Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 12:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

can you say "citation quota"........

Posted by darober (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 12:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

save even more money by cutting the overpaid aldermans in this town

Posted by juju (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 12:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

surprise, surprise!

Posted by AwesomeWoman (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 6:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow! The employees have to suffer even more. The problem is that the City of Natchez is still operating on an income that has not significantly increased in 12- 15 years however, everything including utilites and even materials to construct these dreaded speed humps has tripled in cost. Why not sell all of these raggedy city properties to those enities that occupy them or want them? This would eliminate the cost of fixing them as well as paying the utilities on them each month. That alone should bring in millions!!!!

Posted by jlmorris (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 6:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I operate on the theory of "let's get the bad news behind us." The city officials should make the necessary cuts/adjustments to get current year expenditures in line with current year revenues.

Forget about votes for a change and do what is right/good for the city.

In fact, we should get the city in a financial position that current year revenues exceed current year expenses.

The city would be in a position of strength instead of weakness.

JMO

Posted by ProNatchez (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Borrow more money? Who'da thunk it?

“You’ve got to bite it off one bit at a time,” he said.

Start chewing.

Posted by chuckydaone (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The city budget is no different than your home budget. When expenses exceed income we either borrow money or cut expenses. At home we may delay major purchases, eat pot roast instead of prime rib, or stay home rather go out for dinner and a movie or some other fun. The city is in the unfortunate position of either cutting services we want/need (get rid of the wants first), the people who help deliver the services, or the fringe benefits to those people. Most revenues come from taxes. The largest expense in most budgets is related to payroll and benefits. It sounds ugly but it is what it is. When the cost of doing business exceeds your income, something has to go. Otherwise you are in debt and borrowing to stay afloat. Apparently someone was hoping for a miracle or posturing when the first $500,000 was borrowed because projections could not have shown increased revenue.

Posted by bigblulights (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with darober. The city aldermen have no hesitation in voting themselves a raise, and to date they are drastically over paid, yet they will hem and haw over the issue of cutting their own pay to help the city in need. The position of aldermen is a position to be taken when you feel you have something to offer the city in the venue of leadership, not to make money. Drop their salary back down to $12,000 a year where it should be! See how many people want to do the job because they have high moral values. They don't hesitate raising their salary yet look at the poorly paid law enforcement in the city. Entirely too low for the job they do. Would you want to face what they face everyday for their tiny salary? No you would not, yet they do it day to day. They make many more life altering decisions each day than the aldermen do each month. Who is getting the short end of the stick here?

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

and there is a "plan" to spend 5.4 million $$$$$ for a recreational complex .....

totally insanity, ......

we can't even make a budget without borrowing money,

instead of dreaming about SPENDING, get the AX our and CUT something or somebody,

I'm sorry to say it, but we need tough, thick skinned fiscal managers to quit whining and worrying about someone's job.......cut 'em......

gov't doesn't make money, only uses what taxpayers provide

and we're OUT of money....time to CUT that budget!!!!!!

CUT SALARIES of tax assessor, mayor, aldermen, EVERYONE across the board take a 10% salary cut......and cut all travel by 20% even FREEZE ALL TRAVEL for the remainder of the fiscal year......

borrowing money is OUT OF THE QUESTION< DON"T DO IT!!!!!

Posted by eawprops (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Is this a three ring circus? Is Bozo the clown running this town? This is ridiculous! That pile of poop they put out yesterday about spending millions on a recreation facility and the city officials can't even manage this town. How do any city officials expect us to have confidence in them. They need to earn our confidence. So far they're not doing too well!

Posted by SniperX (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Borrow 10 billion and build a newer and nicer city.

Then explain that the city can not pay back the money and get the government to give the city a bailout package.

Any more problems?

Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Poor Management on the part of the Mayor,City Clerk, and the Board of Alderman! Sounds like the current Owhampy Failure in Washington! Give them enough rope and let them hang themselves!

Posted by jimi (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My co-payment is $50...I don't go to the doctor much at all. Once a year for a check-up. If I have a headache I take an asprin. If I have the flu, I get as much rest as I can, take an asprin, and drink plenty of fluids.

