Tom,
If I understand you properly, you suggested that public officials who do a good job of making difficult decisions and holding costs down deserved increases in their salaries--or raises for a job well done. The flip side of that coin is that to many in the public, this would seem to be cutting programs in order to benefit themselves financially. Not only is this not the message I think pubic servants want to send, I don't think it is in keeping with what their job is or what their motiviations to go into public service are. I suggest that if we like the job our elected officials do, we reward them by re-electing them.
If I misunderstood your proposal, I apologize.
Terri Hyle
From: "Tom Severson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Vicki Englich" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,"Dwayne Voegeli" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: RE: [Winona] council pay increase
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 09:31:15 -0600
[Winona Online Democracy]
I am curious why I haven't seen any comments about my comment that they should be rewarded with bigger increases for staying within their budgets and making the unpopular tough decisions and making cuts. I still believe that we all would love to pay everyone more cover 100% of health insurance and give more vacations. You will never find a small busi9ness person who doesn't appreciate all the quality people who work with them. Therefore I believe that all employers want to do more for the people who help them. People in general are all good. The problems are in communication. Thanks Tom
Tom O. Severson 265 E. Mark Box 736 Winona, Mn. 55987 507 452 3402 ext 214 Direct 452 4743 Office Switchboard [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Vicki Englich Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 9:05 AM To: Dwayne Voegeli; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Winona] council pay increase
[Winona Online Democracy]
Dwayne and all,
Perhaps those who participate in this forum will think I'm nitpicking, but
the City Council pay raise pushed my buttons. The amount was insignificant.
But to take this action in light of the budget cuts, layoffs, increased
personal property taxes we are sure to pay, reduction in services, etc. sent
the message that the council members weren't willing to "take a hit," too.
Of course, I am aware that the city budget crisis mainly results from a
significant loss of Local Government Aid funds from the state.
Think about the differences that other local elected officials earn: school board members earn $100 per month. City Council members earn approximately $6-7.000 annually. The mayor, $8-9,000. The County Commissioners earn $17-18,000 annually. If you include all of their per diems to their base salary, that's a living wage here in Winona. I believe all of the commissioners have additional earned income.
My point is this: those who run for public office and serve cannot be doing
it for the money. If they are, we're in trouble. I was angered that the
commissioners voted themselves a raise before the last election (before you
were sworn in), and I believe that during these times of budget deficits
those who create the policy, lay off employees, and cut public services need
to be more sensitive to those they are affecting. Even a modest pay increase
seems self-serving ("$65--I'm gonna go for it!" exclaimed Councilman Krage).
In today's Daily News, Commissioner Stoltman stated that if boards do not give themselves pay increases, no one will want to run for office. Really? Think back: how many people ran for school board during the last election? One more time: They earn $100 per month. I didn't see that many people chomping at the bit to run for the county board.
Some people have suggested that those who serve the public get so much criticism and make such difficult decisions that they deserve more money. Tell that to a school board member in this town. They get plenty of criticism, but I'll bet you won't see them increasing their monthly pay.
Vicki Englich
---------- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Dwayne Voegeli) >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: [Winona] council pay increase >Date: Tue, Nov 18, 2003, 9:28 PM >
> [Winona Online Democracy]
>
> Vicki, you bring up some good points.
>
> At this morning's (Tuesday) County Board meeting, we voted to freeze our
> County Commissioners' salaries. It was not an easy decision to arrive at,
I
> had suggested it way back in February.
>
> There seems to be at least two main schools of thoughts when it comes to
> dealing with these largely unnecessary budget crises the State Legislature
> and Governor have passed on to local governments.
>
> -----
>
> School of Thought # 1:
>
> Give our important public servants at least cost of living raises that
help
> to offset inflation and more importantly, the health care increases that
> are eating us all alive (City Council faced 15% health care increases this
> year, the County had 17% increases). Give raises to maintain qualified
> staff and attract future high caliber applicants. That approach has many
> benefits but it also has a down side. It means cutting staff and programs
> in other places. The School Board seems to have chosen this path.
>
> -----
>
> School of Thought # 2:
>
> Try to maintain existing programs and staff whenever possible. If cuts
are
> made below a certain level, the programs are either lost or rendered
> ineffective. The downside to this approach is having to ask hard working
> public servants to freeze their salaries or take raises below the rate of
> inflation. It's not just a one year effect, it will effect some for 20-30
> years more when it effects some people's retirements.
>
> -----
>
> Both approaches have advantages and very sad disadvantages. I respect
both
> approaches. Personally, I fall into the second school of thought but I
> understand and respect what the City Council has chosen to do.
>
> It's sad to see people and great public programs being pitted against each
> other. At the County Board level, it is played out in food shelves vs.
the
> Women's Resource Center vs. funding for adults with mental illness vs. the
> County Fair vs. the Historical society et al. At the School Board level,
> it's all day kindergarten vs. neighborhood schools vs. the 4 Period Day at
> the High School. It's sad to see.
>
> It doesn't have to be this way!
>
> We need to see the real sources of the problem.
>
> 1. We need to realize that government is a reflection of our values. We
> need to adequately and fairly invest in the public programs that have
given
> Minnesota one of the highest, if not the highest, quality of life in the
> United States. Yes, that means taxes.
>
> 2. We need to solve the health care fiasco that has been wrecking City
> Council, School Board, County Board, State Government, and private sector
> budgets for over 10 years now.
>
> 3. We need clean and fair elections that will allow democracy to work
it's
> magic again.
>
> 4. We need more good, but quiet and shy, people to get active in the
> democratic process. Mother Jones said, "don't mourn, organize."
>
> Let's not form a firing line in the shape of a circle.
>
> We can do better than that.
>
> (Even Wal Mart is going "Green")
>
> ;->
>
> Dwayne Voegeli
>
> ------------
>
> Dwayne Voegeli
>
> Winona County Commissioner, District #2
>
> (507) 453-9012
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> 359 Pleasant Hill Dr.
> 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
> mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact
page
at
> http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
_______________________________________________
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
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page
at
http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
_______________________________________________
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
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at
http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
_________________________________________________________________
Is there a gadget-lover on your gift list? MSN Shopping has lined up some good bets! http://shopping.msn.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 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at
http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
