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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 08:08:40 AM
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He considers taking a million bucks from free cash to be a cut???? And how much, exactly, do we have left in free cash? And isn't it true (I honestly don't know the answer to this) that free cash won't be certified again until the fall? How can he say we'll take a million dollars from free cash if he doesn't know what it will be and what we'll be left with once that million is taken from it?
I'm just thinking out loud here, but for most people, when managing their own budgets -- wouldn't we each be sure that we've cut our spending as much as we possibly could before we'd go dipping into any "contingency" savings accounts we have? That is, those of us who can even afford to set up contingency accounts, which not everyone can. Living paycheck to paycheck is more the norm than the exception these days, wouldn't you say?
It's enormously frustrating, isn't it? |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 09:10:17 AM
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| It's frustrating, sad, upsetting and disgusting!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Fran
Senior Member
250 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 11:50:01 AM
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| As I understood it, Hanlon is banking on selling the Devens School for $1 mil bucks. I don't see that happening in todays market. Also, the purchase and sale of the Old City Yards is still up in the air. We've been waiting for what, 3-5 years, for the $3 mil it was supposed to bring in. This logic scares me. |
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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 1:07:29 PM
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I agree, Fran. And it's this logic that has brought us to this mess.
By the way . . . I'd still like to see the paperwork from the qualified outside appraising firm that assessed the Devens School prior to it being put out to bid, as is required by law. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 2:48:59 PM
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| The budget is a done deal, right? It won't be back before them unless, do they need to vote on it at their regular meetings? Van Campen did not do the taxpayers any favors last night with that motion to only cut 3%. I am disappointed in quite a few of them for going along with it. I hope some of this bunch gets replaced in November. They are not working for the people. I missed the vote, who were the three that voted against approving the budget with only a 3% cut. |
Edited by - massdee on 06/21/2007 2:50:17 PM |
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tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 3:34:44 PM
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| As far as I understand it, the BOA and the CC are done with the budget. The mayor and his merry gang now need to figure out how to apply a 3% decrease to the budget that was originally presented. I too am disappointed. The vote was a joke....most of them didn't use their microphones when they voted so it was hard to tell who voted against it. The only one who I know voted against it was Hicks. |
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H1ghCh4r1ty
Advanced Member
967 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 6:13:41 PM
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Hello to all,
Stop the bickering my children. The Pope and Pup are getting concerned.
Court, Tetris, massdee, you are all at the top of your game. Your information is well written, informative, and of course, well researched.
Real McCoy says facitiously, of course, that "Hanlon is the best mayor ever"!
Actually Plunket would be close runner up, another one term guy.
Well, the Pup and I may be off on another excursion soon. More to come later.
Warmest regards to all,
The Pup
and
Emile Schoeffhausen |
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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
 Posted - 06/21/2007 : 6:31:26 PM
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| I'm afraid I just don't understand how the CC & BOA can just say cut 3% and walk away. We know the man isn't trustworthy. Where are the checks and balances here? Who is in place to make sure he does what he was directed to do? I am really concerned about this turn of events. The more I think of it, the more I worry. I truly don't think he'll cut anything and then we will be in receivership. It's a good thing Joe and Carlo are self employed. At least they'll have a fallback when the city ends up in receivership! |
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H1ghCh4r1ty
Advanced Member
967 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 6:38:48 PM
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Most of our elected officials are out of their league under most circumstances.
Do you really think that they can deal with this issue intelligently?
What a shame that we are even considering the threat of receivership.
It may happen, folks...........
Emile Schoeffhausen |
Edited by - H1ghCh4r1ty on 06/21/2007 6:39:25 PM |
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 7:02:07 PM
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Greetings, Emile.
I trust that you and the pup are well?
We've missed your insightful discourse.
You've noticed that the budget hearings resemble "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," starring Mayor Walking Eagle as the giant squid, whose great grasping tentacles grab for all the tax dollars it can. The city council is sharing supporting roles. I'm awaiting the player who steps up to be Capt. Nemo. |
Edited by - Court4Fred on 06/21/2007 7:03:33 PM |
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H1ghCh4r1ty
Advanced Member
967 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 7:07:44 PM
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You would be an excellent Ned Land, if you recall he is the one who vanquished the squidly terror.
While you are waiting for Captain Nemo, I hope you air supply doesn't run out!
Emile Schoeffhausen |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 7:15:03 PM
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| Tetris, I just got off the phone with the Alderman President. I asked him which three voted against the budget. It was McGonagle, Bruno and Hicks. |
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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 7:32:58 PM
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After all of that, DiPerri and Smith didn't vote against this budget?
You know . . . since they were so hot to put the audit up on the City website . . . why can't they do the same thing with the budget book? |
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Court4Fred
Advanced Member
1201 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 7:36:55 PM
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The city council is a guppy pool, with only three willing to tangle with Squidly. And past experience indicates that CTH may not have understood what she was voting on.
My guess is that Walking Eagle will insist that the City Council 3% cut is merely a suggestion and not a mandate...and Redneck will write the budget story as though Walking Eagle is a leader. Hold onto your wallets, kids. |
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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 06/21/2007 : 7:43:00 PM
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However, if he doesn't cut that 3%, then the budget is over the levy, and it can't be passed without an override. Isn't that the case?
I cannot believe that they didn't take a pencil and go line by line on this budget to make cuts, thereby keeping control of the whole process in their pool hall. Isn't that how it work? If they choose to vote for an across the Board 3% cut, the Mayor then decides where the cuts will be made, but if they did a line item review, they could recommend and vote on cuts for each line item?
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Budget