I don't need a doctor to give me the same advice my mom gave me as a child.

However, because insurance companies are basically a pooling of everybody's premiums, I end up paying for the idiots who go to the doctor for every little annoyance. And it doesn't matter if you get your insurance through your employer's HMO or you pay the higher premiums for private insurance, your money still goes into the same pond. Just another example of the socialism practiced in the United States for the last 60 years.

Our local, state and federal governments have been running on the Peter Principle -- "if you rob Peter to pay Paul, you will always have Paul's vote." Do you think one day Peter will finally get tired of it and say,"NO MORE!"? I sure hope so.

If my alderman is listening, Tony, my vote is "Yes" to raising the insurance costs across the board. And Tony, my wish is also that you seriously imagine how much you would charge the city to chase an armed gang banger through the hood at 2:30 AM with only your hand-held radio for back up. Then compare the cops salary and benefits, and the oath he takes to protect you with his life if necessary, to your own as an alderman whose job is to do what's right for the city from behind a desk in a brightly lit office building.

I don't know what an alderman makes, but the credit applications I see for policemen tell me that being a policeman has to be a "calling" like the priesthood or teaching kindergarten.

peace&hope---jimi

Posted by jlmorris (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

jimi, ditto to my alderman, Pollard.

Posted by duck (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

fire jake and donnie.

Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Natchez needs to do what we did when my husband lost his job several years ago - QUIT SPENDING!! Live on what you have.

Posted by duck (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jake is bozo the clown.

Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jimi, you said it pal.......my brother, thank you for that- ditto to Bob ....

I was just thinking along those lines today-- what am I getting for my taxes paid ( I went to the Tax Assessor's office today and checked what I'll be paying on our home and business)

and I have to say that our NPD does a fine job, my wife just had a car wreck and I tell you those men did a fine job handling that situation, and the other night some drunk dude came knocking on my door late in the evening I might add, and had a wrecked truck pulled up in my driveway, he has running from TWO hit n runs he had committed earlier that day, before I could figure out what to do, the police came rolling up and cuffed him- I was grateful for that......

so let's help our aldermen and mayor keep an eye on necessities and OFF the extra stuff we don't need, especially since we DON"T have the money.....

But PAY OUR POLICE and FIRE DEPT what they are worth.....cut everyone else........

Posted by signman88 (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 7:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

krogers
if they cut my salary by 10% they might as well go ahead and lay me off

Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 8:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What is really funny is that some of these elected officials claim to be businessmen.

Posted by onarant (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 8:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How many here would like to have a part time job paying $23K per year, full benefits, retirement and generous travel expenses?
And it does not interfere with your full time work much.
In my crazy way of thinking, that is where some cuts should start and then work from there.

Posted by onarant (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 8:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And I almost forgot th best perk of all!
You get to vote yourself a raise.

Posted by scarletandrhett (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 8:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Is the Obama Administration also running the City of Natchez???

Posted by belowpar (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 9:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If the city has to borrow to make the budget, then why in the world are we discussing a new recreation facility?

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 10:44 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 10:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Make the welfare bums and thugs pay their fines they owe. It is a huge sum of money.

Posted by NAMVET (anonymous) on July 24, 2009 at 11:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YOU CAN'T "BORROW" YOURSELF INTO PROSPERITY !!!!
AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT MY DADDY TOLD ME MANY YEARS AGO. I HAVE FOUND THAT TO BE SO TRUE OVER THE YEARS SINCE!!!!!

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 25, 2009 at 12:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This Gone with the Wind is gonna be busted sooner than i thought.

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 25, 2009 at 12:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It should read City needs all new employees from the top down.

