Clock Ticking on Budget Process again....

In November 2009, at the 11th hour, we were given staff recommendations to cut $750,000.00 of costs out of the 2010 budget to balance our revenues and expenditures. The majority of the Council decided to take money out of reserves instead of moving forward with those recommendations mostly because there was not enough time to deliberate on all the cuts properly.


Councilman Rotering, Levenfeld, and myself asked to continue the dialog on the budget cuts immediately in January so we would not run out of time in 2010 to balance revenues and expenditures in the 2011 budget. The majority, including the Mayor, Councilwoman Terri Olian, Councilman Jim Kirsch, and Councilman Larry Silbermen did not support to continue the budget discussion in January. Real detailed discussions did not commence until the Fall of this year for the 2011 budget. Too Little, Too Late, Too Much.

Here we go again...... I am feeling like we are in the same boat without enough information or time for the majority of the city council to balance the budget without increasing fees, taxes, and taking out of reserves again. The city manager is proposing cutting costs across the board in police, fire, (building and community development ), a redesign of youth and senior, and public works. All these cuts are proposed still with a 3% property tax increase, and increased fees in water rates and sewer fees. The Library has also given us a budget with an increase of 4.99% for their share of the levy.

While I will not support increases in taxes or fees, I am only one lonely vote.....and not sure we have enough time to get through a process and produce effective alternatives to get 3 more votes to agree with me. I'm not a tea party fella but believe we need to hold the line for our citizens.