Fix is in charge NOW!!!!
I would not worry folks. Jeff Fix has just got elected a majority that think the way he does. All of the debt will be paid off by the giving away of our tax dollars to the township. This cooperation with the township will lead us into the promise land of gold and Rec. Centers. Remember he has promised us millions over time and I for one will not let him forget his promises. He and Smith have ignored the true problems of the city and they have concentrated their efforts on helping the township improve their reveunes and forgot about the city.
Normally Fix and Smith are getting their names in the paper. However when their performance now comes into question they allow Brian Wisniewski to step forward and take the heat.
I think if you look closely you will find a number of factors effecting the budget's short fall. Anytime you change whether it be voluntary or from a policy stand point from an uncontrolled growth down to a slow growth policy you need to adjust the sources of the revenues and I doubt anyone on council ever figured on not having that $1 Million per year impact fee collections. I heard Jeff Fix argue that we were planning on 175 homes per year ($3,500 per home) last year and I believe the numbers are much lower than that this year and I doubt they will be any higher next year.
With the commercial development along 256 there was a sharp increase in the crime as a result. The city trying to keep up with that crime had to hire new officers every year over the last four years. I believe the police budget has been increasing at a rate twice that of the general fund revenues over the last 5 or 6 years. The numbers and the increases are getting so big now that even a replacement of the police levy will only help for a year or two.
I have been wondering for a few years now when the debt service would hit the city for the Diley Road widening. Apparently it is hitting in 2008. I am afraid some of the new members of council have taken the advice of Weltlich that says commercial development will only occur if the township and the city have a signed agreement. ''Corporations like stable communities'' or so the saying goes. The fact is no commercial development will occur if there are no infrastructures in place and to date the township puts in zero for that part of the development.
It appears that the current council will be at the mercy of Jeff Fix and Keith Smith and they will only find one way out and that is to raise your taxes. They are being guided by a staff fearing lay offs and maybe pay cuts if that is allowed under the union rules and lord only knows where they will guide this new council. In any event it will not be in the favor of the taxpayer.
I would not worry folks. Jeff Fix has just got elected a majority that think the way he does. All of the debt will be paid off by the giving away of our tax dollars to the township. This cooperation with the township will lead us into the promise land of gold and Rec. Centers. Remember he has promised us millions over time and I for one will not let him forget his promises. He and Smith have ignored the true problems of the city and they have concentrated their efforts on helping the township improve their reveunes and forgot about the city.
Normally Fix and Smith are getting their names in the paper. However when their performance now comes into question they allow Brian Wisniewski to step forward and take the heat.
I think if you look closely you will find a number of factors effecting the budget's short fall. Anytime you change whether it be voluntary or from a policy stand point from an uncontrolled growth down to a slow growth policy you need to adjust the sources of the revenues and I doubt anyone on council ever figured on not having that $1 Million per year impact fee collections. I heard Jeff Fix argue that we were planning on 175 homes per year ($3,500 per home) last year and I believe the numbers are much lower than that this year and I doubt they will be any higher next year.
With the commercial development along 256 there was a sharp increase in the crime as a result. The city trying to keep up with that crime had to hire new officers every year over the last four years. I believe the police budget has been increasing at a rate twice that of the general fund revenues over the last 5 or 6 years. The numbers and the increases are getting so big now that even a replacement of the police levy will only help for a year or two.
I have been wondering for a few years now when the debt service would hit the city for the Diley Road widening. Apparently it is hitting in 2008. I am afraid some of the new members of council have taken the advice of Weltlich that says commercial development will only occur if the township and the city have a signed agreement. ''Corporations like stable communities'' or so the saying goes. The fact is no commercial development will occur if there are no infrastructures in place and to date the township puts in zero for that part of the development.
It appears that the current council will be at the mercy of Jeff Fix and Keith Smith and they will only find one way out and that is to raise your taxes. They are being guided by a staff fearing lay offs and maybe pay cuts if that is allowed under the union rules and lord only knows where they will guide this new council. In any event it will not be in the favor of the taxpayer.
