We were sitting at city council and I remarked something about Muncie moving into the 21st century.
My buddy, Deborah, blurted out “You expect them to be like the Jetsons when they can’t even keep up with the Flintstones?”
I thought the woman sitting in front of me would die laughing.
It was a great line…thought I would share it with you.
After a whirlwind evening of Delaware County government meetings, Tuesday has finally arrived. Basking in the afterglow after a fantastic night of theatrics, one can now understand why I like living in Muncie.
City council members all took their respective places and after the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation the show began.
“Slashing” Sam Marshall took to the budget with a zeal never before seen. In a loud voice and a nearly perfect recital of departments and account numbers he cut 12 jobs, water fee and utilities. No surprises on what positions were cut, but how in the world are we going to power our city? Well, since the city council governs like it is 1850, we may as well live without 21st century amenities.
Mayor McShurley took to the podium and true to form, as soon as she began to speak, Councilperson Barton had a question. The mayor asked politely if she could finish. Mary Jo Barton, with her gracious southern charm, allowed her to speak. See what happens when people work together?
The administration has finally received the insurance costs.
Insurance premiums can be increased, saving the city $1,500,000.00. You could see the calculating mind of Ms. Barton as she tried desperately to compute the figures. “Employees pay more. That’s unheard of”, she exclaimed. Perhaps it is such a shock to her because she is so ill informed on what people in the private and public sector pay. Pay more insurance, keep your job. Pay less for insurance, lose your job. That is a tough call. Not!
Brad Polk, a member of the finance committee, was unaware of these cuts. Which brings up a point, if city council is unable or unwilling to work with its own members, how can you expect these people to actually govern our city? Most have no business holding these seats.
Mr. Polk also suggested cutting 911 service by $500,000.00. Total cut 2 million dollars and no jobs are lost.
The budget was passed 7 yeas, with Conatser voting to “move it along”. Gregory and Polk voted no. City council members are so predictable. Most of us can see this for what it really is. I guess they think the citizens are stupid.
Many of the ordinances received a suspension of rules, allowing city council to vote to approve immediately. Ordinance #62-09 requesting a transfer of funds from the mayor’s edit plan to have station 4’s lot paved was passed. Chief Burcham thanked the mayor for her assistance. Not to be undone, Marshall thanked Chief Burcham for keeping the council apprised on this request.
Two outdated ordinances, one from 1968 and another from 1991 were introduced. Basically a raise in fees. No biggy.
Chief Davis spoke on ordinance #68-09. This ordinance would allow the city to collect $6.00 additional for every traffic violation. The money would be placed in an account and be untouchable, only to be used for retaining police officers. You see, Chief Davis has applied for a grant which will allow the return of 5 laid off officers to the force. Once the grant runs out, the city will need to pick up the tab. Chief Davis has brought a solution.
I have the utmost respect for both Chief Davis and Chief Burcham. I truly believe both work hard for their departments and the city. We are fortunate to have them, make no mistake about it.
Then a standard ordinance of transferring funds from the motor vehicle fund to pay for the paving bill. The rule was not suspended, which I find odd. The money is there, the company needs paid and it really is a no-brainer.
Jim Arnold asked President Quirk how they planned to pay the water bill and keep the lights on. Hydrant fee…no real answer on the lights. President Quirk fumbled throughout the evening. She was really off her game. I wonder who will be president next year?
You can almost bet your life, anything the mayor brings before the council will be delayed or voted down, but not before Ms. Barton plays the 20 questions game.
The video of city council should be on Citizens of Delaware County for Property Tax Repeal.
Muncie Star Press 12 Jobs Cut article
Remember: Good government begins with YOU!
Election: 2010 Election: 2011
More information can be found at Citizens of Delaware County for Property Tax Repeal
www.propertytaxrepeal.com
Once again, our Mayor Sharon McShurley, comes to the defense of the citizens of Muncie, Indiana. We don’t have a cheerleader, we have a quarterback. Go Mayor Mac!
