Vicki, I am not going to get into an argument about you gross generalization about Independent Boards, Other Expenditures, the MCDA or NRP -- there are far better people to do that.
I would like to address you underlying philosophy. You said that we should " Rather than spend, spend, spend, borrow, borrow, borrow, tax - I am suggesting a transition to spend, tax, pay the bills." Interesting. Is that how you run your business? Your personal life? You have no mortgages? No leases? No credit cards? No construction loans? No lines of credit? You deduct no assets depreciation? I know there are some religions that call upon their members to avoid all debt -- but it does not seem to me that is a religion we would want our public business to worship. Joseph Barisonzi Community Knowledge Specialist CommunityLeader, Inc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] 612-518-5536 That is, I heard a good bit about a ring and a dark lord and something about the end of the world. But please Mister Gandalf sir, don't hurt me. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Victoria Heller Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004 12:51 PM To: Mpls Forum Subject: [Mpls] Lingering death by arithmetic [Carol Becker] "Here is my challenge back to Ms. Heller. Which of these things should be cut? Which programs and by how much? This can then be translated into property tax levels and we can talk about what the tax savings will be to the average taxpayer." [Vicky Heller] Here are the 2003 Minneapolis budgeted expenditures: They total $1.22 billion. 231,800,000 Public Works 146,400,000 MCDA 122,000,000 Capital Improvement 122,000,000 Debt Service 97,600,000 Other 97,600,000 Police 97,600,000 Transfers to Other Funds 73,200,000 Park Board 48,800,000 Fire Dept 48,800,000 City Coordinator 24,400,000 Health & Family Support 24,400,000 Convention Center 24,400,000 Licenses & Inspections 24,400,000 Library Board 24,400,000 Other Independent Boards 12,200,000 City Attorney Without auditing each of the categories, it's difficult to identify wasteful spending - and I don't have the time or desire to do it. The $97 million of "other" spending should be identified, since it is equivalent to the entire police department. When we get the 2003 financial reports, we will see how much of the MCDA budget was reduced - note that its budget is equivalent to police and fire combined. The $146 million must include the costs of running the NRP - which in my opinion should be completely scrapped. Too bad we can't recover the $200 million that's already been spent. Until the debts and debt service are eliminated, the City should suspend payments to "Other Independent Boards." Citizens should be willing to contribute without expecting compensation. What are all of these boards anyway? What do they do? Why can't the City Council make those decisions? Property taxes should be doubled - until all debts are paid - including the new library, the new Guthrie, and whatever happens at the Sear's site. Once the debts are gone, Minneapolis will once again be the shining star of the North with more than enough money to maintain and increase its assets. Rather than spend, spend, spend, borrow, borrow, borrow, tax - I am suggesting a transition to spend, tax, pay the bills. Minneapolis is choking on debt service right now and interest rates will be going up soon. Something must be done pronto. We'll all be a lot smarter when the 2003 reports are available. Why does it take so long for the City to produce financial reports? Vicky Heller North Oaks and Cedar Riverside REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
