Perfect Storm Aftermath
IRB resident Kelly Cisarik does her homework. You already know that if you read her series of postings here on IRBeHEARD over the last several days or if you’ve attended a commission meeting where Kelly spoke.
Much of the community, already irate over exorbitant sewer and garbage rates, could see the surge Kelly alluded to approaching. But, nothing like getting smacked in the head with the raw facts to make us pay attention to the Cat 5 storm warnings.
Cisarik unleashed much of the same information on the city commission during her “allotted three minutes” under “Public Comments” at the last commission meeting on January 27th. What was their reaction?
No meaningful conversation. (It probably wasn’t “allowed" unless it was something they wanted to talk about—like the decibel level of My Place’s music.) No consensus to put it on an upcoming meeting agenda. No mention of items to consider cutting. No request to know exactly where the city stands financially—today—right now—right this minute. No suggestion to revisit the repayment of the unauthorized loans to give citizens relief from rising costs of EVERYTHING IN IRB. No questions asked. In other words, business as usual.
As one former commissioner so aptly described it during the last budgeting process, it’s like this commission is operating in some parallel universe.
Once again, Commissioner Cookie Kennedy was the only member of the group who reacted proactively to Kelly Cisarik’s info. Kennedy requested that the new Finance Director, Sandy Sanders, make recommendations as to which planned capital projects he felt could be eliminated. Although it’s not quite certain if a guy who has barely warmed the CFO’s seat is the best judge of what IRB can forego, at least Kennedy focused on the most pressing issue of the day.
How did another commissioner react to Cisarik’s concerns? Check back tomorrow.
Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB
(Note: If you'd like to comment on this posting, simply click on the "Comments" link at the bottom of the article and follow the prompts. You may comment anonymously if you'd like. Or, you can always e-mail your comments to irbeheard@cmdinc.net and we'll post them for you!)
IRB resident Kelly Cisarik does her homework. You already know that if you read her series of postings here on IRBeHEARD over the last several days or if you’ve attended a commission meeting where Kelly spoke.
Much of the community, already irate over exorbitant sewer and garbage rates, could see the surge Kelly alluded to approaching. But, nothing like getting smacked in the head with the raw facts to make us pay attention to the Cat 5 storm warnings.
Cisarik unleashed much of the same information on the city commission during her “allotted three minutes” under “Public Comments” at the last commission meeting on January 27th. What was their reaction?
No meaningful conversation. (It probably wasn’t “allowed" unless it was something they wanted to talk about—like the decibel level of My Place’s music.) No consensus to put it on an upcoming meeting agenda. No mention of items to consider cutting. No request to know exactly where the city stands financially—today—right now—right this minute. No suggestion to revisit the repayment of the unauthorized loans to give citizens relief from rising costs of EVERYTHING IN IRB. No questions asked. In other words, business as usual.
As one former commissioner so aptly described it during the last budgeting process, it’s like this commission is operating in some parallel universe.
Once again, Commissioner Cookie Kennedy was the only member of the group who reacted proactively to Kelly Cisarik’s info. Kennedy requested that the new Finance Director, Sandy Sanders, make recommendations as to which planned capital projects he felt could be eliminated. Although it’s not quite certain if a guy who has barely warmed the CFO’s seat is the best judge of what IRB can forego, at least Kennedy focused on the most pressing issue of the day.
How did another commissioner react to Cisarik’s concerns? Check back tomorrow.
Nancy Obarski
Beach Trail/IRB
(Note: If you'd like to comment on this posting, simply click on the "Comments" link at the bottom of the article and follow the prompts. You may comment anonymously if you'd like. Or, you can always e-mail your comments to irbeheard@cmdinc.net and we'll post them for you!)
2 comments:
All of this is good stuff, but, akin to closing the barn door after the horses got out. These five have no financial clue and praising Cookie is baloney. She is pure politician--says the right thing, somme of the time, but, votes the wrong way all of the time.
Speaking of the closing the barn doors too late--keep your eye on the comp. plan amendments and the special study instigated by and partially funded by action 2000.
This study and/or comp. plan amendments include provisions to allow commercial development on the beach front, commercial uses on 1st street and placing retention ponds on what is now private property so developers can max the use of their property.
The barn is on fire now.
http://money.cnn.com
/2009/02/04/news/economy
/city_troubles
/index.htm?
postversion=2009020412
This is a must read, 84% of cities in money trouble!
Things will remain tough in 2009. Some 92% of the cities surveyed expected to have trouble meeting their city needs during this year. To cope, they are implementing hiring freezes and layoffs, delaying capital expenditures and instituting service cuts.
Some 69% have instituted hiring freezes or layoffs, while 42% are delaying or canceling infrastructure projects. Another 22% have instituted across the board cuts.
Cities are seeing their tax revenues decline as property values drop, shopping slows and unemployment rises. On top of that, nearly one in two city finance officers report difficulties in access to credit and/or bond financing.
To bring in more revenue, they are adding to raising fees. Nearly half are increasing charges for services, while 28% are increasing the number of fees. Fewer are raising taxes. Some 14% have increased property takes, while 6% have hikes sales taxes.
I guess IRB is in the 14% that raised taxes!
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