[Winona Online Democracy]
Although national fiscal policy has a major impact on local and state finances, at this point the potential severity of local budgetary cuts requires an immediate local focus. It would be useful if the city and county published their budgets as quickly and as widely as possible so that the public can see revenues and expenditures, current and projected, with perhaps worst case scenarios. (The school district has supplied useful information on future problems.) Especially important is attention to the costs of functions of government rather than to specific items in a line-item budget. The local newspapers could help present the data in comprehensible form. They could also provide an explanation of terms. For most people, government finance is unknown territory outside the realm of property taxes. A surprising number of people have never heard of LGA, although it is an integral part of the state and local budgeting issues. The internet could provide another means of conveying information. Of course not everyone will study the data, but at least a larger number of people than now will have the opportunity. Without some specific information available, the call for citizen input will result largely in responses in defense of particular interests. This particularism is not bad in itself--and is necessary in many cases--but outside of any wider context it can present a skewed picture of perceived financial needs and consequences. Services aimed at all people can be ignored because they are not salient enough to merit the attention of strong interest groups even though of major importance to the community at large. Roy Nasstrom Winona ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Double" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Online Democracy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, February 14, 2003 9:35 AM Subject: FW: [Winona] Savings Information Request to local public bodies > [Winona Online Democracy] > > > Dwayne and others, > > Economist who have advised presidents including President Kennedy have > supported the idea that tax cuts do kick start the economy and do in fact > generate more in taxes as people sell off assets and add reportable taxable > income. The plan, whatever it ends up to be, must in my opinion, do several > things. First it must cause consumers to buy goods or services that put > people back to work. Second it must pay for itself by accelerating the > taxable income for those who have parked assets and will sell "because to > tax rates are lower". Third it must provide incentives for "people" to > invest in business and take higher risks rather than in park it banks and > government bonds. Fourth it must start a process of long term capital > formation which enables people to buy a home, save for their children's > college education, plan for their retirement so that when that day comes > they have the ability to pay for it rather than having to look to the > government for a loan, grant or subsidized tuition. > > Dwayne I too would like to see this information as well especially if we > wanted to move to number one in taxes. This link shows were we are now at > 7.85% to the current #1 District of Columbia at 9.3. I doubt the "super > wealthy" even at those rates will solve the appetite of those wish to spend > more. I would love to see someone put to rest this argument the getting the > "fat cats" "Super Wealthy" "CEO's" will ever provide enough revenue to > quench the thirst of the spenders. > http://www.taxadmin.org/fta/rate/ind_inc.html > "But I would also like to see the facts laid out as to how much money the > State tax cuts cost three years ago and where we would be now if they had > not been made. I would also like to see how much money could be raised by > increasing the state income rates on the super wealthy." > > Now back to the local issue > > Local units of government, are faced with the realtity that increased taxes > "will not happen". We can continue the past rhetoric of more, > more, more money (taxes) but that will not happen at least in the > foreseeable future regardless of protests, marches, candle visuals or > petitions. > > Local governments therefore must be prudent and "plan for the reality of the > time" and which proposals being considered at the capitol will have less > impact on their unit and therefore us. LGA provides Winona with significate > property tax relief but most people don't understand that. Given the choice > a wage freeze or severe LGA (Local Government Aid) reductions, Community > Education Fund Balance Caps > verses K-12 cuts or wage freezes verses Social Services Staff cuts focuses > us on those proposals which improve our outcome. Government workers are not > the first to see their salaries froze as we in industry have been dealing > with it for years as we continue to see our revenues and more important > margins not keep pace with government regulation, increased taxes and > healthcare. Without margins we can not grow, provide benefits, return for > investors, capital for new equipment and survive in a global marketplace. > > Demanding more money doesn't cut it and that message falls on deaf ears. It > is time to deal with downsizing government or at least holding our own. > > > Paul Double > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > ____________________________________________________________________________ > _ > Hello Paul and Others, > > Paul, those facts and figures are very important and they should be laid > out on the table. I believe a discussion of a public employee freeze is a > very valid issue to consider. (The idea is something I might even agree to > even though my wife and I are both public employees.) > > But I would also like to see the facts laid out as to how much money the > State tax cuts cost three years ago and where we would be now if they had > not been made. I would also like to see how much money could be raised by > increasing the state income rates on the super wealthy. > > It seems a bit odd that President Bush and others are pushing in the > opposite direction, tax cuts for the super wealthy. Heck, based on a > national report just released today the 200 top leaders of Enron (remember > whose plane candidate George W. Bush flew around Texas in?), were able to > avoid paying taxes on billions of dollars of income. > > The purported reason is that the wealthy would have more money to spend and > create jobs. Why do we want to give the rich tax cuts and freeze the > salaries of a big chunk of the middle class? Won't the public employees > also invest and spend their money and thus create jobs under that line of > thought? I think the main difference is who can afford to buy the > politicians that run the show. > > A big part of the middle class is being asked to take a wage freeze, the > poor are going to be hit hard with cuts, and President Bush wants to give > the super wealthy tax cuts. > > I guess if you can throw enough money at an issue; you can then hire the > right accountants to create tax shelters (Enron), fund whatever so-called > think tank you want to justify your position, and also buy your own > politicians to boot. > > The State and Federal budget problems are economic ones but they are also > political problems. The 1990's produced a record amount of wealth for > some and they in turn invested in certain political parties and now they > are reaping their returns on their investments. > > Isn't it about time for real campaign