[Winona Online Democracy]
The message was that they are working harder holding costs in line
therefore deserve more money. We in Winona county have not increased
population in the count, nor have we increased land mass, nor do I believe
increased enrollment incur schools, but we have increased the size of our
budgets and number of buildings. Keeping those budgets in line should be
our reason for reelecting or paying more to the people. These people need
our support when they hold down costs. They should all be held accountable
for costs continually.
Planning like the current infrastructure improvements to maintain our
position should not be looked at like operating costs.
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 terri hyle
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2003 12:26 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED];
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: [Winona] council pay increase
[Winona Online Democracy]
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
> >
> > ------------
> >
> >
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>_______________________________________________
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