Monday, December 7, 2009
Pearl Harbor
Today, December 7th, is the 68th anniversary of the treacherous attack by Japan at Pearl Harbor. Sadly, this event has been largely forgotten. I hope everyone will take a moment of silent reflection to remember the sailors who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor serving our great country. We owe them at least that.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Council and Mayor Pass the Buck
Last night, the Common Council passed a very poor budget indeed. Alderman Polacco, who voted against the budget, noted that all the Council did was pass the buck until next year.
When the Mayor and Council prepare the budget next year for 2011, it will be even worse because no permanent solutions were passed. The Police and Fire contracts will still be up 7% and the need for layoffs will return.
I wrote a letter to the editor setting forth several real cuts that could have been made. Yet, not one was even considered. As I have said before, there is a complete lack of guts on the Council and in the office of the Mayor. We need a new Mayor before this city is completely bankrupted.
When the Mayor and Council prepare the budget next year for 2011, it will be even worse because no permanent solutions were passed. The Police and Fire contracts will still be up 7% and the need for layoffs will return.
I wrote a letter to the editor setting forth several real cuts that could have been made. Yet, not one was even considered. As I have said before, there is a complete lack of guts on the Council and in the office of the Mayor. We need a new Mayor before this city is completely bankrupted.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Some Decorum Please
I have received numerous postings making allegations about the romantic interludes of 2 Aldermen. I have heard these rumors, but have no intention of posting such things on my blog. If the matter ends up in the newspapers, I will report on it. Short of that, I would like to keep my blog and political commentary on a higher level.
Come on, folks. We can do better than that!!
Come on, folks. We can do better than that!!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Ball To Run for Judge
It is my understanding that Larry Ball will indeed run f0r the full-time judge position. Phil Kirchner will be appointed to the Special City Court Judge position pending the 2010 election.
A race between Ball and Mike Bruhn, Jr. will be a real barn burner.
A race between Ball and Mike Bruhn, Jr. will be a real barn burner.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving
I would like to wish all of my loyal readers a very Happy Thanksgiving. May you always have much for which to give thanks to God.
My Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Ever since the mayor issued his budget proposal for 2010, I have been waiting for proposals from the Common Council to cut spending. To date, I have heard none. Instead, all I hear from the Common Council are new ways to tax city residents, more services to be taken, and complaints about various city unions.
Alderman Hoffay has been championing a proposal for a trash tax whereby taxpayers will have to buy bags or stickers in order to get trash picked up by the city. Instead of reaching into our left pocket for property taxes, Hoffay wants to reach into our right pocket for trash taxes. At least Alderman Polacco is on the right path by saying, "It's just another tax."
Alderman Senor proposed a cut in pay for the mayor and all aldermen of five percent. This sounds good, but is really nothing more than a political stunt. Rather than just denounce it, the mayor responded by saying he has taken a cut because his salary has not gone up in four years. He has no problem, though, with the aldermen reducing their own salaries. How gracious of him.
Now, it appears that the council is reconsidering the foolish idea of mandating the bagging of leaves. This was a proposal I fought against when I was council minority leader from 2006 to 2007. City residents pay an extraordinary amount of taxes and are entitled to services, including the picking up of leaves. Requiring the use of bags is just another way of getting more money from citizens, while giving less in return.
When is an alderman going to propose spending cuts? According to newspaper reports, not one single cut has been proposed. Since none of the aldermen seem willing to do so, allow me to propose a few.
First, it is time to eliminate the Economic Development Office. We are paying over $216,000 for this office, with little (if any) results. We also paid $50,000 for a Main Street Manager to do basically the same job. If we convert this office into a simple grant-writing office, we would save over $150,000.00. I know that some will have the knee-jerk reaction of saying that you cannot cut economic development. I respond to that by saying that this is not cutting of economic development, but is instead the cutting of a failed attempt at economic development.
Second, we are paying an individual an extremely large salary to handle the Community Development Block Grant money. Between the city salary and the amount paid by KLDC, this man is costing us six figures. That is far too much for this particular job. The position should be eliminated and the job given to the mayor. Even if a part-time person is hired to assist with this job, we still save a lot of money.
