northern Suffolk. How about taking Councilman Brown's lead and use some of that money for a downtown parking garage!
Well said as to how coddled the City Worker is in this economy. The call for raises for City Workers is something that should be kicked to the curb.
Then only rational thing to do is refund the excess taxes to those who paid them. Why anything else would be done is truely unthinkable. The process of demanding more, just because it is there is repugnant to one and all citiens of Suffolk.
There should be some serious thought given to providing a grant to the Suffolk Center for Cultural ARTS. The Center does the work of the community and is having hardtimes to make ends meet. As such, it is time to step up and support this community JEM by giving some of the surplus to the SCCA to expand its community offering and work. The SCCA has served all Suffolkians and is in need. What better use of the people's money that to serve then need of thier demands for the ARTS. The ARTS serve the soul of the community to make us all better citizens. The mayor promised strong support during the election and now is the time to belly-up to the bar, so to speak. The SCCA is suffering and with a small part of the surplus fo funds the city is going to see, maybe $650,000 of this many milions, more could be done to improve the quality of life in Suffolk, A show is a good way to get one's mind off the economy, money and so no.
how about bringing back FREE bulk refuse collection!
Are you sure the SCCA is suffuring? The new director painted a rosy picture for the center at the last Council work session.
WAIT EVERYONE what about our talented Tourism Manager Ms. White? Weren't we at an all time high based upon reveue? Was she stretching the truth to keep her job or are we fools believing downtown can attract tourists.
Dr. Milton (Carbon Footprint) Liverman is warming up the Mercedes for a fast trip over to City Hall to beg for more money. He's being pressured to do achieve so much like minimal standards for learning. Remember the mantra; all it's all about the children.
How abt using some of that "found surplus" on improving Holland Road in and around the jewel of Suffolk known as Centerpoint. Why not develop an account with that money, let it draw interest and ONLY BE USED FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENT OR CONSTRUCTION in the same area. But then again wasnt SS set up that way? Well it was a nice thought. Does anyone know how last years SURPRISE of found surplus was spent? Anybody even ask her royalship and her minions?
What about a tax decrease and some funds for a Kings Hwy Bridge?
Kings Hiway is dead. Don't count on any funds for that for our lifetimes. The Council and big mayor blew that one and for a purpose.
There will be no attending any Driver Days or for that matter one penny spent in that village. They contributed to the removal of the bridge. They wanted no through traffic in their little hamlet unless they could milk you for dollars. The poor folks in Chuckatuck and surrounding communities must now make a huge detour. So we Chuckatukians will patronize Smithfield, Carrollton or the Penninsula and Driver can Rot Away!
anon 7:24
Not entirely believing in that post. It is rather extreme and I question is there some type of proof to back this up? I find it also to maybe have some merit based on the status of the climate of the city and our leaders of self interest. Heck if Keith Obleman can create conspiracies, why not yours be considered...
I agree. Driver is a dump and I will never again attend or even spend a nickle in that "Hamlet"! They are a selfish lot that has only looked for what is good for them. "Driver DIES" instead of Driver days.
You really want Driver to die? I imagine there are many folks who qualify for section 8 housing who would be looking to move...
9:48 you are correct it is a conspiracy. I'll let you answer these questions. Who voted for the destruction of the Bridge? Who lives a couple of miles from Driver? Who represented Sleepy Hole Borough? Who took in big campaign dollars and votes from Driver to keep the bridge a memory? Who was on a mission to re-build the bridge before the election and has conveniently forgotten/ignored it ever since? Here's a hint: gender is female. The citizens of Chuckatuck have been forgoten and are forced to drive miles around a conspracy. Since we're on the subject you should ask about the CENTERPOINT conspiracy.
And we are searching for a new motto for Suffolk. "Suffolk, where we do use your taxes against you"!
Or: "Suffolk, as division of ACORN"
Lies and deciet are alive and well in Suffolk
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