MEXICO BEACH BUDGET MEETING.
MEXICO JOE
Another budget meeting is scheduled in August. The City is
proposing raising the millage rate again. Even though your property values
have declined considerably your property taxes
won't!!! The City is building a new City Hall and
police department. (construction by Cathey (the Mayor) construction) They
want to give city employees a 2% raise. They want a new beach rake,
they want limestone at the boat ramp. They want,
they want, they want. There is a lot going
on between our City administration, the fire department and the police
department....the budget is only one issue being addressed right now. If
you care about Mexico Beach, you must be informed!
We have one city council person who has spoken out against a larger city hall
than necessary. One city council person who has proposed other sources of
revenue. One city council person who has spoken out against raising the
millage rate.
She questions, she researches, she speaks out. She does not just go
along with the status quo. She is alone up there and can't get
anywhere because she is just one voice.
The Citizens must support
her.
Please see her comments below. If you agree with her.....YOU MUST
BE AT THE NEXT BUDGET MEETING!!!!! YOU MUST BE
WILLING TO SPEAK OUT. I believe it will be around the 8th of
August.
"To offset additional expenses of building a City complex, I will continue to push the idea of selling City property that isn't currently utilized and is without a defined plan for future use...and that includes the former City Hall location. It is a win-win for the City. We use our assets and we generate property tax revenue. My guess is, after this week's meeting, we will be back to square one with a new City Hall plan based on wishes and dreams of a few rather than what we actually need. I don't agree with the point raised in the meeting that interest rates are low so now is the time to build bigger and to borrow more money----how about let's just build what we need and pay for it with our money. Was anyone listening in last week's meeting when the Architect, Bayne Collins, stated that the breezeway concept offers a very economical way to add more heated and cooled space later if and when we need it?
You may remember in the meeting that I stated I wanted more time to see what folks thought and to do some research on the employee pay increase issue...I know this is apparently a difficult concept for some to understand, most people have ideas and opinions but are uncomfortable sharing those in a public meeting. As an elected official, I get much more feedback via email and phone calls than I do in a public meeting.
I support a 2% pay increase for City employees with the exception of the "staff" which I define as City Manager, City Clerk and Public Works Director. I contacted all cities in Bay County and also included Port St. Joe and what I found is that for cities closest in population to us--and we are still thousands less in population, less in actual size, and have much less commercial and/or industry, our "staff" salaries are high in comparison.
For example, Parker , pop. 4,600, eliminated their City Manager position to save money and the Mayor acts as City Manager with the City Clerk picking up the slack. The City Clerk makes $30K a year plus benefits and the Mayor makes $1 a year, and the Public Works "Supervisor" makes $20 an hour plus benefits. Callaway, pop. 14,500, is currently in the process of hiring a City Manager and the starting salary is $70K--the clerk currently makes $65K and the Public Works Director makes $70K. This is a City 10 times our size. Port St. Joe, pop. 3,500, the City Manager's salary is $75K, City Clerk $55K and PWD is $59,611. Compare these to Mexico Beach with the City Manager position paying $74,069 ($90,262 with benefits), City Clerk $57,609 ($71,445 with benefits) and PWD, $54,600 ($63,025 with benefits). Pulling out the raise for just three people, saves the City $4,000. The citizens can do the math."
George Gill
Callaway, St. Joe, etc., seems like a better comparison would be
Mexico Bch and Bell, CA!!!
sandra
MEXICO JOE
NEED MORE CITIZEN TO GET INVOLVE. THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 12 PEOPLE THAT COMES
TO THE MEETINGS, SO THE CITY CAN DO WHAT EVER THEY PLEASED. SEND ME YOUR
EMAILS AND I WILL PERSONALLY CARRY THEM TO THE MEETING.
THANK YOU
JOE BUSH
EMAIL: HITEK...@MCHSI.COM
MEXICO JOE
make the meeting.
'thanks
----- Original Message -----
From: "George Gill" <ghg...@gmail.com>
To: <concerned-citizens-of...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2012 12:39 PM
Subject: Re: MEXICO BEACH BUDGET MEETING.