Mayor England gave his "State of the City" address last night at the City Council meeting. Although many people seemed to be pleased with his take on our local government, as for me, not so much.
He expressed disappointment that the LOIT tax was not passed. He said the police and fire department employees need the additional funds to hire additional workers. I think we need additional workers also. There are a lot of people who need these jobs, but in my opinion we did not need the LOIT tax. Even though this would have been a relatively small deduction, it was still another deduction to an already shrinking paycheck for many people.
One major problem that I had was the remark he made concerning the police and fire department salary increases. He said the City workers were still working at their 2007 salaries. Though I agree with him on that matter, concerning the people working in the City/County Building I disagree when it comes to our police officers and fire fighters.
I did a little research and pulled a Tribune article dated 10/24/08 in which it stated that the 2009 budget would be cut by $600,000. The council voted to use rainy day funds to cover the shortfall. It went on to say, "The amount would still be nearly $210,000 short because of retroactive pay increases. Mayor Doug England signed a contract this week that gives the police and fire department a three percent raise for 2008."
Even though he was probably just talking about the above mentioned City/County employees regarding the salary freeze, I consider the police and fire employees to be employed by the city of New Albany just as the others. Nothing against these people but I believe that other city employees work hard also and are just as loyal. Everyone deserves to be treated equally whether they are making arrests, fighting fires or answering 911 calls or helping citizens with their tax bills or utility bills.
Times are hard for all of us and it will probably get worse before it gets better. Everyone needs to sacrifice.
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22 comments:
Yes, I agree that the City of New Albany needs to show fairness to all
employees salaries.
They need to park those Take Home cars and make the employees to pay for their own cell phones.
Given the state of the city's canopy following the hurricane and ice storm, CM Gonder's idea (on his blog) to revive the moribund Tree Board is a good one. The Urban Enterprise Assoc. has also discussed some way of funding tree plantings, and it organizations like Develop New Albany also got on board, this might be a good way to build synergy for grants, vastly reducing the cost of a "reforestation" in the context of urban landscaping.
"but I believe that other city employees work hard also and are just as loyal. Everyone deserves to be treated equally whether they are making arrests, fighting fires or answering 911 calls or helping citizens with their tax bills or utility bills."
While I agree there should be a widespread raise freeze, I do take issue with the above sentiment. I'm sure it was very stressful a few weeks ago when everyone was strolling in downtown to pay their property taxes, and I'm sure that people get tired of hearing whining about parking tickets, but these jobs are not on the same playing field as our fire-fighters or police force. Not even close.
Not everything is equal, not everything is fair.
Who gives a sh*t about tree's when citizens of New Albany cannot afford to heat their homes, and buy medicine. Get real, stop the spending, live on a budget like the rest of us do. Personally, I think we need our Fire Service more than police officers. I'm willing to protect my family myself.
As far as England's comments about police officers don't want raises they want more officers. Bullsh*t!
England gave police and firefighters a sweetheart deal.
Wake up our city is in trouble, but it's more important to give two billing department employees a raise!
RECALL England, rise up if your as mad as hell as my family is...
My comments were meant to convey that the money for planting trees could come from sources like grants and endowments that have nothing to do with the city's budget for police and firefighters.
Right now we already use economic development money to subsidize sewer rates. I disagree with that. If we must live on a budget, isn;t it also the case that there should be no free lunch?
I suggest Councilman Gonder find a solution to generate more revenue for our city. Look at the guy's voting record. Pitful--if I might say so.
Did anyone like myself who attended the last council meeting realize, England never mentioned a $$$$$$$ amount for his ideas? Obama Stimulus Package, he's got to be kidding--right?
By the time Acorn get's their $5 billion, there will be riots all over our country.
Question to the newalbanian; You are quick to defend Economic Development being used on sewers. Then explain why England borrowed $88,000 from stormwater to pay street department salaries? And why did all the mayors in the last seventeen years borrow money from sewers to float sanitation and the cities general fund? They used the Riant Day fund to cover the budget, why is that ok and not EDIT used for sewer rates?
Why not make all developers pay to put their own sewers in instead of taxpayers?
I want EDIT money used to support economic development. Just because it's idiotic to use EDIT money to subsidize sewer rates for the poor downtrodden taxpayer doesn't mean I agree with using the money incorrectly in other areas.
Besides that, I'd like to point out that as a business owner, I pay plenty of taxes, too. Perhaps Donald Trump is in a different bracket, though.