Posted by bigblulights (anonymous) on July 25, 2009 at 7:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think it is a sad that no matter how many opinions are posted here, the situation will not change. I thank the Democrat for allowing this forum so that the general public can post their opinions about different situations in the Miss-Lou area. It allows many different walks of life to be able to have a voice but, in the long run the aldermen for the City of Natchez will continue to function as they have in the past. These opinions hold no weight towards their outlook on the city. I thank each and every one of you who, along with myself, speak out about what you see happening to the city. Unfortunately they are not listening. We can complain as much as we want and they will still have the same answer, "thats just your opinion". Well yes, it is our opinion and our opinion will either eventually keep or boot you from your office. If the aldermen for the City of Natchez want the city to stand behind them 100%, LISTEN TO US! Many of those who comment do not do so just to hear their head rattle, they have viable and reasonable suggestions and solutions. There are those who just want to vent and be heard. Many of those are comments are removed due to their unreasonable, rude, or outrageous nature but on the flip side of that coin there are those who make perfect sense. I ask each of you with a voice, speak out and speak up. If you have to, burn up the phones to your aldermen and let them know your opinion. The aldermen were voted in by you and must realise, they can also be voted OUT! Positive actions bring about positive results and I really hope there are some aldermen for the City of Natchez who realise this.

Posted by orchid12345 (anonymous) on July 25, 2009 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I've always wondered what the deal is with the Natchez Water Works. I realize the monthly bill covers water, sewage and garbage pickup but I have to wonder where all the money goes and who gets it. The latest census shows the city of Natchez with approximately 15,000 households. Let's use a conservative figure of $50 per month per household: 15,000 x $50 = $750,000. I know my monthly bill is more like $80 per month. Anyway, Natchez Water Works appears to be bringing in 3/4 of a million (or more) per MONTH. A conservative estimate is $9,000,000 annually. 9-10 MILLION a year (and that's based on households only). Where does it all go? Why does no one ever mention this or look into it? Maybe it costs $10 million a year to run the Natchez Water Works but I seriously doubt it . Is the water works owned by the city or is it a private entity? ND why don't you get someone to investigate the Natchez Water Works and let us know exactly how much it collects and where it all goes? It has always seemed like no one wants to go near this issue. Natchez needs money - Check out the Water Works.

Posted by marinefrmntz (anonymous) on July 25, 2009 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Obviously as the world becomes more liberal and all the old wigs die out no one is going to be attracted to Natchez, and this is showing in the economy as well. Natchez hasn't planned for the future and therefore will be left in the past.

Posted by marinefrmntz (anonymous) on July 25, 2009 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Natchez relies on too much money from people outside the state (tourist) rather than relying on the people who live and work in Natchez. Increase wages and give people better jobs to spend more money in Natchez. Forget this historic crap and start building for the future. Obviously the more money people make the more they will spend, the reason is because no one is visiting Natchez, and the people who live in the city dont make enough money.

Posted by wellthatsnice (anonymous) on July 25, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Natasha you have a super outlook on life!You are always so positive and have such insightful things to contribute in all of your comments!I'm sure that in reality you are a pleasure to be around oh and might i add that you also have an extended vocabulary and exceptional punctuation!Just sharing and you have yourself a very productive day!;-)

Posted by marinefrmntz (anonymous) on July 25, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The city doesn't need to quit spending! thats insane IMO. The city needs to spend more wisely for now and look for more ways to increase revenue, to me Nathcez doesn't have a spending problem it has a revenue problem.

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 25, 2009 at 10:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

wellthatsince suck my big toe. Did i punchawait that one right?? The last person that something about my typing and punching couldn,t even spell.

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 25, 2009 at 10:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I look at life like i look. You look your way and i,ll look mine.
Find somebody else to bugger with.

Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on July 26, 2009 at 12:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Posted by marinefrmntz (anonymous) on July 25, 2009 at 12:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Natchez relies on too much money from people outside the state (tourist) rather than relying on the people who live and work in Natchez. Increase wages and give people better jobs to spend more money in Natchez."

This sounds so good, but you have not been in Natchez lately. If the businesses could have afforded paying more, they already would have. Read the minimum wage article and you will see that many businesses will have to cut hours or employees to meet the payroll. Failing that all the prices are going to rise. There goes the big pay raise if you are one of the ones who continue to have a job. Your food, clothes, and other essentials will rapidly eat it up

Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on July 26, 2009 at 12:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why is not the City of Natchez run like a business? Contract out the mowing, and fire the workers used to do it before. That would save thousands. There are probably many more areas just the same. I hate for anyone to lose their job, but if the city cannot afford it, the city should have to tighten their belts also.

