The city called for spending $724 million over the years as though it were chump change, 23 million here, 1.5 million there. So it won’t be too difficult to chop a few million out of the plan because of less than expected money from the state and lower property tax values. But our budget director apparently has never heard of lowering property taxes, their plans must not fail. She says capital spending is not a budget, just a plan. Then why does she favor raising the tax rate when it is obvious assessments should be down? Haven’t the citizens of Suffolk yet had enough…higher prices for gas, food, and everything else? Is her office lighted by a dim bulb or is she? To hell with the long reach plan, we are in trouble right now. Cut the city payroll, cut your own salary, and wake up, property values are down. Is there something wrong with us having the second lowest assessment in the state? Aim lower.
7 comments:
The city's budget officer (a glorified bookeeper) doesn't know how a budget is developed and neither do most if not all on council save for Duman. She takes last years adds a little here and there and voila, the 2011 budget. The remarkable aspect is at the end of the cycle there is almost always cash for council to give away to non-profits, bonuses to senior staff or spent on some form of government waste. It would be worth the expense to have a team of professionals review her budget and the processes (if any) she uses. The hard part for the administration is that it would show how much our tax dollars have been wasted on department empires like Public Works, Economic Development and the School System.
Just wait for the new redistricting. Watch the city split even wider.Let the social geographical engineering begin.
Remarkable,the budget director looks out past the horizon and takes a stab at what the city will need, only a guess. She admits it is not an absolute budget and is flexable. But there is a hint in the air that state and tax funds could be less than planned so we better raise the tax rate now when most citizens are having financial difficulty. Of course she has her her fat safe salary.
The budget lady must have been trained by Mr. Brown. Remember his contribution to sanity when budget restraint was called for he said, "If we don't have the means we just raise the means."
Also remember the budget girl doesn't live in Suffolk. So if she hints at a tax increases and fees it's of no consequence to her. When will Mayor Johnson realize her little games are not working any longer. One observation watching Ms. Budget is she has paid more than her share of the meal tax.
The budget process of Suffolk has always relied on the fact that most just don't know, care, or feel any connection to. Ms Seward has been less than fair to the citizens year after year in how she has handled things and her boss and the council even more so. In these hard times, they take the tact that the golden goose will always lay the golden egg, but the only egg laid is the budget these turkeys always squeeze out. When we all are cutting our family budget, it is time that our city do the same. Times have not been hard if you had a good government job, but for those of us that are on a fixed income or even those who have lost a job or been cut back it is hard. My wife has not gotten full hours for many months and we have had to cut back alot, so why not the cost of our taxes and city spending too? No, because it is easy to say pay more when you don't live here or have a fat salary and benefits that are paid from our taxes. Then you have that hairbrianed Treasurer just waiting to sell your car or home if you don't pay, so yes it is between a rock and a hard place!
Mayor Johonson, if you are reading this, think hard this cold and hard year about that and do the right thing. You are a good person and know that it is time to cut our tax bills and do what is right to lower taxes on our homes. They are not investments anymore, just a place to live and pay most of our wages for. Will you help us this year or not? Will you lower taxes and spending to help or just nod and spend ahead? It is time to do the right thing, not just spend and spend like you can, because you can.
Budget cuts, possible real estate tax increase, back door session with Counsel on new school(s) - now is the time Dumans businessman mettle will be tested. Anxious to see if he will do as promised to guide them into reality.
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