Over the last seventeen years correct me if I am wrong. $5.3 million was borroowed from the sewers and was never paid back. In December of 2007 James Garner borrowed $177,000 from the sewer fund just to cover the cities general fund loss before leaving office.
In 2008 when Mr. England took office him and his croonies and comtroller ignored the memo from DLGF. BEFORE taking office he got himself and his cronies a big fat raise. He already KNEW DLGF had already said "Use 2007 approved budget until the 2008 budget was approved. But he did it his way, NOT what DLGF told his adminstration to do. He gave raises, bought two new cars, hired a Deputy Mayor, City Operation manager an an asst. for the City operation manager. So if these raises and cars and everything else he spent was not in the current budget would it not but our general fund in the red?
He stated our city is in good shape. What's he smoking folks.? If that's true as he stated we don't need increase fees for sewers or stormwater. Correct?
Care to discuss this on Mr. Baylor?
I am discussing what I care to discuss, which in this case is the use of money that should be earmarked for economic development.
Why should EDIT money be used for anything other than economic development?
So what you're saying thenewalbanian is; that you want EDIT money used for just development, but since your a business owner you feel you pay alot more taxes than others, am I correct?
So what your saying is because your a business owner and pay more taxes your special or deserve favors?
So is it fair to use EDIT money for development and then in turn give them a 5-10 year tax abatement which takes away from city revenue, and our tax dollars are used to pay for paving their parking lots, put their stormwater lines and sewer lines in and used for nice new sidewalks?
Maybe the lady and her attorney from Salem might disagree with you. Since they just filed a $500,000 lawsuit against the City of New Albany for breaking her hip over bad sidewalks between 4th-and 5th street on Main.
You often defend Code Enforcement and want rental inspection. But why is it our own city cannot pass building inspections?
Why do you want rental inspection on rental property? Is that discrimination to them if we do not also have residential inspection?
You can not have it both ways.
Don't you need sewer pipes and stormwater pipes to new development?
So your pro business and anti- what's best for taxpayer?
Good points anonymous. If we are in the black, then like you, I want to know why England wants to increase fees?
"Who gives a sh*t about tree's when citizens of New Albany cannot afford to heat their homes, and buy medicine."
We have valid solutions to these issues that do not include city money.
So Christopher D. you want new trees, but a city which citizens can't afford to live in/here? Why not focus on fixing our city so we all can afford to go look at those trees?
Where did The New Albanian go? I guess if the only thing that's important to him is development, he then side steps the real issues. I saw his license hearing was Feb. 3rd listed in the legals the other day.
Great Blog you got here Shirley.
I've been busy economically developing.
"So Christopher D. you want new trees, but a city which citizens can't afford to live in/here? Why not focus on fixing our city so we all can afford to go look at those trees?"
Its environmental infrastructure. Beautification increases livibility, livibility increases desirability, desirability increases demand, demand increases value, value increases tax base.
The American Chestnut tree was ravaged and nearly disappeared, and many species of urban wildlife can benefit greatly from these trees, species which mind you, competes with many non-native nuisance species.
As far as the economic woes of the citizens who can not aford to live in this city, that can fall back on the demand to do away with the previous property tax system causing a massive defecit in the cities coffers, which will only get worse, and the city must find alternative means to recoupe.
Trees will also cut down on energy use in homes near the trees, prevent flooding, stop erosion, increase air quality, help filter ground water...
Sometimes somethings go beyond politics and economics.
I can understand people's frustration with the local goverment and the thought of planting trees instead of working on more productive issues, such as helping to keep good jobs in Floyd County. But since we don't have to pay for the trees, why not let Greg plant them? And if some people want to volunteer, let them.
I will be attending the neighborhood forum (Central Christian Church 2/11/09 6:30PM) and advise everyone who can to attend also. This will give us an opportunity to talk to the people who can do something about the condition of our city.
Blogs are good for venting, but you can't be sure who is reading them and if they are in a position to help.
Let's fill up that meeting room next Wednesday and show the Mayor, Police Chief, Code Enforcement Officer, Councilman, Board of Works President and Street Commissioner that we mean business.
Why bother going Shirley, when the current adminstration will tell you what ever you want to hear and then do nothing?
The bottom line is, England is more interested in giving raises and political favors than doing what is needed.
Don't think for one minute there is not a revolution brewing. We are on the verge of a revolution where we will indeed take our city back-temperatures could hit triple digits.
You can laugh all you want but we believe the time is right, the city issues are right for a revilution of the majority to take back--starting with our city.
The "silenced majority" can NO longer be silent. We have formed a citizens coalition and plan to march in the streets. I hope to see you all there.
Enough is enough!
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