Posted by horseygirl on February 7, 2011, 5:45 pm, in reply to "Pontoon Beach..."
Yes, there have been some very good thoughts put forth on that other forum.
Yes, our village finances, like many other places, world-wide, are in real trouble. I just don't know what happens when a village can't pay for itself, anymore. I intend to ask. Lots of things are mandated, like health insurance, pensions, retirements--we have no choice in paying them. And, those costs keep rising with every retire and hire. The state wants us to be self-sustaining by 2014. With the way things are done,now, there is no way.
Personally, I pay for my own health insurance, and save for my pension, and plan for my own retirement, out of money I earn during my working years. (Ha--I'll have to work till I drop dead--'cause I'll still have to pay my outrageous taxes some would like to raise.)
Needless to say, my thoughts on some matters don't set well with many of our employees.
The solving of our financial problems will, I believe, require MAJOR sacrifices--from one side or the other, or both.
Now, to address your questions:
Trucks pay a lot of taxes, and Motor Fuel Taxes fund much of our road repairs. The main highways are maintained by the state, not us. Also, "trucks" seems to be one of the only industries attracted to us, so far.
Yes, we have wasted way too much on legal fees. Though this attorney costs us much less than the last. He doesn't seem as willing to play the same games. He has an office in Glen Carbon, and is present at all of our meetings. He has done excellent work for the village, that I've seen.
We got rid of the economic developer several months ago. He was mostly paid out of the tourism fund--which apparently means it's ok to blow, if you can think of a way to do it legally.
The budget has been slashed considerably, already, though I believe there are other avenues that would generate revenue that should be implemented before raising taxes. Again, though, my ideas have not been popular at the table.
I hope I've answered some of your questions. Ask away--I just don't care, anymore, what some of them think of me, or how they want to treat me. I'm going to be honest, even if it's brutal--and they still have to take me for two more years. Some only have to take me for two more months. With any luck, things will be different, come April.