Some thoughts on the Town Budget – 2004 -- A position paper by Bill Vinzant
As the election approaches I plan to write a few “Position Papers” on subjects that occur or are suggested to me. The opinions in these papers are my own. Although I think there is general agreement on some of these subjects, I do not speak for the Spafford Town Board or for the Republican Party.
I am going to try to write these papers in an intelligent and tolerant manner (okay, so there will be a few digs every now and then). I will write them because I am not the candidate who will be at your door asking for your vote. I am not the candidate whose name will appear on a sign in your yard, or my yard for that matter, or on the utility poles of the town. I am not the candidate will assail you at the transfer station or at pancake breakfasts. Nor do I go to concerts in the park or Valentines Day dinners. I don’t work that way. I am not into small talk or chatty conversations. I just don’t think that way. I would like to think that it means that I do not suffer fools easily but those who know me best say it just means I am grumpy.
So let’s have a little fun and enter into a discussion of some of the really important subjects that concern our community. The taxpayer should express the concerns they have and on the services they desire. No such concerns were expressed to me before or during the budget meeting; here is an opportunity to do so.
Below is a synopsis of the Town of Spafford budget expenditures for 2004. I believe copies of the complete budget are available at the Town Office. The Town Board voted to accept this budget as a “Preliminary Budget”. This means that no changes can be made to salaries or wages but all others items are still subject to change until a final budget is adopted – currently scheduled for the Board meeting just prior to the election in November. At least that is my understanding – I’m not sure I understand all the legal technicalities. We normally move the monthly meeting forward one week to the first Thursday in November in order to accommodate the election date.
With the advent of the political season, criticism of the budget is louder. “No services for our budget dollars” and “Wasting of budget money” are two of the comments I heard after the last Town Board meeting. In addition to criticism of the current budget, the Spafford Party has promised to be open to the addition of new services for the public and to “encourage” a store (economic encouragement – or just friendly smiling faces?). This may or may not be extremely expensive but when you are building a town budget every dollar adds up; where are the funds to come from?
The budget that the board adopted is very specific. It spells out where we think the money should be spent and where it should not be spent. It is there to be criticized – but with some specific suggestions rather than “I wouldn’t do it that way.” comments.
If the Spafford Party were in charge where would the budget be cut? Where would it be increased? I would like to hear something specific from the Spafford Party for a change -- instead of the vague “I’m for a better Spafford.” generalities.
I’ll even throw out a few suggestions for subjects to discuss.
1) If you add up all the expenses associated with the transfer station (contract with Appleton, town employee salaries, town equipment costs, facility maintenance) it approaches or exceeds $100,000/year. That’s more than 25% of our general fund budget. One of our past town councilors urged us to eliminate the transfer station. What do you think? What is the Spafford Party position on this potential saving of $100,000?
I think eliminating the transfer station is a bad idea; after I hear some comments I will tell you why if you are interested.
2) What about the medical insurance for town employees? That’s another big budget item. Do you know how much that totals? Do you know how much it increases each year? How much of their insurance costs should the employees pay? After you think about it for a while and do some math, state your position. My position is on record in the town budget but I will explain why I feel that way after you let me know.
3) What about the debt service expenditure of $ 0.0? Many Democrats seem to think that government should operate on borrowed money – more services can be provided that way and the taxpayers never notice. Not that I think the Democrat Party has anything to do with the Spafford Party. Oh, perish the thought.
4) What do you do when the state mandates that retirement contributions jump from one percent to 20% of base salaries – we need an intelligent suggestion on how to save money on that one.
5) Perhaps we should spend less on snowplows. After all, a lot of us do not live on town roads and we get almost nothing for the $500,000 in taxes to support the Town Highway Department. Maybe we could use smaller snowplows; after all we have had several mild winters and remember global warming that Democrats believe in. If we skipped just one year in keeping ahead on equipment expenses we would have another $100,000 to spend on new and expanded services for the town. Once again, most taxpayers would probably never notice. How would the Spafford Party vote on that one?
I am sure the Spafford Party candidates and supporters have ideas on savings to be made in the town budget and more on expanded services that can be provided with the savings. I invite them (and anyone else for that matter) to enter the discussion with some specific suggestions. If I think they are good suggestions I will submit them before the Preliminary Budget becomes the Final Budget.
Town of Spafford – General Fund – 2004
|
|
Salaries |
Equipment |
Contractual |
Other |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Town
Board |
5640 |
|
|
|
|
|
Justices |
4360 |
|
|
|
|
|
Supervisor |
5200 |
|
|
|
|
|
Auditor |
|
|
7200 |
|
|
|
Tax
Collector |
2200 |
|
|
|
|
|
Assessor |
10000 |
400 |
1500 |
|
|
|
Town
Clerk |
10500 |
350 |
|
|
|
|
Attorney |
|
|
9000 |
|
|
|
Elections |
2500 |
|
|
|
|
|
Buildings |
1040 |
2500 |
9000 |
|
|
|
Central
Printing |
|
|
7000 |
|
|
|
Data Proc |
|
|
4400 |
|
|
|
Unallocated
Insurance |
|
|
25500 |
|
|
|
Dues/Workshops |
|
|
|
1700 |
|
|
Judgments/Claims |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
Contingent |
|
|
|
15000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public
Safety |
5200 |
|
12900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Addiction
Control |
|
|
500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transportation |
38000 |
|
9000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Economic
Dev. |
|
|
500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Culture-Recreation |
|
|
2145 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zoning |
300 |
|
|
|
|
|
Planning |
|
|
800 |
|
|
|
Refuse
and Garbage |
7250 |
|
72000 |
|
|
|
Water
System |
|
|
20000 |
|
|
|
Cemeteries |
|
|
6500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee
Benefits |
|
|
|
69100 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Debt
Service |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
Salaries |
Equipment |
Contractual |
Other |
TOTAL |
|
|
92190 |
3250 |
162445 |
111400 |
369285 |
Town of
Spafford - Highway – 2004
|
|
Salaries |
Equipment |
Contractual |
Other |
TOTAL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
Repairs |
53050 |
|
140000 |
|
|
|
Improvements |
|
|
|
27582 |
|
|
Machinery |
|
100000 |
40000 |
|
|
|
Snow
Removal |
53050 |
|
47000 |
|
|
|
Employee
Benefits |
|
|
|
43800 |
|
|
Debt
Service |
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salaries |
Equipment |
Contractual |
Other |
TOTAL |
|
|
106100 |
100000 |
227000 |
71382 |
504482 |