finance reform? > > Dwayne Voegeli > > =================== > > >[Winona Online Democracy] > > > >Congratulations and thumbs up are in order for WAPS, Winona County and the > >City of Winona for releasing the freeze dollar information to the media. > >This two million dollars savings is the right step in the process of > >analyzing proposals that may become reality. It also protect jobs verses > >entire program cuts. > > > >Now if Southeast Technical College and Winona State University will do the > >same so that the impact can address if student tuition increases are > >necessary. > > > >At least now we can see the light of Day! Senator Day that is-------- > > > > > >Paul Double > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > >Thanks for the suggestion. > > > >The Legislative Committee for Winona Area Public Schools has already > >identified that, with the current budget situation, it would be a good > >priority to identify unfunded mandates and request the legislature to > remove > >them -- as opposed to asking for more money. An email went out to all > staff > >earlier this week asking them to submit ideas for mandates they encounter > in > >the course of their work that they feel are unnecessary. > > > >The district would certainly be open to any suggestions from those on this > >list for mandates that could realistically be repealed. > > > >-Steve Kranz > >-Board Member, Winona Area Public Schools > > > > > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Paul Double" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: "Online Democracy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 9:02 AM > >Subject: FW: [Winona] Savings Information Request to local public bodies > > > > > >> [Winona Online Democracy] > >> > >> Local elected leaders are part of the solution. > >> > >> In the past almost every elected official has complained about state > >> mandates and the impact on their budgets. This maybe the golden > >opportunity > >> to get rid of the mandates to offset lower tax revenue or has the cost of > >> the mandates been a Trojan horse to throw out to the public as a way to > >> blame another body for increased taxes and fees. > >> > >> As part of this discussion and assuming past statements have supporting > >> facts what at the "five" top cost state mandates in "each unit of > >> government" that they would recommend be eliminated and what would be > the > >> resulting annual savings be assuming the Governor and Legislature would > >> approve elimination? > >> > >> Shouldn't proactive ways to reduce or freeze the cost of government > >> supercede the local summit agenda on how to get or keep more of the > >> taxpayers money? > >> > >> Could it be the job is too tough for nice people to handle? > >> > >> Paul B. Double > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> > >___________________________________________________________________________ > _ > >> _ > >> An off line question was asked about excessive pay for corporate heads > and > >a > >> freeze for them --- > >> > >> Leaders, lead by example and the idea of those leading setting an example > >> Would be good. Instead of a freeze excessive corporate salaries should > >> be rolled back 5-10 % resulting in higher income taxes being paid by > >> their employing corporations. > >> > >> Increased corporate profits should increase dividends for pension fund > >> investors, individual investor dividend income and should also increases > >> the value of their stock. While the tax collections may not yield > >> increases (the corporate executive goes down, the corporation taxes go > >> up, the pension fund is exempt and the increase stock value yields > >> nothing until sold). > >> > >> The leadership model they would provide would reinforce the idea that > >> controlling > >> cost is as important and sometimes more important than as increasing > >> sales or taxes. The reward for their co-workers is stable employment as > >> well as > >> providing their boss, the owners(stockholders) with a return on the > >> capital that exceeds the risk afforded by parking their investments in > >> Government Bonds, Bank CD's or stuffing it under the mattress. > >> > >> Paul Double > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> > >> > >___________________________________________________________________________ > _ > >> ____________________ > >> > >> >A. How much money would be saved by each local unit of government if > a > >> >salary freeze were implemented by the state for one year? > >> > > >> >B. If my memory serves me right, each one percent represents in WAPS > >> >about $160,000 > >> > Assuming state aide to K-12 education stays the same what would > >that > >> >do the cash balances on hand one year later? > >> > > >> >C. Also the same question is asked for WSU and SE Technical and if > >frozen > >> >would there be any need for tuition increases? > >> > > >> > > >> >Paul Double > >> >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> > > >> > >> __________________________________________________________________ > >> The NEW Netscape 7.0 browser is now available. Upgrade now! > >> http://channels.netscape.com/ns/browsers/download.jsp > >> > >> Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at > >> http://webmail.netscape.com/ > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > >> All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > >> No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > >> To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > >> http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > >> Any problems or suggestions can be directed to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > >All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > >No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > >To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > >http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > >Any problems or suggestions can be directed to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >_______________________________________________ > >This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > >All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > >No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > >To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > >http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > >Any problems or suggestions can be directed to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > ------------ > > Dwayne Voegeli > > Winona County Commissioner, District #2 > > (507) 453-9012 > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > 870 44th Ave. > Winona, MN 55987 > > ------------ > > > _______________________________________________ > This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > Any problems or suggestions can be directed to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > This message powered by EMUMAIL. -- http://www.EMUMAIL.com > > _______________________________________________ > This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy > All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. > No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. > To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit > http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona > Any problems or suggestions can be directed to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > _______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. 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