I just watched the Decatur City Council meeting on television and I’m not sure what I just witnessed. It was worse than a staged Jerry Springer chair toss; more unpleasant than a shoe worn two sizes too small; more uncomfortable than an 18 hour bra worn for 18 days.
I’m pretty sure our property taxes won’t be going up due to an increase in the levy rate. We may all pay double when our properties are assessed 200% more than they’re worth but that’s besides the point. Bus rates will be going up 25 cents. The library saw its funding cut – again. The municipal band will be funded out of the general fund. I’ll have to double-check in the morning if my facts and numbers are correct because I’m still recovering from the “fingernail scratching on a blackboard” feeling I have going up and down my spine.
The mayor seemed in a very grouchy mood. He snipped at Adam Brown when Brown indicated he wouldn’t vote for any tax increase – as he promised his voters. Mayor McElroy wanted to know what Brown’s solution would be if he couldn’t support any kind of increase. Brown didn’t reply.
I was amazed by how little discussion there was before the vote. I don’t particularly care for how little this current council elaborates on its decision making. Maybe our previous council went overboard, and was at times windy, but at least I knew what they were thinking and why. It seems like there’s much communication behind the scenes with this current bunch but very little communication for the public to digest – but after witnessing tonight’s episode that may be a good thing! Maybe we don’t want to hear the conversations – just like we don’t want to hear a neighbor’s marital bliss implode into shouts, cursing, slamming car doors and screeching tires in the middle of the night.
And I’m not sure, but I think Mayor McElroy challenged Adam Ruderman to a duel tonight. If shots ring out a high noon on Merchant Street tomorrow, we may make national news and for a change, Jessie Jackson won’t be involved. Ruderman, who was a city council candidate last go around, voiced his concerns over possible cutbacks in fire department personnel. He said that even if a candidate promised they wouldn’t raise taxes during a campaign, it was sometimes necessary to break that promise if need be. Obviously, the deep recession our nation fell into last year changed many things.
After Ruderman sat down in the audience Mayor McElroy, in a very unpleasant manor and visibly very ticked, pointed his finger at Ruderman and told him that it wasn’t fair to say firefighters would be laid-off due to the vote. A muffled exchange took place. I could hear what the mayor was saying, due to his microphone, but not Ruderman. McElroy told Ruderman they would discuss it further later, possibly with brass knuckles and brickbats – okay I’m exaggerating but tonight’s council meeting was PAINFUL.
Well now I’m looking forward to watching it.
Its not on the website yet…
It was interesting – in a car wreck kinda way!
There were some good points brought up by a couple citizens and city workers who pointed out that using a private company to dredge the lake right now, would take a big bite out of the budget, when we really can’t afford it. I’m not sure what the deal is with our dredge workers. The union has stated that it has had a hard time communicating their needs with city management over the years. The whole project seems very poorly managed. I find it hard to believe that in Decatur, the city can’t find workers to do the work. The city pays well with excellent benefits. I think some of the problem is that they haven’t hired specifically for the dredge team but have used dredge work as a stepping stone to less labor intensive city jobs. They’re constantly training new workers to dredge when they should just stick with a trained and experienced crew.
There were other things said too that could help with our budget problems but I’ll have to watch it again, if I dare, to remember what was said!
I can’t wait to see this. I like the idea that Brown is sticking to his word,its kind of refreshing for a change. However, he should have had a back up plan.
Now I understand that
money will be taken from the olde town tif too. There’s an interesting debate on the city’s Facebook page about the assessment process – yeah I’m back on Facebook after about a year-long hiatus. Anyway, it was pointed out that the city doesn’t assess properties; the county and township does. They are projecting increases in prop values for the city. In some ways that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Many cities across the country have seen home values cut in half. Hum. I wonder if those cities are taxing on the old over-valued assessments or the current ones? Luckily our home values have never been inflated to begin with but are they really increasing in value considering the times we’re living in?
This is what I wrote on the City Facebook page. Do any of you know if there is a pie chart showing where our tax amounts go.
I know it shows us on our tax bill some where but a pie chart is easy for everyone to read, I didn’t go to collage but I can read a pie chart LOL.