Mayor Sharon McShurley: City Overcharged for Share of 911 Operations – Star Press October 23, 2009
Muncie’s share of cost, figures supplied by Chris Hiatt:
2009 County Certified AV for establishing County Tax Levy: $3,417,291,344.00 (includes City of Muncie)
2009 City of Muncie Certifed AV for establishing City Tax Levy: $1,686,525,778.00 (49.35% of total County AV)
2010 Delaware County Budget:
Justice Center Communications: $1,677,448.25
Enhanced 911: $777,909.60
Total costs: $2,455,357.85
City of Muncie taxpayers contribution to County GF with County Tax Levy: $1,211,719.10
City of Muncie taxpayers “additional contribution”: $854,400.00
Total City of Muncie taxpayers contribution to County GF for 911: $2,066,119.10 (84.15% of total 911 costs)
County (non-Muncie) taxpayers Contribution to County GF with County Tax Levy: $1,243,638.75
County (non-Muncie) taxpayers 911 costs net of Muncie taxpayers contribution: $389,238.75 (15.85% of total 911 costs)
County GF windfall (excess) of taxes and “additional contributions” from City of Muncie taxpayers: $854,400.00
Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. . . . [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.
James Garfield
I begin today’s post with a quote from James Garfield, the twentieth president, for one reason. Delaware County needs to take heed to these timely words. We are in big trouble, folks. Big enough to consider it a S.O.S. Sure, we are facing a financial crisis, and if that is not bad enough, Delaware County is facing a moral crisis. We have elected and put in place those who have been reckless with our vote, our money, our trust.
We all know the county has received a surplus of tax dollars (8.3 million to be exact). The refund from the state was first believed to be used as property tax relief. Instead, during the special session, the requirements on how the money can be spent was loosened…considerably.
Did you know the Morrison Tax Increment Fund can be retired, saving taxpayers interest and depositing 2 million dollars (so I have been told) into the City of Muncie General Fund? Another 2 million back into the county?
We were told the people of Morrison TIF were o.k. with the funds being used for other than the Morrison area. I don’t believe this was a truthful statement, not at all.
“The TIF funds are being raided,” Stephen McCulley told commission members. “I do not believe the TIF districts should be a slush fund for the rest of the county.” Larry Riley’s column “Trucks get wet, but funding questioned”
Next on the agenda, and something we should all be concerned with, is Delaware County Emergency Communication Center. Has this important department become a political hotbed. In my estimation, it has.
Which is why we find it somewhat troubling that Delaware County Board of Commissioners have decided that the 911 advisory board will play no part in hiring the replacement for retiring director Bill Gosnell, effectively eliminating the city of Muncie from the process.
At its organization meeting Jan. 1, the Democrat-controlled county board said it wouldn’t reappoint Gosnell as director of the 911 emergency communications center. Instead, commissioners announced he would continue in the job during an “evaluation” period.
Our View: Commissioners Shouldn’t Play Politics with Emergency Operations, Star Press July 10, 2009
Bill Gosnell ended a 30 year career.
Tim Hutson was appointed.
In effect, the commissioners now have complete control over the center with the power to promote and demote at their fingertips. Let’s hope they place competent people in these positions…after all, President Donati was gung-ho for additional income taxes all in the name of public safety.
Mayor McShurley wants to see the interlocal agreement where the city pays $100,000.00 and yet has NO say in its operation. This agreement is about 20-25 years old. It has not been produced as of yet.
The county budget was adopted on September 18th. Still no sign of the budget on the website. I am curious to know if the 25% budget cuts Chris Matchett requested were met. Don Dunnuck was clear when he told the county council, “If they can’t find the cuts I have confidence you will find it for them.”
How much money have we spent in interest because the property tax bills were late and monies were borrowed? Somewhere around $200,000.00 in interest, just for Muncie. My property taxes were paid through escrow and 30+ days later it is still showing as not paid. Makes one just a little nervous.
So now you have the latest of yet another long line of problems facing the citizens of Delaware County. We are responsible for the elected officials, we put them in this place of power.
Sobering…
October 28, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Minnetrista Cultural Center
Muncie, IN
November 19, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Minnetrista Cultural Center
Muncie, IN
Finance Meeting 10/14/09
Last Things First. Two upcoming meetings were tentatively scheduled.
Monday Oct 26th at 5:00: Another Finance Committee meeting was scheduled to allow the Finance Committee to make a formal recommendation to the Full City Council for ther Special meeting on the budget.
Tuesday Oct 27th at 5:30: Special Budget meeting with full Council.
I arrived a little late so I missed the first part of the meeting, The first discussions I heard were pertaining to the issue of the salaried workers affected by the 27 pays in 2010. Alison asked for amended salaries in advance of the next City Council meeting to give them time to prepare. It was my understanding that Mary Ann agreed to redo those salaries affected by the 27 pays to state them in terms of an annual amount which could be divided by 27 in 2010 so that the annual salaries would not be increased by the extra pay period. City Council will need to adopt these new annualized salaries prior to adopting the budget to resolve the 27 pay issue. It boggles my mind that this has drug on or so long. Sam Marshall more or less suggested this two months ago at the regular City Council meeting.
