Virtual Town Hall

Barbara Lizana inside Centerville

March 1, 2013, 3:56 PM

$500 Click to see how I would allocate

$50 Arts and Humanities, Libraries and Recreation

$50

Examples:

Parks
Recreation Centers
Libraries
Aquarium
Historic Houses

$20 Economic Development

$20

Examples:

Tourism
Business Retention
Planning
Convention Center
Strategic Growth Area Office

$35 Financial

$35

Examples:

Treasurer
Finance
Purchasing
Commissioner of the Revenue
Budget Office
Real Estate Assessor

$30 General Government

$30

Examples:

City Attorney
City Council
City Manager
Personnel
Information Technology
Volunteer Office

$25 Housing and Neighborhood Preservation

$25

Examples:

Homeless Prevention
Neighborhood Inspections

$40 Human Services

$40

Examples:

Mental Health
Public Health
Social Services

$150 Public Safety

$150

Examples:

Police
Fire
EMS
911
Courts
Jail

$80 Road Construction and Maintenance

$80

Examples:

Construction
Maintenance

$30 Trash Collection, Disposal and Recycling

$30

Examples:

Collection
Disposal
Recycling

$40 Water, Sewer, Storm Water, and Coastal

$40

Examples:

Water
Sewer
Storm Water
Beach Maintenance and Replenishment
Neighborhood Dredging

Zeb Moseley inside Beach

March 1, 2013, 10:19 AM

$500 Click to see how I would allocate

$20 Arts and Humanities, Libraries and Recreation

$20

Examples:

Parks
Recreation Centers
Libraries
Aquarium
Historic Houses

$20 Economic Development

$20

Examples:

Tourism
Business Retention
Planning
Convention Center
Strategic Growth Area Office

$30 Financial

$30

Examples:

Treasurer
Finance
Purchasing
Commissioner of the Revenue
Budget Office
Real Estate Assessor

$30 General Government

$30

Examples:

City Attorney
City Council
City Manager
Personnel
Information Technology
Volunteer Office

$20 Housing and Neighborhood Preservation

$20

Examples:

Homeless Prevention
Neighborhood Inspections

$50 Human Services

$50

Examples:

Mental Health
Public Health
Social Services

$200 Public Safety

$200

Examples:

Police
Fire
EMS
911
Courts
Jail

$100 Road Construction and Maintenance

$100

Examples:

Construction
Maintenance

$15 Trash Collection, Disposal and Recycling

$15

Examples:

Collection
Disposal
Recycling

$15 Water, Sewer, Storm Water, and Coastal

$15

Examples:

Water
Sewer
Storm Water
Beach Maintenance and Replenishment
Neighborhood Dredging

This is a great city to live in, but in order to keep it that way, the City needs to take care of what we have now and not worry so much about what it can bring here in the future. The city has wasted millions of my tax dollars on studies and buying property, and has neglected to take care of it's employees and fix the roads. People love living and visiting here because they feel safe. When public safety employees have not received a raise in 6 years, and are forced to do more with less, it puts people in danger. Trained and experienced public safety workers are leaving because it is becoming harder and harder to make ends meet. When a 6 year employee is bringing home less money now, than 6 years ago because of health care costs going up, there is a problem. I don't think anyone has a problem tightening the belt a little if there is no money, but this City has the money. It just decides to spend it on pet projects. No one will ride the light rail, or come to the arena if they are not safe getting there, or if they are stuck in traffic on the outdated road structure. Take care of those protecting us, fix the roads, and take care of those who can't take care of themselves.

Jon Langejans inside Princess Anne

March 1, 2013, 6:30 AM

$500 Click to see how I would allocate

$60 Arts and Humanities, Libraries and Recreation

$60

Examples:

Parks
Recreation Centers
Libraries
Aquarium
Historic Houses

$30 Economic Development

$30

Examples:

Tourism
Business Retention
Planning
Convention Center
Strategic Growth Area Office

$45 Financial

$45

Examples:

Treasurer
Finance
Purchasing
Commissioner of the Revenue
Budget Office
Real Estate Assessor

$45 General Government

$45

Examples:

City Attorney
City Council
City Manager
Personnel
Information Technology
Volunteer Office

$15 Housing and Neighborhood Preservation

$15

Examples:

Homeless Prevention
Neighborhood Inspections

$25 Human Services

$25

Examples:

Mental Health
Public Health
Social Services

$80 Public Safety

$80

Examples:

Police
Fire
EMS
911
Courts
Jail

$100 Road Construction and Maintenance

$100

Examples:

Construction
Maintenance

$50 Trash Collection, Disposal and Recycling

$50

Examples:

Collection
Disposal
Recycling

$50 Water, Sewer, Storm Water, and Coastal

$50

Examples:

Water
Sewer
Storm Water
Beach Maintenance and Replenishment
Neighborhood Dredging

You have all of the ideas you need within each of your department heads. Ask yourself the following question. If I had to spend my own money on my projects, how much and what would I spend it on? Having retired from a government job I can say the "spend it or lose it" theory doesn't work. There is the idea, if I reduce costs in my department, I may not see it in my budget next year. So, to keep my money available, I will spend my entire budget. Rather than use that matrix, how about adding incentives to those department heads that can achieve their department's requirements while saving the city money. That's where you put your pay raises or bonuses.

