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What is this?
City’s future not so bleak after all
Published Wednesday, August 12, 2009
If you weren’t keeping up, you could have missed it Tuesday.
Faster than I ever thought possible, the city government started moving.
After months of bemoaning a failing budget, weeks of making suggested cuts and close to three hours of an agonizingly long meeting, changes started coming.
First, the Natchez Board of Aldermen approved making changes to the amounts city employees pay for health care deductibles and co-pays.
Then, the majority agreed to take a big step toward privatizing grass cutting and potentially saving $200,000.
Finally, the board approved cutting its own pay and that of the three other elected officials in the city.
Bing, bang, boom. And just like that, I felt like our city might actually make it.
Let’s face it, for anyone who has paid half a mind’s attention to the city budget in the last year, it wasn’t easy to be positive about the future.
The city is in a nasty cycle of borrowing against future revenues, but worse than that, the current leaders had recognized the problem but seemed unwilling or not capable of making the tough decisions needed to fix it.
Every meeting that passed without a budget-cutting decision left me shaking my head about the future.
Two weeks ago, the city had only $7,000 in the bank. I know teenagers who have more than that saved from their babysitting gigs.
But a few quick — but not argument free — decisions Tuesday started the ball rolling.
Mayor Jake Middleton, who has been saying for weeks that the budget would survive in the long run, finally revealed some semblance of a plan to actually get there.
Middleton acknowledged himself, and I’ll echo, that the plan isn’t final or perfect. But it’s something.
The reality, though, is that once the ball starts rolling it can’t be easily stopped.
Three decisions won’t be enough to create a rainy day fund that Middleton hopes to have in three years. More cuts will be needed.
Some city employees are likely going to have to lose their jobs.
No one likes that, but the greater good is more important for us all.
Middleton said Tuesday he feels previous administrations used one-time funds to create long-term expenditures — like salaries.
Those salaries simply can’t stick around if the city hopes to be fiscally responsible.
And even though it makes us taxpayers feel better, Tuesday’s cut to elected official pay is a very, very tiny drop in the bucket.
The cut will only save $34,966, that’s essentially one person’s salary. Only one.
And City Clerk Donnie Holloway said after the meeting that another $500,000 loan will have to come before the close of the fiscal year — the end of September — if the city hopes to make payroll that month.
The budget is still bleeding.
And though the ball is rolling, the bumps in the road are yet to come.
Our aldermen must remain vigilant as budget watchdogs, and they must be prepared to make decisions no one will like.
As Alderman Mark Fortenbery said Tuesday, you should be an alderman for a love of the city not for money, and — I’ll add — not for love or fame.
Julie Cooper is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They won't save 200,000 on grass cutting if all they do is move employees to another department. They admit to pulling numbers out of the air to guess on the budget. Cut spending by eliminating useless jobs, make those that keep their jobs do their jobs or get rid of them too. Time for everyone that draws a paycheck from the taxpayer to earn it.
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cutting their own paycheck was a good political move, you have to admit.
Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's sad to say, but during the last administration there were a number of jobs that were, with great imagination,'created'. Yes, they put people to work, but they were redundant and unnecessary which always leaves someone 'leaning on the shovel'. We are essentially paying two or in some cases three people to do the same job.
And now, the new administration has to play the bad guy and cut the fat.
But look at the bright side, bloggers...that gives all you red-neck conservatives more to gripe and complain about...more people on welfare..............
Where's our share of Obama's stimulus package, Jake? Why are we not actively pursuing some of that money available to the local governments? There are plenty of jobs that money could create, albeit temporary jobs, but jobs just the same. Jobs cleaning up the empty vacant lots and knocking down the vacant crack houses. Jobs cleaning out the drainage problems in North Natchez. Jobs painting and fixing up the properties downtown like the corner of Franklin and MLK. Jobs restoring the Ritz and the Clark theatres. $10,000,000 can pay for a lot of clean up and restoration. Especially if everyone works together. If the suppliers of the lumber, the paint, the nails and whatever get with the program instead of charging $200 for a hammer because it's government money.
I may be totally naive about the process of attaining the Obama money, but that's why we have "representatives" in the state and national legislatures. They need to explain the process and get a move on to help us...elections are coming up.
--mojo
Posted by tiredoflosers (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mojo/MORON. I am not red-necked. I am Irish with a twist of cajun. Now since I am through with the demographics of my Klan, let's talk. The city made a bold move in the decision for pay reduction. Now here is the funny part-The new fisical year starts on 10-01-09. Does the pay go back up?
Posted by mrmojorisin (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
tol---if you're not a red-neck conservative, then I wasn't talking about you, right? You moron........;-))
I, too, am part Irish. My grandfather was born in Kilkieran, County Galway. It's a tiny village on the western coast. His family were sheepmen. He moved to the United States as a boy in 1883, and joined the Oklahoma Land Rush in 1889 at 16. Settled in NE Oklahoma and eventually married a Creek Indian princess from the Sac and Fox Reservation. So I'm part Indian too,mix that with the Irish/Scandinavian blood of my Mother's parents and I'm a mutt.
If you have cajun in you then you're a mutt too...Irish/Indian/French/African/Acadian/Creole.........I lived in South Louisiana for years...I'm very familiar with the cajuns there.
--mojo
Posted by maddog (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To get the grant money for the most part you have to have a match to go with it. If the city doesn't have the match money then there is no grant. Some grants for specific items do not require a match, and if you do not meet the criteria for those items then no money. It is not as easy as it seems. Then again you also have to have an aggressive grant writer.