Posted by wellthatsnice (anonymous) on July 26, 2009 at 4:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Natasha is english not your native language? Some of your comments don't make any sense to me.I'm not making fun of you by any means, I'm just trying to understand the reasoning behind some of your comments.I try to understand people in general because I am a psychology major.Therefor i am intertested in how the human mind works.You don't seem to be from around this area,and I'm just wondering what the point is your trying to get across in the majority of your comments.I'm sorry if i have offended you in any way i didn't mean to,I'm just wondering why you are always so negative about everything.Something must be wrong or you wouldn't feel so angry all the time.If you need to talk I'll be more than glad to listen and you are more than welcome to email me at barbararoberts94@yahoo.com.Just offering my help incase you or anyone else would like to have it! Sorry if i offended you or anyone else.

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 26, 2009 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

you need a space between the n and c on incase. I think. I,m not a smart ass like you towards people who makes assine or snide remarks about peoples typing skills,grammar,etc.
Do you think someone has to have skills that always fit with society to be correct? I don,t want to be like you or anyone else on this planet. Most folks in your category are dull,one track specific acheivers. I failed English and don,t give a rat,s behind if i did or didn,t. I am negative because i see a lot of negative things i don,t like. Why do you think i need correcting? Your not my mother,I don,t answer to you,you don,t pay my bills. You don,t know how or what i feel and it,s none of your business. Don,t read comments and then start analyzing someone,s grammar or their typing skills and how they feel. That,s the beauty of this country we say what we think without someone kicking our doors in and taking us to jail. I don,t need your help. If you want to wear your husbands underwear or be a pschlogy major,go for it. But don,t come on here and do it. I don,t need your smart remarks that you say are aren,t making fun of people,of course your making fun. Some of the most worthless people i think are head shrinks like you. I know one in Jackson that made millions off of people in rehab spending one or 2 minutes with them. she was undoublty the biggest nit,smartass idiot i ever meet. Shrinks and phychriiast are the most overpaid useless people i have ever met and i have seen quite a few of them. My one uncle was wiser than a hundred shrinks.

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 26, 2009 at 11:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As Clint Eastwood told Spike Lee about his remarks about him,Just shut your face and quit your yakkin.

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 26, 2009 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Therefor i am intertested in how the human mind works

You left out your e in therefore.

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 26, 2009 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We don,t need any more psychologyists.

Life is simple. If you don,t work,then you shouldn,t eat,unless your truly bedridden,or crippled.

If you murder someone,you should be hung.

If you kill someone like the son of Sam did all those people,you don,t need to analyze him,he was just mean.
He needs to be eliminated,so he won,t do that again.

If you steal somebodys property or break into their home.'
You should be put in jail for 25 years. No parole,no pardons.

If you kill or maim a police officer,you should be put in prison for life,no parole.

If your disrespectul to adults you should have your butt whipped.

If your disrespectul in school you should be expelled.

If you tear up something you should have to pay for it.

If you don,t have insurance or a driver,s license your car should be impounded and sold.

Most folks are about as happy as they want to be, If you don,t beleive that,look it up. It was one of Abe Lincoln,s quotes.
Course folks without commons sense won,t agree on that. Shrinks want 200 dollars an hour to figure you out and give you homework to do. Mostly all thats about the money. AA and NA meeting will teach you much more than a psychologists or nut doctor ever could because they are a common sense group of people who have failed over and over and figured a way to get better without some degree from a college. College degrees in human nature are a waste of time in my opinion.