Since we are in a shortfall with many jobs probably leaving this area due to sequestration why in the heck do we need to be spending money on light-rail or arena's? The right answer is, we don't. As stated earlier, use the rainy-day fund to pay bonuses to those departments that can save money while still achieving their departments mandates/goals. Remember when you are writing your budgets. You are using your money! now look at the list again. What will keep our residents safe and secure? What will keep our resident services functioning? What is a pet project that has nothing to do with keeping the city functioning? Should the priorities be the future when you can't survive today?

Katrina Spivey outside Districts

February 28, 2013, 11:13 PM

$500 Click to see how I would allocate

$20 Arts and Humanities, Libraries and Recreation

$20

Examples:

Parks
Recreation Centers
Libraries
Aquarium
Historic Houses

$1 Economic Development

$1

Examples:

Tourism
Business Retention
Planning
Convention Center
Strategic Growth Area Office

$18 Financial

$18

Examples:

Treasurer
Finance
Purchasing
Commissioner of the Revenue
Budget Office
Real Estate Assessor

$1 General Government

$1

Examples:

City Attorney
City Council
City Manager
Personnel
Information Technology
Volunteer Office

$40 Housing and Neighborhood Preservation

$40

Examples:

Homeless Prevention
Neighborhood Inspections

$40 Human Services

$40

Examples:

Mental Health
Public Health
Social Services

$200 Public Safety

$200

Examples:

Police
Fire
EMS
911
Courts
Jail

$100 Road Construction and Maintenance

$100

Examples:

Construction
Maintenance

$40 Trash Collection, Disposal and Recycling

$40

Examples:

Collection
Disposal
Recycling

$40 Water, Sewer, Storm Water, and Coastal

$40

Examples:

Water
Sewer
Storm Water
Beach Maintenance and Replenishment
Neighborhood Dredging

Every year council hides behind "budget shortfalls" and refuses to give their police officers and firefighters a fair, competitive wage---while throwing tens of millions of dollars at speculative projects. That is like telling your children that all you can afford to feed them is beans, while you still take regular trips to Vegas! Don't forget that in 2011, although council gave the working cops and firefighters a 2.5% pay raise--which didn't even keep up with true inflation, they "found" enough money to give the highest paid police and fire officials (Chiefs, Deputy Chiefs, and Captains) a whopping 7.5% raise. And those folks were already making six figure salaries. Plus--many of them had JUST gotten a raise, by virtue of their new positions. Many of them got a $17,000.00 pay raise--in REAL money!! A slap in the face to every working Police Officer and Fire Fighter. Last year alone Master Police Officer's made $12,000.00 less than they did years prior. In all actuallity Police and Firemen haven't received a pay raise in over 7 years not even a cost of living increase. Health insurance premiums rise annually and the city provides no health care options for it's employees to choose from other than Optima POS or PPO. My family can't even afford to use the health insurance that we pay over $600.00 a month for, I can't afford to live with it or without it. Employees now have to contribute 5% towards retirement and then on top of that the recent tax hike. Compression is a huge issue, Officers just graduating the academy make more than an officer who has been on the street for 5 years. Precinct's are understaffed and officer safety is a huge issue as well. The third precinct has approximatly 105,000 citizens with only on average MAYBE 9 officers working and out of those 9 maybe 7 are working the streets. Moral amongst officers that work on the street is at an all time low and the higher ups are oblivious or just don't care. It's a shame how our city officials treat and disrespect our Public Safety Employees and their families. Take care of those that take care of you. These men and women put their lives on the line for YOU and are the reason this city is the safest on the East Coast and make you look good and this city look good. All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. So do something. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnphh_e3xWM

Elizabeth Elks-Stagg inside Beach

February 27, 2013, 9:40 AM

$500 Click to see how I would allocate

$100 Arts and Humanities, Libraries and Recreation

$100

Examples:

Parks
Recreation Centers
Libraries
Aquarium
Historic Houses

$5 Economic Development

$5

Examples:

Tourism
Business Retention
Planning
Convention Center
Strategic Growth Area Office

$5 Financial

$5

Examples:

Treasurer
Finance
Purchasing
Commissioner of the Revenue
Budget Office
Real Estate Assessor

$5 General Government

$5

Examples:

City Attorney
City Council
City Manager
Personnel
Information Technology
Volunteer Office

$5 Housing and Neighborhood Preservation

$5

Examples:

Homeless Prevention
Neighborhood Inspections

$50 Human Services

$50

Examples:

Mental Health
Public Health
Social Services

$100 Public Safety

$100

Examples:

Police
Fire
EMS
911
Courts
Jail

$50 Road Construction and Maintenance

$50

Examples:

Construction
Maintenance

$100 Trash Collection, Disposal and Recycling

$100

Examples:

Collection
Disposal
Recycling

$80 Water, Sewer, Storm Water, and Coastal

$80

Examples:

Water
Sewer
Storm Water
Beach Maintenance and Replenishment
Neighborhood Dredging

Keeping our city safe & clean. Remember why people came here to visit or live. The History that sound rounds our city. Miles of Beaches. Don't clear anymore lots. Consider the vacate lots, vacate building that already exist!!! On the school note: Granted some of the schools that are left are old, but consider... other ways to renew... Better lighting, and sounds systems for the football fields, enlarge the bleachers, better lighting would prove safer area, lightening. Improving our school thru sports and other school activities.