SPENDING. LET’S GET SERIOUS.

Posted per email request.
As we watch and read about the price of gas and food on the rise, the media not giving you the true numbers of unemployment which is really at 22%, cities and states fighting to keep their heads above water, the Federal Reserve advising our government to raise the debt ceiling. How much more can the taxpayer absorb? However, all I hear from our Mayor is he wants to reduce the pay of the Council for laptops. Where is the rest of his proposed reduced spending list?
It was obvious in the recent election that spending was at the top of most people’s list. While many of us have had to already tighten our belts the city continues to act as if we will not be affected by this economy. When are we going to plan for the bumps in the road? When are we going to trim some fat?
One of the issues the Mayor campaigned on and proceeded to recommend, at the January meeting, to cut the Council’s pay by 25%. We heard the Council’s arguments and then the Mayor claimed he wanted to use it for laptops. Laptops! The motion was not seconded. I voted for him because I thought he was serious about reduced spending. In February he brought it up again because Councilmember King said at the January meeting, which the Mayor did not hear, he would agree to a 10% reduction in 2011 and another 10% in 2012 if it paid down City debt and not for additional spending. According to Dallas Larson this amount would not pay down any significant debt. It was then suggested to do a cost comparison of laptops vs. paper copies. If the numbers come back that laptops are more cost effective, would this not become an annual operating cost? Why wasn’t this looked at as a cost-cutting factor in the first place? However, don’t we still have to retain a copier for other document copying?
The Mayor thinks our Council is getting paid too much according to other cities. I feel many councils are getting paid too much because they don’t represent the people anymore. He also commented that years ago some members of committees and council members did not get paid and if they did, it was very little. He claimed they wanted to serve the community. Well, we have heard that line before. I seem to remember that we called those the “good old boys”. Weren’t some of these owners of rather large parcels of land and were rewarded in the end because of the input on how this City was developed to their advantage? Isn’t this part of the reason our taxes are so high because they concentrated too much on houses rather than attracting more businesses to relieve us of this tax burden we have had for years? It can be dangerous to a community when only people with self-interests or comfortable financial means are in charge of your future. Their visions can be totally different than that of the hard-working citizens that they are supposed to represent. Isn’t this the same thing that has been going on in this city in the last few years? People in office with no financial worries. Only their visions. History repeats itself.
I knew Steve would have to quit a 3^rd job if he was elected and possibly even have to take that 25% reduction. Our budget is tight now, but we were willing to take that hit because we felt the need for him to run so finally the people had a voice at City Hall. However, I resent the fact that the Mayor wants to reduce his pay and then turn around and vote for $5,500 for Fete de Lacs. Are you serious? If there is to be a reduction in pay, I want my tax dollars to go back to the community in the form of education such as a constitutional seminar or community gardens (we certainly have enough parks for gardens) not laptops. We may be looking at rough times ahead and I want my tax dollars to be used that will give a lasting affect on the citizens of this city not some one-day party. If food prices keep going up, there may be some elderly or families in this community that are going to need the extra help. Mayor you took an oath to the Constitution and you are supposed to spend the taxpayer money wisely. If you want a laptop, then buy it yourself. Better yet donate your pay for Fete de Lacs since you think you are being overpaid. 
By Donna King