PLEASE VOTE NO!!

There have been several articles and columns in the Tribune lately about the referendum to combine the offices township assessors with county assessors. I want to urge our readers to vote NO.



Governor Daniels has been "streamlining" our state government for the past four years, some of it may have been successful and much of it was not successful.



One example that comes to mind is the welfare system. People used to have social workers who knew their circumstances but now they must call an automated system if they have a problem, even if their check is late. We all know how inefficient that system has become.



I just cannot understand how combining two offices in each county will save taxpayers any money. Are the staff of the county supposed to take on this extra work without increasing the number of employees? Are they allowed to work overtime? As Assessor Sillings said to the "Tribune" there will still be the same amount of parcels to assess.



As far as this being an antiquated system, New Albany Township assesses property according to market value. The system has been changed three times since 1816. The General Assembly wanted all property to be valued uniformly, that is a good idea but how can an understaffed, overworked county assessors office make sure this happens?



Sometimes we can go too far with combining offices to save money. I think this is one of those times.

MANY THANKS

Thanks to everyone who made our neighborhood cleanup such a success.

We want to especially thank

Matt Denison

Mickey Thompson and the Street Department

and the Padgett Company



Friends and Families of the West End

Becky Roy

Pat Salisbury

Shirley Baird

NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP

DESPITE THE RAIN THE FRIENDS AND FAMILIES OF THE WEST END WILL STILL DO THE NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUP TOMORROW 10/25/08.



THERE WILL BE DUMPSTERS AT THE CORNER OF WEST 7TH AND MARKET AND THE PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET FROM PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH ON CORYDON PIKE.



ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

THANKS,



SHIRLEY

REALITY CHECK

Well it looks like our Mayor and City Council will have to face the facts. Many of us regular citizens have been trying to tell them for a long time that New Albany is "broke" and now it has hit home.



Daniel Suddeath has an article in the Tribune titled "More money or big problems ahead for New Albany?" Since there does not appear to be any money falling out of the sky it looks like big problems to me.



We all know that the city had to use the rainy day fund to balance the 2008 budget. I hope there is something left for another rainy day because it looks like there is a tsunami headed our way in 2009. There is even talk about "downsizing" the city staff. Please Mr. Mayor and Council find another way. There have been enough jobs lost in Southern Indiana. Maybe if all of the employees agree to work with the same salary for 2009 as the earned in 2008 we could save these people's jobs.



Another issue discussed in the article was raising property tax and sewer rates. YIKES!!! I don't know the answer here except again I hope they find another way. Personally, I have not had a salary increase since 2007 and my husband is on a fixed income. We are stretched to the max now. There are undoubtedly others like us and some in worse shape.



All we can hope for now is for the Mayor and Council to use wisdom and practicality when planning the 2009 budget. My prayers are with them.

SICK AROUND THE WORLD

Please join us Wednesday, October 15th at 6:30PM at the Library 180 W. Spring St. There will be a showing of Sick Around the World. a film by Frontline and T R Reid.

Healthcare is one of the most important issues today. And the members of Hoosiers for a Commonsense Health Plan support HR676.

See you there.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

COME TO THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS TONIGHT AT 6:00 AND MEET OUR LOCAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES!!!!!!!!!!

DINE ON CHILI, HOT DOGS AND TOO MANY DESSERTS TO LIST. ALL FOR JUST $5.00.

SEE YOU THERE.

SHORT & SWEET

The council meeting of 10/6/08 was quite unusual. First it was quite short and secondly it was extremely pleasant, for lack of a better word.

The first item on the agenda was R-08-41 in which Mrs. Garry requested a loan of 1,000,000 from the TIF fund to cover salaries and other benefits. When asked why she did not borrow from the EDIT or Rainy Day funds she replied that these funds were already depleted. As everyone knows, the tax bills have not been prepared so our tax revenue is down considerably.

We are due for installments of TIF and CAGIT from the State in November, this should see us through until the end of the year.

The Resolution was introduced by CM Messer and seconded by CM Coffey and passed unanimously.

Next on the agenda was A-08-13 the $250,000 for storm clean up also passed 9-0. They even agreed to amend the rules and had all 3 readings last night.

The last item was G-08-09 which was to replace G-08-31 which had a few typo's.

For the most part all of the council members were so pleasant to each other and agreeable I thought I was either in the wrong meeting or possibly in an alternate universe. Whichever, it was indeed a rare occasion.

BORROWING FROM POOR OLE PETE AGAIN

Tonight's City Council meeting is short but sounds interesting.

First of all Mr. Messer is sponsoring a resolution to transfer emergency funds to meet the payroll. R-08-41 It seems that since the property tax bills are so late in being prepared and mailed the property owners have not sent any money. Surprise Surprise.

I don't work in the City-County building but for the sake of those who do I hope the Council does not delay his resolution. Somehow I don't think these people's mortgage companies, and other creditors would be especially understanding during these times. And can you imagine going to Kroger with an I.O.U. to pay for your groceries?

As far as A-08-14 and G-08-09 I'm not clear on these two, they will just have to wait until tonight.

I'll be sure to take notes and pass the word along about the meeting. Please come to the meeting if you can, the more the merrier.