[RP TownTalk] no vote will be taken at the budget hearing

Tue May 22 12:37:29 UTC 2007

The budget historically has been delivered the week before the election (in
election years), and preparation with town staff began 1-2 months earlier.
Perhaps this has changed more recently, but it might be a good system to go
back to. It is unusual in the town's history for a proposed budget hike of
this size to have not been discussed during a campaign, either pro or con.

Also, I have been hearing much about road improvements; streets that were
repaired 5-10 years ago are being redone again now. This is not unusual if a
utility company destroys them and pays for the complete over-hall (usually
after much legal wrangling). But, if these newly done streets did not
survive their proposed 20-30 year life span, then perhaps the road repair
company should be taken to task and repair them at reduced or no cost.

A now-deceased mayor from the 1960s touted himself as the "road-paving
king," and did all of the town streets at once. Then, in the 1980s and early
1990s, they all failed at the nearly same time (as their life expectancies
all expired at the same time), a problem which my generation of
councilmembers inherited. A more moderate approach seemed to be warranted,
as it would not seem prudent to pass this problem along to your children
after the town had learned such a valuable lesson then.

Chris 

-----Original Message-----
From: towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org
[mailto:towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org] On Behalf Of Dwight Holmes
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007 3:50 PM
To: TownTalk
Subject: Re: [RP TownTalk] no vote will be taken at the budget hearing

Roland--Thank you for the information here you've given us that I was not
previously aware of, and which is good to know. The value of this thread
continues to accumulate. However, I'm puzzled a bit by your citing of my
earlier email. What I wrote was "Like some have already said, I think it's
too bad the discussion couldn't have started somewhat sooner -- it does feel
a bit rushed, for something as momentous as this is. But it is good to know
that there are at least a few meetings to go before things are finalized."
You took a piece of that out of context.  I think it misconstrued the
meaning of what I wrote.

And whether we are eventually talking about tax hike of 27% or 18% or even
10%, I think it's fair to say that it is momentous.  I would argue at the
very least that it *should* be seen as such.  I'm not advocating for or
against any particular proposal at this point. As a new homeowner in  the
town, I want and need much more information. That's why I've appreciated and
expressed as much for the current thread(s) we've got going here.  Without
this email list I would know nothing of any of these issues.  It's really
too bad more of our residents don't join in.  But mainly, I'm just saying
that a tax increase of any amount in that range (10 - 27%) is certainly not
inconsequential, is certainly significant, and may be seen by many on tight
budgets as mom entous. 

On 5/21/07, Roland Walker <walker at pobox.com> wrote:

[Dwight Holmes writes]
> it does feel a bit rushed, for something as momentous as this is.

Outside the world of this email list, the budget process is neither so
rushed, nor the taxation decision so momentous. 

No vote will be taken tonight -- the meeting is only a hearing, one
that is required under the laws that govern the process.

The mayor's submitted budget represents, in large part, "wishlists" 
put forward by town staff, gathered up together, and proposed to the
council.

Tonight's hearing publicizes a maximum number, which our taxes cannot
exceed.  However, it is expected that the final taxation instructions 
we send to the county will be lower.  The law gives us the flexibility
to move down -- but not up -- from the publicized number.  So we call
it first on the high end.

Right now, what is happening is that your councilmembers are poring 
over the budget, finding items to remove or add, generally working to
bring the budget down by whittling away at staff wishlists.  One
councilmember has also found a revenue item which was missing.
Citizens have also read the budget and forwarded good money-saving 
suggestions, and are encouraged to do so.

The incoming council are the ones that will actually pass the budget.
They are on point right now to see that the budget fits their policy
priorities as described to voters. 

This is generally a consultative process, not an adversarial one.  Mr
Oppenheim's exhortations on the subject may be charitably explained by
noting that having served only half a term, he is not very familiar 
with the process.

The final tax rate will be lower than the advertised rate.  It will
probably represent a modest rise in rates.

Vernon Archer ran for mayor in '05 on a platform or building up our 
town, and was unopposed in '07.   Perhaps someone will run in '09 on a
platform of cutting police and public works.  In the meantime,
measured, steady buildup will continue.

This was the choice of the voters. 

R
_______________________________________________
TownTalk mailing list
To post to the list, send mail to TownTalk at riverdale-park.org
TownTalk-request at riverdale-park.org is for automated subscription processing
only
http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk

For more information about Riverdale Park, visit
http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us

-- 
~~
Map of Riverdale Park MD Trolley Hiker-Biker Trail and Cafritz Property
http://tinyurl.com/2wsfql
~~
Tracking the Washington Nationals' 2007 season (will they catch the '62
Mets?):
http://tinyurl.com/2m6f43 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://riverdale-park.org/pipermail/towntalk/attachments/20070522/60868111/attachment-0003.html>