2010 ended in New Philadelphia with the City still able to sit up and take nourishment. Not much more, but still alive. The effect on City finances of the mismanagement at both the federal and state levels, the increased costs of wages and salaries for city employees, and the lack of income for the City due to lost jobs and the resultant lost taxes, have put a strain on the City budget which borders on the disastrous.
Many of the financial problems could have been avoided. Pay increases for city employees were ill timed, excessive, and prompted by greed. In the immediate future financial problems will only be compounded, if judged by past performance, when all city departments, with the exception of the Fire Department, will attempt to secure additional wage and benefit increases in the coming year. (The Fire Department got a three year contract in 2010.) Wage and benefits increases in the next year could push the City budget over the edge, resulting in layoffs of city employees and cutbacks in services which would be unnecessary.
In some things the City had wisdom. An outstanding example is the refurbishing of the Fire Department’s ladder truck. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see it, go take a look. It is truly a thing of beauty and efficiency. Congratulations to all who were involved in that project. Fire Chief Parrish showed the rest of the city how to get ‘er done. The presentations he made to City Council, the need, the options, the costs, the answers to questions, all added up to the approval and financing necessary. Who won in this one? We all did. Fire protection in New Philadelphia was raised to a new level of excellence because of the Chief’s due diligence.
Reiser Avenue sewers are another impending emergency. When Reiser Avenue was first laid out as part of an industrial complex, the sewer system seemed adequate. Perhaps planners at the time did not expect industrial growth in the area to expand the way it did, or failed to appreciate the sewer requirements if it would, the end result being the inadequacy of the system today is causing serious concerns. To move sewerage in the area a new lift station is required. Along with, again, some government grants, the Reiser project will probably have sufficient funds to install a lift station with the capability of handing increased waste flow now and in the future.
Last March, Mayor Taylor proposed widening University Drive. Should this take place another financial crisis would be hidden in the shadows. The University Drive sewers have been in place a number of years and certainly, judging by those of similar age, are going to need some serious work. If there is even a remote possibility of construction on University Drive, now is the time to make the decision on how to proceed. Replacement of the pipes is certainly an option, but so is relining them. Relining is the least expensive and from what we have been told in the past, just as effective. Whatever option is chosen, planning is essential now to prevent another wasteful exercise as has happened in the past, in which roads are constructed only to be torn up at a later date to replace or repair existing sewers.
Lump these problems and their solutions together and the hard questions begin. How are we going to pay for these sewer improvements as well other projects which are waiting in the wings? How indeed.
The argument will be given that the state and federal governments will provide funds to help make such projects possible. Where is the guarantee for that? It doesn’t exist. The incoming governor is talking about cutbacks in state grants. If the feds cut back funding to the states again, which they will, where is the state going to get the money? Does New Philadelphia have adequate reserves to remain in business without outside help?
The immediate fix is the proposed increase in sewer rates. Those using 400 cubic feet or less will be charged an additional $0.50 a billing period for their sewer usage. At seven hundred cubic feet and above the rate will increase by four-percent. The fifty-cent figure touted by the administration fades away upon examination. To find out what your actual increase will be takes a little arithmetic. Look at your recent water/sewer bills and check the “Usage 100 Cu Ft” listing for Sewer, it will be the second line down. If it is less than 4 the new rate will be $13.40. If it is 5 or more, multiply the billed amount by .04 to get the increase, or by 1.04 to get the total charge.
The lack of planning in the past, combined with uncontrolled wage, benefit, and salary increases have put the City into a serious financial state. It has become imperative that programs of long range planning become routine in all phases of city operation. Spending on nonessential projects must be stopped. The Mayor must take the role of a leader and accept the responsibility of running the city, not merely agreeing with demands made by its employees. City Council must accept its responsibility to research and understand the legislation it considers and desist from rubber stamping the Administration’s requests.
Citizens, call your Councilmen. Call the Mayor. Insist they stand up to their responsibilities. Without your active involvement, there will be no change. Stay informed, get involved, save your city.
Many of the financial problems could have been avoided. Pay increases for city employees were ill timed, excessive, and prompted by greed. In the immediate future financial problems will only be compounded, if judged by past performance, when all city departments, with the exception of the Fire Department, will attempt to secure additional wage and benefit increases in the coming year. (The Fire Department got a three year contract in 2010.) Wage and benefits increases in the next year could push the City budget over the edge, resulting in layoffs of city employees and cutbacks in services which would be unnecessary.
In some things the City had wisdom. An outstanding example is the refurbishing of the Fire Department’s ladder truck. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see it, go take a look. It is truly a thing of beauty and efficiency. Congratulations to all who were involved in that project. Fire Chief Parrish showed the rest of the city how to get ‘er done. The presentations he made to City Council, the need, the options, the costs, the answers to questions, all added up to the approval and financing necessary. Who won in this one? We all did. Fire protection in New Philadelphia was raised to a new level of excellence because of the Chief’s due diligence.
Reiser Avenue sewers are another impending emergency. When Reiser Avenue was first laid out as part of an industrial complex, the sewer system seemed adequate. Perhaps planners at the time did not expect industrial growth in the area to expand the way it did, or failed to appreciate the sewer requirements if it would, the end result being the inadequacy of the system today is causing serious concerns. To move sewerage in the area a new lift station is required. Along with, again, some government grants, the Reiser project will probably have sufficient funds to install a lift station with the capability of handing increased waste flow now and in the future.
Last March, Mayor Taylor proposed widening University Drive. Should this take place another financial crisis would be hidden in the shadows. The University Drive sewers have been in place a number of years and certainly, judging by those of similar age, are going to need some serious work. If there is even a remote possibility of construction on University Drive, now is the time to make the decision on how to proceed. Replacement of the pipes is certainly an option, but so is relining them. Relining is the least expensive and from what we have been told in the past, just as effective. Whatever option is chosen, planning is essential now to prevent another wasteful exercise as has happened in the past, in which roads are constructed only to be torn up at a later date to replace or repair existing sewers.
Lump these problems and their solutions together and the hard questions begin. How are we going to pay for these sewer improvements as well other projects which are waiting in the wings? How indeed.
The argument will be given that the state and federal governments will provide funds to help make such projects possible. Where is the guarantee for that? It doesn’t exist. The incoming governor is talking about cutbacks in state grants. If the feds cut back funding to the states again, which they will, where is the state going to get the money? Does New Philadelphia have adequate reserves to remain in business without outside help?
The immediate fix is the proposed increase in sewer rates. Those using 400 cubic feet or less will be charged an additional $0.50 a billing period for their sewer usage. At seven hundred cubic feet and above the rate will increase by four-percent. The fifty-cent figure touted by the administration fades away upon examination. To find out what your actual increase will be takes a little arithmetic. Look at your recent water/sewer bills and check the “Usage 100 Cu Ft” listing for Sewer, it will be the second line down. If it is less than 4 the new rate will be $13.40. If it is 5 or more, multiply the billed amount by .04 to get the increase, or by 1.04 to get the total charge.
The lack of planning in the past, combined with uncontrolled wage, benefit, and salary increases have put the City into a serious financial state. It has become imperative that programs of long range planning become routine in all phases of city operation. Spending on nonessential projects must be stopped. The Mayor must take the role of a leader and accept the responsibility of running the city, not merely agreeing with demands made by its employees. City Council must accept its responsibility to research and understand the legislation it considers and desist from rubber stamping the Administration’s requests.
Citizens, call your Councilmen. Call the Mayor. Insist they stand up to their responsibilities. Without your active involvement, there will be no change. Stay informed, get involved, save your city.
No comments:
Post a Comment