Mr. Tyus can you do a pie chart on who is getting what tax amounts, or if there is one would you tell us where its at? If the City is providing the most services and getting the least money to do so, why can’t we as citizens put a stop to this? I agree the Park District gets a great deal of out tax dollars considering just about all the land they … See Morehave was given to them. The new property on Oakland was given to them by Mr. Pogue and from what I understand the Park District is moving their fleet dept. to that building. While I am not in favor of the tax increase we should not be over paying either.
How do I access the city Facebook page?
Here’s the link to Decatur’s Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Decatur-IL/City-of-Decatur/319956320318
I don’t know why WordPress isn’t automatically approving your comments. It’s supposed to allow comments from users after their first comment has been approved. I set it up this way to filter out the spam. Maybe one of these days it will start working right.
The city’s share of the property tax pie is much smaller than most people realize. But I like your suggestion Doug. I’d like to know how much goes to each department. I’ve seen the numbers before in a big packet but after a while your head starts spinning.
Doug – I don’t know the facts either but I’d bet my bottom dollar you are 100% right – that the city provides the most services and on top of that the most important services and is getting the least money. I’d like a pie chart as well. However I think we have hurt ourselves by expanding our city far beyond our school district… As population gravites to surrounding school districts it leaves our schools and our core neighborhoods struggling. And just a few paying for same the same services. We’re so sparce in much of our core and all those vacant lots still have streets to plow patrol and lights to light and water lines and sewer lines….And vacant properties need as much or maybe more fire protection…
McElroy acted pretty bitter all night. Was it necessary to snap at Adam Brown? The South Shores Neighborhood Organization can deal with Brown when they lose their Fire House, and it takes them 20 minutes to get police help next year. McElroy used to constantly harp about letting Garman run the city, now he’s repeatedly yanking McCrady’s chain. Seems kind of hypocritical.
hey – I just checked the facebook page out – fast response – they’re pretty good huh?
Sue I totally agree with you. The fact that one can live inside the city limits but not be inside Decatur’s school district is strange. I guess that happens as a city expands from its core.
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The mayor was definetly having a bad hair day last night. He used to be such a quiet guy but you always have to watch out for them quiet types.
Thanks for the City facebook link.
There are pie charts, I can’t take credit for finding it however, found the link on BlogDecatur.
Go to the city of Decatur official site, public information, scroll to Infrastructure Information, click on Property Tax Distribution chart 1 and 2.
I was surprised on how much the school district gets and that the city just gets a few percentage points more than the park district. The distribution needs to be changed.
You can get a copy of the Park District budget by just asking them. It is public record. They do have to give you a copy. I have a copy. If you have any questions just let me know.
The Park District has estimated total receipts of $31,338,581.00.
The receipts are broken down as follows: In the interest of saving space I will just list what each receipt catergory is in total.
Estimated tax receipts for Park purposes, Airport purposes and Recreation programs $9,898,581.00
Estimated receipts from fees, charges etc.. Park fees etc, airport fees etc, recreation fees etc. $9,300,000.00
Estimated receipts from trusts
Scovill Trust, Scovill Zoo Trust, Anne and Bruce Trust
$740,000.00
Estimated receipts from other governmental agencies
Federal Grant Fund,State Project Fund, FAA Reimbursemnet funds $5,000,000.00
Estimated recipts from gifts and bequests.
Service club gifts, Business and Industry Gifts, Gifts from Individuals $1,500,000.00
Estimated receipts from bond proceeds:
Park Bond Issue, Airport Bond Issue $4,900,000.00
This information is on the 2nd and 3rd pages of the Annual Budget and Appropriaton Ordinance of Decatur Park District for the Fiscal Year of 2009-2010 Ordinance No. 2009-14
The first page breaks down each of the funds, for instance Audit Fund, Mowing Fund, Golf Fund and so on. Some of the funds started out the fiscal year with negative balances, if you want to know which ones I will post them.
Thanks for the budget info!
Looks like Decatur park District got $791,000 in recovery funds for the airport… I saw it on Recovery.gov
I hope the mayor and city council are happy now. I’ve been told the Fire Union was advised yesterday that there will be rolling brownouts of fire apparatus starting January 1st. Better pray that it is not your neighborhood firehouse if your in need of help!