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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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.</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Chris </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>-----Original Message-----<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>From:</span></b>
towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org
[mailto:towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On
Behalf Of </span></b>Dwight Holmes<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Monday, May 21, 2007 3:50 PM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> TownTalk<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [RP TownTalk] no vote
will be taken at the budget hearing</span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'> </span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt;margin-left:
.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>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.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
</span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><span class=gmailquote><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>On 5/21/07, <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>Roland Walker</span></b> <<a
href="mailto:walker@pobox.com">walker@pobox.com</a>> wrote:</span></font></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>[Dwight Holmes writes]<br>
> it does feel a bit rushed, for something as momentous as this is.<br>
<br>
Outside the world of this email list, the budget process is neither so<br>
rushed, nor the taxation decision so momentous. <br>
<br>
No vote will be taken tonight -- the meeting is only a hearing, one<br>
that is required under the laws that govern the process.<br>
<br>
The mayor's submitted budget represents, in large part, "wishlists" <br>
put forward by town staff, gathered up together, and proposed to the<br>
council.<br>
<br>
Tonight's hearing publicizes a maximum number, which our taxes cannot<br>
exceed. However, it is expected that the final taxation instructions
<br>
we send to the county will be lower. The law gives us the
flexibility<br>
to move down -- but not up -- from the publicized number. So we call<br>
it first on the high end.<br>
<br>
Right now, what is happening is that your councilmembers are poring <br>
over the budget, finding items to remove or add, generally working to<br>
bring the budget down by whittling away at staff wishlists. One<br>
councilmember has also found a revenue item which was missing.<br>
Citizens have also read the budget and forwarded good money-saving <br>
suggestions, and are encouraged to do so.<br>
<br>
The incoming council are the ones that will actually pass the budget.<br>
They are on point right now to see that the budget fits their policy<br>
priorities as described to voters. <br>
<br>
This is generally a consultative process, not an adversarial one. Mr<br>
Oppenheim's exhortations on the subject may be charitably explained by<br>
noting that having served only half a term, he is not very familiar <br>
with the process.<br>
<br>
The final tax rate will be lower than the advertised rate. It will<br>
probably represent a modest rise in rates.<br>
<br>
Vernon Archer ran for mayor in '05 on a platform or building up our <br>
town, and was unopposed in '07. Perhaps someone will run in '09 on
a<br>
platform of cutting police and public works. In the meantime,<br>
measured, steady buildup will continue.<br>
<br>
This was the choice of the voters. <br>
<br>
R<br>
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For more information about Riverdale Park, visit <a
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style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
<br clear=all>
<br>
-- <br>
~~<br>
Map of Riverdale Park MD Trolley Hiker-Biker Trail and Cafritz Property<br>
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/2wsfql">http://tinyurl.com/2wsfql</a><br>
~~<br>
Tracking the Washington Nationals' 2007 season (will they catch the '62 Mets?):<br>
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/2m6f43">http://tinyurl.com/2m6f43</a> </span></font></p>
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