Posted by wellthatsnice (anonymous) on July 26, 2009 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well Natasha it seems i have struck a nerve with you huh?I am not a psychologist,I said i majored in psychology,and that was a number of years ago.I am not making fun of you or anyone else for that matter and if i was i would say that.I never said one word about your grammar or spelling.Every comment that you make says pretty much the same thing and it just seems to me that after typing the same statement 645 times that you would eventualy get it right.AA and NA are absurd.They are nothing more than a room for dopeheads and alcoholics to sit around in and tell one time stories or find dates.They are a crutch and nothing more or less than that.If you don't want to be an alcoholic or dopehead anymore then stop being just that.You didn't need a support group to help you get high or drunk so why would you need one to help you stop?Being uneducated is what makes one worthless,because its makes you not give a rats behind.Every person should pride themselves on being the best that they can be and if they choose not to do so then they should be able to except constructive critisim,recognize their faults,and do something about it.Idots,like yourself,are the worthless ones,simply because you are useless to society.Idots breed and produce other idots that are usless and they don't care.If i was as unhappy and negative as you always seem to be i would jump off the bridge and hope to God that a passing barge did not rescue me.And yes,I feel quite sure that you have seen several psychologist,or shrinks, in your time and maybe you should consider seeing more of them for obvious reasons.You are an unhappy miserable individual and you have no sense of self worth or you would try to change that.Oh and might i add that I have a three year old that has better english and and grammar than you do.Now I am making fun of you.

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 26, 2009 at 10:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

you must be a yankee

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 26, 2009 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Every person should pride themselves on being the best that they can be and if they choose not to do so then they should be able to except constructive critisim,recognize their faults,and do something about it.Idots,like.

This is from your comments, I think the word you were trying to spell was idiots. I looked it up on Wikipedia. If your such a rhodes scholar or sumping,like majoring in psychology. You musta not been worth squat in spelling class. What do you do now,worry about angry people that you don,t like what they say or how they comment?

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 26, 2009 at 11:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If support groups are not needed,why do we need psychologists to support us? I guess you think no one in AA or NA was ever a doctor,lawyer,or college graduate. I think you might want to ask around because many of them that go to AA and NA for support are college grads same as you if you graduted.

Posted by wellthatsnice (anonymous) on July 27, 2009 at 2:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You are correct i did mis spell that word and thanks for pointing that out.I will now take special care to not let that happen again unlike yourself who repeatedly does it and doesn't give a rats behind.Psychologist do not support you.They listen to you,analyze the problem, and teach you how to deal with it.And i'm absolutely positive that lawyers,doctors,ect. attend those groups because i have been to those groups a few times myself.Nevertheless the groups are for people to go and congregate with others who are like them.Maybe it makes them feel better i don't know or care.Either way those groups are for the weak minded that aren't able to do it on their own.I never said i was a scholar,you drew that conclusion on your own.And no I'm not a yankee.I was born in Texas and raised in Mississippi.I thought from your screen name that you were Russian and not very famailar with the English language.But now i have come to the conclusion that your just uneducated.Every comment you make says "They'll be out doing again".So by saying that you are saying that they can't be rehabilitated because they committed an illegal act?But your saying that drug addicts and alcoholics can be rehabilitated by going to meetings?You don't even know if these people are guilty but your angry because they are out on bond.Most of the comments made by you are related to criminal activity and it seems to bother you that the accused got out on bond,because according to you they'll be doing it again.So if in every case that is in fact true how are we to believe that the people from AA and NA won't be out doing it again?Maybe they should start a super fabulous support group for the accused criminals since the groups work so well.And just let me add that i don't dislike what you say on your comments as a matter of fact i love it.Not so much what you say but how you spell it when you say it.It makes me laugh and laugh and laugh everytime i read them!I just think that if a person was going to take the time to comment on something they would atleast take the time to think up something intelligent to say.Like i said before i can't understand why if someone was that angry all the time they wouldn't just jump off the bridge and put themselves out of misery.Who wants to be angry,hostile,and negative all the time.I bet it is very challenging for you to make and keep friends.Either way now that we've both said what we had to say i guess i'll get back to my fabulous life and let you get back to your miserable one.It's been great chatting with you,well no thats a lie.But it has been somewhat interesting for lack of a better word.Once again,have yourself a very productive day or miserable one or whatever kind of day you choose to have.

Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on July 28, 2009 at 8:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I like being angry it keeps my heart rate steady