City budget woes
Mike Mercer, Emporia
Friday, August 1, 2008
I attended the open city budget meeting on Wednesday night, and came away with some answers to some of my questions.
My biggest question is why there is a lack of communications about the budget between the city government and the public. I asked that question to the commissioners and their response was “We thought the media would report it for us.” I would say that our media coverage in this town is very good, but the commissioners need to make sure that they explain things in a way that the average person can understand.
There has got to be a way to simplify it so the ordinary person can understand it. Like I said in 2007, when I was running for city commissioner, there has got to be an “average guy” on the committee. Someone that can communicate with everyone, and can give them answers that they understand.
I am not claiming to be an expert on budgets, but I will ask questions until I get an answer that I can understand.
Let me give an example here: I was looking at the projected city budget for 2009 and noticed that they want to enlarge a pond on one of the holes at the golf course. The projected cost was $190,000. I came unglued when I saw this. When I asked the commissioners about this, they told me that they were going to use this to water the golf course, and that it would pay itself off in three years.
You know what? I am glad I asked that question. There is another open budget meeting next week, and I hope that more people come and ask questions.
Don’t forget to vote for the average guy (me) in 2009 for city commissioner.
Comments
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Posted by dhcc66 (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wow, that would about make up the difference in buying a new or used firetruck too huh??
Posted by emporiateacher (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I will be at the next meeting. I believe in investing in our community, but I think that our commissioners are investing money in the wrong places if we truely want Emporia to grow.
Posted by sadinemporia (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
When is the next meeting?
Posted by netloafer (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The next meeting is Tuesday, August 5th at 7 PM at Sacred Heart Church on the corner of 1st and Cottonwood.
Posted by jayhawker (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mike: Good article. Perhaps I missed the point about the $190,000.00 pond. It will pay for itself by saving that much water in three years? That is $63,000.00 per year in water for the golf course. Why are we spending that kind of money to water the golf course? Asked another way, why are we spending money at all on a golf course? I recognize that it is something that gets a lot of use and provides recreation to a lot of people, but isn't that something that a private business could provide? Things like that were fine in the good times, but we are in a fight for survival. Maybe we need to look at that question. I wonder how many other things like that are out there.
Posted by create (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 5:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So what happens when we have a dry year and the pond on the golf course goes almost dry? That's not unusual around here; we've all seen livestock ponds during dry years.
I'm glad jayhawker did the math because $63,000 seems a lot for one year of watering. I'd like to see some water bills. I just wonder.
Don't these people watch the national news? High gas prices are only the tip of the iceberg. Millions of people are being downsized in their jobs as little by little the economy unravels. Why isn't the commission putting some money away for a rainy day?
Before long we'll be told that the budget won't allow for more widespread snow removal, or melting ice on our streets. The price of a golf course pond just might make a difference after a blizzard or two.
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
$190k to build a pond??????? I recently had an estimate to build a brand new pond for $2000. The pond I am going to have will not be small or shallow by any means. Does the quote include irrigation plumbing and hardware? That some expense pasture pool upgrades there.
Posted by dhcc66 (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
from what i understood at the last year's budget meetings, we have to catch up before we can save for a rainy day. our past city manager and commissions have driven us into a 40 to 50 million dollar hole on bonds that we owe money on.
from what i understood during last year's process, some of the budget is being spent on putting money back into the reserves, which if i remember correctly is around 150,000 right now...somebody correct me if i'm wrong.
i think that the city government is doing most of what they should be doing in our situation, but sometimes it seems like the commissioners still have a "check writing" problem....kinda like somebody who thinks that since they still have checks, there still must be money in the account. THE POND HAS TO GO!!!! no more waste
Posted by methusla (anonymous) on August 1, 2008 at 11:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a question for those who have attended open city budget meetings in the past and those who plan to attend in the future.
How many of you that have attended and will attend think that you have or will get a straight forward and honest answer from any of commissioners or any of those involved in the city budget process and even more important will they listen to and even consider any suggestion or concern of the common, ordinary Jill or Joe who attends the meeting anyway ?
I have said before and still say that one of the most expensive and unnecesory budget items is the salary paid to the city manager, as each and every new city manager's wage increases everytime a new one is hired. I believe that if Emporia absolutely needs a city manager, the pay should be contingent upon performance and not just throw a figure at a prospective candidate, unless the person has a solid, proven track record in City Management, Budget Planning, Public Relations, etc. and above all Common Sense.
I don't believe that spending $190,000 on enlarging a golf course pond in these uncertain times shows either common sense or good public relations, also I thought that the City of Emporia owned the water treatment plant and the water rights, therefore, ( correct me if I'm wrong ), but isn't paying $63,333.33 dollars per year for water you supposedly own the rights to somewhat redundant ( "excess") !
Posted by nks (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I disagree with average guy about raising rates. I used to buy an annual membership every year or at least pay to go once a week. There used to be a group of about 8 of us go consistently. Now because of the high green fees and annual prices we might go 6 times a year now.
The fees are already surpassing other courses around the state. We are very fortunate to have a beautiful course in this size of a town but the higher rates are making it less and less used per year.
There are other ways to save money out there. Cut down the mowing out in the rough, look into manpower issues, etc...
Raising rates will drive MORE people away.
I cant believe that this pond improvement can not be held off for a few more years.
Posted by methusla (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have a question or two.
Has the municipal golf course ever shown that it is a fiscaly sound operation, such as turning a profit and if not why is it still open and supported by public tax dollars ?
Aren't most profitable golf courses either privately owned business enterprises or Private Club enterprises that attract big name pro golfers that in turn attract thousands of fans who spend money either at the clubhouse or the surrounding citys and towns and attract multi-million dollar T.V. rights ?
Do you think the City of Emporia municipal golf course will ever be able to attract the afformentioned pro-golfer, fans, and T.V. money ?
Don't you think that if the municipal golf course can't turn a profit and support itself that it is nothing more than a dead horse ?
Posted by gazette_reader (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It would be ideal for the golf course to be privately owned and operated. Even though I am not a golfer, I would be hesitant to just "let the grass go" because of budget issues. For many people, and especially business people, having access to a decent golf course is a basic standard of living issue, along with having decent parks. If you shut these things down, it will make it even harder to attract people here.
I am curious about the cost, though. Does this include some sort of sprinkler system that links to the pond?
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on August 2, 2008 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why do we PAY to play golf and the library is free? The zoo is Free. The parks are free.
Posted by JessicaNelson (anonymous) on August 4, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.emporia-kansas.gov/pdf/2009bu...
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