Special Board Meeting "Budget Workshop"
Wed, Nov 5th, 5PM
I left work a few minutes early to sit in on the workshop. One other citizen and City Treasurer Marianne Ennett in attendance.
Some of the highlights:
Mayor Bos provided a General Fund Summary Sheet on 2009 Proposed Budget
- Revenue=$867,400
- Disbursements=$813,425
- Net surplus of $53,975
The Community Center revenue projected to be $22,000 and expenses $27,500. The revenue includes a $2,000 "donation" which Jerry described as "fund raiser" in 09 to narrow the deficit for the operation of the CC. The expense line also includes a low projection of security expenses by $1,500. Removed were legal and personnel salary/taxes/benefits which would subtract another $1,000. Bottom line, the revenue to expense differential will come in at a negative $10,000...the CC discussion ended with an observation by Alderman White that the CC "was paying for itself". Huh? The rest of the Board and Mayor looked like bobble heads as they nodded in agreement.
09 Police budget includes an addition of one more full time officer
Public Works projected to add one full time split between Roads and Water/Sewer.
The Sewer Fund is projected to operate on a net loss of $38,450. Proposals are to either raise the sewer rate $4.25 per month per household, now or to wait until KCMO raises their rates (up to 20%) and then increase sewer rate to pass along the increase and cover shortfall. My sense is the former might be the will of the Board.
The Water Fund is projected to have a $10,000 surplus, however a rate increase by KCMO would require a similar increase to cover costs.
The Board went into closed session around 6:45, I surmise to discuss salaries of employees for 2009.
9 comments:
I'm not surprised at Pat White's comment. She and the board have a lack of understanding of how finances work. I have seen this more than once.
If there is a surplus why keep raising rates?? When are they going to remove the meter fee that was added and where are those funds?? Are they ever going to be returned to us the citizens that paid them??
Regarding Nov 7, 2008 1:17
Mayor Bos has been rumored to say
the money for meters won't be returned because it is already spent.
Mike,
If what you say is true, is there a real problem with the community center not completely "paying for itself"? Are there some things within this city that are worth paying for because they provide unmeasurable value? Where did you get your figures for the support personnel to run the community center that you said were not covered in the total cost?
If we are going to hold the CC under this much scrutiny, and maybe we should, should we also be looking at other assets the city owns that may not be covering its nut. Let's see, does city hall, one of the city's assets, pay for itself? Does the upkeep of the Jack/Anders cemetery pay for itself? Do the parks pay their way? Perhaps we should do away with all of them and use the property to build houses on them instead? This way we could at least get property tax off of them...a steady income indeed!
In my opinion, the CC provides many benefits to this city that ARE unmeasurable and that ARE worth the fraction of the city's budget to keep operational. But that is just me. I love the community events that bring us all together there. Though I was not able to attend, there was a lunch for the Ft. Riley troops at the CC. All of the help and food was donated. From the feedback it was a remarkable event for the residents who attended and for these soldiers who have made untold sacrifices for our country. Then there is the fish fry that helps stock our lake, the club meetings that bring people together and provide value to our community and the place where many hold family reunions and weddings that provide memories for a life time.
What is all of that worth? I say, it is "Priceless" and it is worth the very small amount of our city's budget to support.
Mike,
About the Community Center. I agree with the previous blogger the Community Center is a great place for holding whatever event you want. Why do we need monuments and a round-about if the community center is needing more money?
What is the reason for holding the Community Center under such scrunity?
Has anyone done research to see how the center is doing compared to previous years?
What about making better upgrades like a large screen tv and cable or dish, has anyone thought about upgrading the back patio or even so making the front another sitting area? The building has so very that could be upgraded.
Anonymous 2:48pm,
The community center is doing better now than ever. You should talk to the city clerk or Mayor for details so you can understand it for yourself. They can give you all of the figures.
Again, I say that if we are going to hold this building/asset under this scrutiny, then lets look at all fo them and decide which ones are covering their total costs and which ones are not.
CIG:
These guys, they don't get it," Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, said on CNN's "American Morning."
"They came to us basically saying 'we are on the critical list, and we need a respirator,' and we bail them out, and the next thing we know, we turn around and they are going out partying and spending the taxpayers' dollars. And it's kind of -- it's very upsetting."
Some time ago our WL city officials came to us and said city services were to be cut unless we voted in a tax increase. We voted it in. Since then there has be proposal after proposal for spending on several projects which have been repeatedly objected to on this blog.
THEY JUST DON"T GET IT!!
Correction:AIG
Why don't we not pass the "rumored to say" around Anon 11-7 3:41pm. Why not get an accurate answer from the mayor before the rumors start??
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