Thursday, November 20, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
WTA Letter to the WGSD Board prior to the Budget Vote
I find Sally Jo Nelson's recommended change to the tax levy laughable at best and insulting at worst. It is clear that she has a strong disdain for the taxpayers of the Waterford community and demonstrates how out of touch she is with the current economic climate facing hard-working citizens. Sally Jo's recommendation of cutting $4,990 from the original budget proposal is a joke.
The citizens of this community, with a majority vote, voted down the original budget amount of $9,716,869 at the August 2008 annual meeting and recommended the 2008-2009 budget be held constant to 2007-2008 levels. It is unimaginable that after careful scrutiny and a conscious effort to make necessary cuts, Sally Jo could only find $4,990 to take out of the budget. This amount represents a .05% reduction of the proposed budget.
I question the sincerity of Sally Jo's effort to review the budget for cuts and take the recommendation of the taxpayers into thoughtful consideration. This is evident by the amount and line item (Community Service Section) from which her recommended cut would come. We require a more thoughtful, serious, and in-depth evaluation from our District Administrator, and you, our elected School Board members, should expect the same. Instead, we get a flippant recommendation that will have no material impact on the tax levy.
We have a looming recession facing our country which is projected to be deeper than anticipated with a slower recovery than previous recessions. The housing sector continues to be very weak, the credit markets remain mostly frozen, retail sales have fallen dramatically, unemployment is projected to be +7%, and consumer confidence recorded its steepest drop on record last month as families are tightening their belts. Now is the time to make fiscally responsible decisions that will keep the tax levy impact as minimal as possible.
I realize that many of you agree with Sally Jo based on your votes during the annual meeting last August. I believe all taxpayers have a right to know where you stand on this issue and recommend that Monday's vote be role-call so that individual votes are part of the published minutes.
Greg Amborn
The citizens of this community, with a majority vote, voted down the original budget amount of $9,716,869 at the August 2008 annual meeting and recommended the 2008-2009 budget be held constant to 2007-2008 levels. It is unimaginable that after careful scrutiny and a conscious effort to make necessary cuts, Sally Jo could only find $4,990 to take out of the budget. This amount represents a .05% reduction of the proposed budget.
I question the sincerity of Sally Jo's effort to review the budget for cuts and take the recommendation of the taxpayers into thoughtful consideration. This is evident by the amount and line item (Community Service Section) from which her recommended cut would come. We require a more thoughtful, serious, and in-depth evaluation from our District Administrator, and you, our elected School Board members, should expect the same. Instead, we get a flippant recommendation that will have no material impact on the tax levy.
We have a looming recession facing our country which is projected to be deeper than anticipated with a slower recovery than previous recessions. The housing sector continues to be very weak, the credit markets remain mostly frozen, retail sales have fallen dramatically, unemployment is projected to be +7%, and consumer confidence recorded its steepest drop on record last month as families are tightening their belts. Now is the time to make fiscally responsible decisions that will keep the tax levy impact as minimal as possible.
I realize that many of you agree with Sally Jo based on your votes during the annual meeting last August. I believe all taxpayers have a right to know where you stand on this issue and recommend that Monday's vote be role-call so that individual votes are part of the published minutes.
Greg Amborn
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