Posted by stevejohnson (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 11:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"But look at the bright side, bloggers...that gives all you red-neck conservatives more to gripe and complain about...more people on welfare.............."
MOJO calling all conservitives "red-necks" is just as irresposible as calling all democrats idiots!...but I guess if the shoe fits...
Posted by juju (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 11:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mojo, you crack me up! Or should I say, "Your Royal Highness!"
Posted by juju (anonymous) on August 12, 2009 at 11:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The 'humble'(HA!) remarks of these alderman, NOW, only after people have started questioning and griping make me sick!
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 12:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the Obama money??????
It's not Obama's money!!! It is the taxpayers money that he is being so free to the big wigs!!!!
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mojo/moron
just kidding
yesterday I was agreeing with you
but today - I take issue- any city employees laid off or fired do not necessarily go on welfare
what happened to good ole American CAN DO attitude? Those guys/gals can start their own business, get another job, cut grass somewhere else, the new prison needs grass cutting......
Like your Irish ancestors- who paid them to herd sheep? NO ONE probably, they did it as independents.......
it's time we quit looking to the gov't to solve our problems, just get out and serve someone, start a business, odd jobs, whatever....Houston, Baton Rouge, Atlanta, - there's plenty of jobs if you are willing to pack up.....anyway, they've been on the gravy-train too long, time to get out there with the rest of us in the real world...
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oh and that Obama-money
I would be happy if I could just keep mine, I don't need him to take my little change and spread it around .....
I'm having to deal with ObamaAuto (what used to be GM) and I can't even get parts ....
I hate to think what will happen when we have Obama-care!!!
Or Obama-finance!
Oh and compared to liberals- as a conservative I am proud to be called a red-neck....just look at what liberals are trying to do to our country. I'd rather cling to my religion and guns any day!!!!
Considering the recent outrage expressed at town hall meetings across the country- YES! elections are coming! and YES! Change is coming- back to supply and demand, and less government controls. People have gotten a taste of what socialism is, and especially what fascism is, are frankly WE"RE SCARED!! We've seen 1000 page legislation, which no one can read through inside of two weeks, we've seen spending in six months by Obama that is greater than ALL other Presidents combined!!!
Personally, I think he's trying to break down the country intentionally, totally devalue the dollar, and redistribute wealth completely. Why? I don't know. But Obama-money must be stopped.
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Krogers:
Obama auto: are you insinuating that in the last 7 1/2 months President Obama single handedly drove the auto industry into the brink?
Obama care: are you insinuating that the Republicans for the last eight years have done such a wonderful job with their non-existent health care reform that President Obama should just leave it alone, and listen to people like Palin, Coburn and Grassley who are out right lying about a "death panel". A Republican sponsored and written heath care directive?
Obama finance: Bush pushed through his stimulus package without any checks and balances on Wall Street, that his administration just threw up their hands, threw out the money and left the country in a financial crisis last fall is the fault of President Obama?
Yes the elections are coming, and thankfully voters outside the red states (the south) are seeing through the fear mongering, racial bigotry, scare tactics on senior citizens and who is REALLY behind (and pushing) the right wing extremists at these town halls. It is all coming out.
I am sorry for you that you are scared, but where was all this apprehension, accusations and fear when Cheney was running the White House? The real Dick Cheney is also coming out of the closet and the book isn't closed on him or Karl Rove.
Do you rationally expect President Obama to fix years of mishandling our economy in 7 months? Not even a republican could do it.
Posted by 2008 (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Leading conservative economist Bruce Bartlett writes that the Obama-hating town-hall mobs have it wrong—the person they should be angry with left the White House seven months ago.
" Where is the evidence that everything would be better if Republicans were in charge? Does anyone believe the economy would be growing faster or that unemployment would be lower today if John McCain had won the election? I know of no economist who holds that view. The economy is like an ocean liner that turns only very slowly. The gross domestic product and the level of employment would be pretty much the same today under any conceivable set of policies enacted since Barack Obama’s inauguration."
Posted by jimi (anonymous) on August 13, 2009 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The problem with this country...oy veh, what an opening...
People let themselves be labeled when they're angry, but of all the conservatives and liberals I have known, most are like me...simple John Doe's who hover mainly someplace in the middle. Some of us are a little to the left, some a little to the right. But we let ourselves get all caught up in the fervor of the moment, and we forget who we are. The 535 people who govern this country, choose sides, rant and rage at each other in front of the cameras, then go out and have a drink together on our dime.
I got my first paycheck in 1966 and they took about a third of it in taxes of one kind or another. The last paycheck I received last Friday, they took about a third of it in taxes of one kind or another.
In reality, the Republicans of late have reduced taxes for the wealthy and the Democrats have raised them back where they were and nothing ever changes for us in the middle. I've never made enough to take advantage of the Republican tax breaks, and I've never made little enough to take advantage of the Democrat's welfare programs. Most of us don't. And that's a good thing believe it or not. We're the backbone of this country. We fight the wars, we deliver the mail, work at the factories, sell the shoes and the cars and the sporting goods...we teach the children, raise the crops, make the bread, fill up the churches, attend the school plays and football games and chaperone the parties...we believe in fair play, justice and the American way.
Put two of us in a room with an assigned task, and regardless of our color, national heritage, or creed, we will get it done by working together. It's what we do. It's what has made us the most powerful, most successful nation ever to inhabit this planet.
This is who we are.
And if we don't learn to all work together, respect each other's differences, and love each other, it's going to be over way before we're ready.
peace&hope..........jimi
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