There was discussion about the insurance estimates and Mary Ann said that we are waiting on the insurance company and that she hopes to have the numbers by next Monday.
Mary Ann noted that the latest Muncie revenue projection from Umbaugh was revised downward by $500,000 due to the fact that the County opted to put the excess welfare levy into the rainy Day Fund instead of using it to reduce property tax burden.
Special Note: Mary Ann reiterated on a couple of occasions that she believes that we will be able to balance the budget in spite of the recent revised projections from Umbaugh. Say NO to LOIT.
Mary Ann answered a question from Mike King and advised him that PERF for the police department is calculated by multiplying the Base salary from the PERF report by 19.5%.
Mary Jo advised Mary Ann that the reason there is an unemployment line item for MPD but not MFD is because of the crossing guards that are paid out of the MPD budget.
Mary Jo suggested that they reduce the budget for fees and dues for organizations that Mayors belong to.
Brad Polk indicated that he had gone through the budget line by line to identify some other cuts. I think these will be reviewed at the next meeting.
Alison asked for a 2008 budget statement through 12/31/08, so they would know the exact amounts spent for the entire year in order tom make better recommendations for budget cuts.
Mary Jo and Mary Ann argued about the computer forms budget for data processing. Mary Ann tried to explain that the data processing contract is for service, and does not include paper.
Jerry Friend spoke briefly and mentioned that he is on track to making his officed self supporting with an additional $157,000 fines and fees levied (but not necessarily collected) due to recent fee changes he introduced.
After that the upcoming meetings were discussed, and the meeting was adjourned.
Note: This synopsis of the Finance Committee meeting was sponsored by Taxpayers Opposed to Increasing Local Income Taxes (TOILIT) as part of our “Flush the LOIT” Campaign.
Alison Quirk
Withdraw Your LOIT Tax!
A video of the October 5th City Council can be found at CDCPTR website.
Other news:
Budget meeting October 14th at 5:15 PM – Muncie City Hall auditroium
Muncie Fire Department Open House October 10th @ 11:00 AM – Station 2 Heekin Park.
It is official. Muncie will begin its first phase on redefining the city. The city awarded the contract to ACP.
I look forward to the plans which will be presented. Folks, this is an exciting time and we just may see history in the making, leaving a well planned legacy for our children and grandchildren. It is wonderful!
ACP has an impressive list of clients and an even more outstanding is the quality of their projects. The Star Press printed an awesome listof the college and university towns and cities in which ACP helped develop into thriving communities.
Below is a sampling taken from the paper:
“Planning and College Settings . . . ACP has built a strong national reputation for crafting successful visioning and planning processes for college/university towns. Within the past five years, ACP has worked in such communities as: Amherst, Massachusetts (University of Massachusetts, Amherst College, Hampshire College); Oxford, Ohio (Miami University); Columbia, Missouri (University of Missouri, Stevens, Columbia Colleges); Champaign County, Illinois (University of Illinois); Northfield, Minnesota (Carleton College, St. Olaf College); and Columbus, Ohio (The Ohio State University, Columbus State University, Franklin University, Columbus College of Art and Design)”
On Sunday the steering committee was formally announced. A well rounded team of 35 individuals including, but not limited to local business owners, educators from K-12 and higher ed, a pastor, community leaders and those who hold some form of public office.
It certainly appears that each person has had some type of involvement in areas of our city which have the greatest need.
As citizens, our input will be welcomed and our involvement can be vast or small. I hope we will all take time to contribute ideas and work together to make Muncie a viable and beautiful place to live.
Some have called me overly optimistic. But, I say, the opportunity is present. Let’s sieze the moment. Muncie full speed ahead!
A proposed water rate hike for residents of Muncie, IN. Please see below for more information.
Muncie’s increase will be 31.5%. A typical customer using 5,200 gallons per month currently pays $29.58. With the proposed increase the monthly bill will be $40.84 or roughly 31.5%.
The rate increases can be found at http://www.in.gov/oucc/2556.htm
Contacts:
By mail: Consumer Services Staff, Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South, Indianapolis, IN 46204
By fax: (317) 232-5923
By e-mail: uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov
Or go to the OUCC’s Web site at www.IN.gov/OUCC and click on “Comment on a Case” on the right.
Public hearing:
Monday, October 5, 2009:
Horizon Convention Center
401 S. High St.
Muncie, Indiana
Each field hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be preceded by an OUCC information meeting at 5:30 p.m
