10091967 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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10 SUMMARY OF OPINIONS AND QUESTIONS There is no doubt that the city needs additional operating funds and equipment. The people need to be told where and how this money will be spent. Has every other possible source of revenue to the city been exhausted? There are citizens not getting services from the city now, will they get them by giving the city more money to spend? I How can we be guaranteed that this money will be properly spent unless we obligate it for definite purposes? The city council should tell the citizens what percentages will be spent where..such as - wage increases, 30%; street & traffic, 30%; equipment, 30%; and parks & recreation, 10%. There are probably enough delinquent taxes on the books to help relieve part of the problem. Personal property tax should beb~P~lqi~rL1dand collection enforced if additional money is needed. The present city ordinance of owner participation in curb,gutter and paving of unpaved streets is no~ good for most of the citizens living on such streets due to thEir lack of ability to participate. Therefore, part of these new funds should be m~de available on a paving program without participation by the property owners. The city employees need more money and the council should obligate a definite amount to them if this passes. The bond election recently passed promised street improvement, so why should street maintenance be considered!as a need for this tax income? I am not convinced that a sales tax is the best way to raise additional income. I don't believe all other means of revenue have been exhausted. The monay could very well be used as debt retirement. The city has been operating at an annual deficit, will this money correct this? It is not our job to obligate the city council nor dictata administrative decisions, only to study the needs of the city. Ad valorem taxes are about as high as they can go for awhile now. Will taxes be increased if this fails? To raise the $100,000 we are talking about...we would have to either raise the tax rate 50 cents, or the utility bills $3.00 per month. The sales tax will be good here because of the tourists, the students, the non-city residents and others who are using our facilities without helping to pay the costs of upkeep and impro~ements. We remind the council that this sheet is merely a summary of conversation, and not official action in form of motions. I However, the membership of this committee urges the council To study this report and to call upon our members for additional data if needed. ~