Third, we do not need two senior plant operators at the treatment plant. The only reason there is a second position is because the man who received the second position is a neighbor and close friend of the mayor. There is also no need for two assistant superintendents for the Department of Public Works. Eliminating these unnecessary positions would save over $100,000, but instead we see laborers getting cut. It would make more sense to cut at the top than at the bottom.
Fourth, the city can close its transfer station. This station always costs more than the revenue it generates. We could simply use the county's transfer station and save another $100,000 or so.
Fifth, it is also time to eliminate the policy of free jeeps being given to the mayor, department heads, etc. Use your own cars, buy your own gasoline, and stop giving us the nonsense that you work 24/7, when we know such is not the case.
I could go on with numerous additional spending cuts, but am limited by time and space in the letters to the editor column. I just hope the Common Council will stop looking for new and creative ways to take more of our hard-earned money and will instead make some necessary cuts and changes to this budget.
Richard T. Cahill Jr.
Kingston
Ever since the mayor issued his budget proposal for 2010, I have been waiting for proposals from the Common Council to cut spending. To date, I have heard none. Instead, all I hear from the Common Council are new ways to tax city residents, more services to be taken, and complaints about various city unions.
Alderman Hoffay has been championing a proposal for a trash tax whereby taxpayers will have to buy bags or stickers in order to get trash picked up by the city. Instead of reaching into our left pocket for property taxes, Hoffay wants to reach into our right pocket for trash taxes. At least Alderman Polacco is on the right path by saying, "It's just another tax."
Alderman Senor proposed a cut in pay for the mayor and all aldermen of five percent. This sounds good, but is really nothing more than a political stunt. Rather than just denounce it, the mayor responded by saying he has taken a cut because his salary has not gone up in four years. He has no problem, though, with the aldermen reducing their own salaries. How gracious of him.
Now, it appears that the council is reconsidering the foolish idea of mandating the bagging of leaves. This was a proposal I fought against when I was council minority leader from 2006 to 2007. City residents pay an extraordinary amount of taxes and are entitled to services, including the picking up of leaves. Requiring the use of bags is just another way of getting more money from citizens, while giving less in return.
When is an alderman going to propose spending cuts? According to newspaper reports, not one single cut has been proposed. Since none of the aldermen seem willing to do so, allow me to propose a few.
First, it is time to eliminate the Economic Development Office. We are paying over $216,000 for this office, with little (if any) results. We also paid $50,000 for a Main Street Manager to do basically the same job. If we convert this office into a simple grant-writing office, we would save over $150,000.00. I know that some will have the knee-jerk reaction of saying that you cannot cut economic development. I respond to that by saying that this is not cutting of economic development, but is instead the cutting of a failed attempt at economic development.
Second, we are paying an individual an extremely large salary to handle the Community Development Block Grant money. Between the city salary and the amount paid by KLDC, this man is costing us six figures. That is far too much for this particular job. The position should be eliminated and the job given to the mayor. Even if a part-time person is hired to assist with this job, we still save a lot of money.
Third, we do not need two senior plant operators at the treatment plant. The only reason there is a second position is because the man who received the second position is a neighbor and close friend of the mayor. There is also no need for two assistant superintendents for the Department of Public Works. Eliminating these unnecessary positions would save over $100,000, but instead we see laborers getting cut. It would make more sense to cut at the top than at the bottom.
Fourth, the city can close its transfer station. This station always costs more than the revenue it generates. We could simply use the county's transfer station and save another $100,000 or so.
Fifth, it is also time to eliminate the policy of free jeeps being given to the mayor, department heads, etc. Use your own cars, buy your own gasoline, and stop giving us the nonsense that you work 24/7, when we know such is not the case.
I could go on with numerous additional spending cuts, but am limited by time and space in the letters to the editor column. I just hope the Common Council will stop looking for new and creative ways to take more of our hard-earned money and will instead make some necessary cuts and changes to this budget.
Richard T. Cahill Jr.
Kingston
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Kingston Budget
The Aldermen are still considering the budget and talking. However, as of yet, there have been no actions taken to cut spending. I thought we could help them out and get the ball rolling. So, this thread is for legitimate suggestions for spending cuts and changes to being down the tax levy and maybe save some of the Police, DPW, and Rec Department jobs on the block.
Fire away, but keep it clean.
Fire away, but keep it clean.
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