The town hall meeting and the tax increase proposal.
Please click on the header for an article that appeared in this weeks edition of the South County Times. I present this to you for your edification and enjoyment minus any remarks from me.
Enjoy!
Tom Ford
NO. 496
Enjoy!
Tom Ford
NO. 496
posted by Crestwood Independent at 19:33
11 Comments:
Were those townhall meetings merely sales' pitches to get us to vote for a tax increase?
Okay, so Crestwood was doing just fine a couple of months ago and now we need a heafty tax increase? Was it not the responsibility of the CA to communicate to the BOA? Or since the mayor was his direct boss, should he be responsible for not having a handle on the finances? At this point I don't know what to believe with the past flip, flopping of financial numbers. The 2008 approved budget isn't even posted on the web site. They did approve it, right? Haven't looked at the BOA minutes.
Timmy Trueblood for Mayor in 2011!
You know, just the words Timmy Trueblood make my blood run cold. He was part of the beginning of the end. Eyes wide shut or what!!! Sounds like he made an appearance lately. This is what he does best. His lackluster aldermanship is chronicled in Ward 2. Must be getting desperate for attention. Some people just can't fold.
If there was a tax increase, then the non-taxable loan we currently have would need to be converted, no? I think that the current administration is not smart enough to handle the money. By having to "spend" the excess cash (over 5%) to keep the non-taxable loan proves it.
I think they could have come up with other ways to "spend" the cash...like pay the employees their vacation time in advance?? In the summer months, according to the cash flow presentation, the city pays almost double wages due to vacation schedules. Or other expenses that would come up later in the year could have been prepaid.
Trueblood came up with a valid point regarding the tax hike sunset and the mall redevelopment. The mayor says the developer will want to use TIF. The mayor says the developer may want to use all the tax development tools.
If past history is any indication, the city will give the developer whatever it wants when it comes to said tools.
TIF obligations run up to 23 years, depending on amount.
Let's say the mall is redeveloped using TIF. Any increased revenue from the mall will go to pay off TIF obligation, while the revenue stream from the mall is frozen at its current rate. So the question I have is, when will the city see additional revenues?
How will a tax with a 5 year sunset help? How will any tax hike help if there still a lot of unknowns?
He said the increased property tax, which he was against last fall, will help the city get through this redevelopment. How can that be? 5 years versus 23 years?
What cuts can the city undertake?
When asked at the townhall meeting about cuts, all he said was something like the city is doing everything it should be doing.
Don't forget purchases from last year and the year before:
-lease-purchase of ten new police cars. Why ten at one time? Why so many?
-approved rebuilding of Pardee/Grant Road bridge over Gravois creek.
-SUV for public works director. Can't he used an unmarked vehicle?
With a tight and tough economy, businesses, organizations, and individuals have to make cuts and changes in their budgets. We should expect no less from our city government.
Oh and before any alderman tells you the city made deep cuts, cutting stormwater and not filling positions when someone leaves or retires is not really cutting - trimming but not cutting.
I bet the only reason that no one ran against roy in the last election, was because for the past 3 years he has refused to see the big picture regarding the finances of Crestwood. In being ignorant, it has led the city in a downward spiral that can't be stopped. Doubt if the $.35/100 will keep us out of the hole. How are we going to survive 2008? IF the increase is approved, no additional income will be seen until 2009.
Spending should have been curbed and long-term costs trimmed. Sadly, this did not happen over the past two years.
I don't think that would have been enough anyway. (just like the utility tax increase - bandaid) Crestwood needed long term solutions after the bond issued did not pass. We did not get that. Sad.
Folks, I, (the Crestwood Independent) will be making a policy statement, Visa VE the tax increase after the Memorial day holiday. This may stun some of you, but it is the way I see it!
For now, please join me in honoring those that gave the ultimate sacrifice to this Great Nation.
Tom Ford
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