According to this article over at the Star Tribune, Burnsville believes that it’s being proactive by tackling tough budget decisions now rather than later. Unfortunately, plenty of others including myself, think that they should have thought about this nonsense years ago rather than waiting until the market tanked below the depths of the quarry they want to turn into a park.
Burnsville city staffer Tom Hansen complains that they cannot raise taxes even more than they already have because they set the tax levy for 2009 already. Oh no, really? You can’t fucking raise taxes to offset a budget deficit you caused by overspending on unnecessary shit like the expensive Burnsville Performing Arts Center, the half a million dollar water feature in a park that was never meant to have kids splashing around in it, and the thought of charging taxpayers to add an additional traffic light to allow the mayor to safely cross right in front of her own building instead of walking 500 feet in either direction? Really? Oh you poor fucking babies, I really feel sorry for you that you couldn’t come up with something more inventive than waiting for government aid and forced handouts from your citizenry.
Hansen threatens that because of this budget shortfall they’re going to have to cut programs, staff, and levels of spending! Wow, finally someone that at least has the balls to utter the tragic words that cities should be considering at all times. I am not quite sure why cities feel that they need to wait until they aren’t getting state and/or county aid to do these things. Cities have an obligation to provide a minimum level of service to their residents and they are not there to throw tax dollars around on pet projects so that their names will be forever carved into the cornerstones of unnecessary buildings. All of these considerations should have been made YEARS ago, not in February 2009.
There’s a great comment under the Star Tribune’s article by user skeptic2209 which gives some great ideas on what they should have done and what they should do now. Two of my favorites are:
(5) Use your “collaborative style” and actually LISTEN to citizens about budget cuts;
(6) there are no events scheduled at the PAC main stage from 3/1 to 4/26, according to the BPAC website. Howsabout getting some revenue generating acts in there?
I highly suggest you read the rest of the suggestions posed by those responding to the Star Tribune article as people have some really good ideas. I realize that the Burnsville City Council refuses to listen to residents who are fiscally conservative until it’s too late, but perhaps it’s now time for someone to step in and tell Kautz to do what she does best–sit in her favorite coffee shop and smile instead of fucking with the money provided by the taxpayers of Burnsville and Dakota County. Liz, you have proven time and time again that you are completely ineffectual at running Burnsville and your only purpose in life is to bitch and complain that the state is taking away the precious money that you like to waste on frivolous fucking bullshit anyway.
What do you think about Burnsville’s planned service cuts? Are you concerned that your city is going to do the same after raising taxes to astronomical rates? Do you believe that the cities should have thought of cutting back budgets long before the state cut their aid? I’m sure you have an opinion on this one so let’s hear it!
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March 6th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Did they raise the prices for sponsorship on the seats of the PAC yet? I’m still hoping for a lazylightning.org seat!
March 6th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Maybe I’m still grumpy from having to tramp over snow-covered walking paths earlier this morning, but I’m not happy about the prospect of reduced city services around here in Eagan, that’s for sure.
Aside from the ones from skeptic2209, I didn’t see any useful contributions from the posters in that Strib thread aside from maybe closing the Alimagnet performing arts center (I don’t know enough about that facility to know if it’s worth doing, but it does seem redundant with the PAC). Like the guy who wanted to get rid of the Parks and Rec department — WTF? Reduce snowplowing?
It is true that Apple Valley, Burnsville, and others needed to be smarter about how they’ve used their money in the past and now are going to have to make some changes as a result of it. But gutting city services to the core is just going to make them worse places to live.
March 6th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
The only good in this is that the Mayor got reelected. I would feel bad if someone else had to take the heat for the problems she created.
March 6th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Has the $1,000,000 upgrade/expansion for the GARAGE youth center planned for 2009 happened yet?
March 7th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Here is a link to what the burnsville city staff has identified as areas to cut.
http://www.burnsville.org/DocumentView.asp?DID=1304
Includes elimination of two police officers and a Fire Inspector position resulting in $300K in savings of the targeted $1.5 Million.
March 8th, 2009 at 12:04 am
MSPD – No the upgrade / expansion of the GARAGE is on the chopping block deferred list.
Capital projects, Vehicle, Equipment, and Facilities Fund
Defer improvements to the round maintenance facility (including
improvements for The GARAGE) $500,000
Page 17
http://www.burnsville.org/DocumentView.asp?DID=1304
March 8th, 2009 at 7:18 am
I have copied some relevant information from the PDFs. Please note that the dollar figures in parenthesis are the projected savings amounts:
Two of my favorites outside of the public safety area are:
I’m laughing out loud over $145,000 and $70,000 for absolutely ridiculous bullshit that is no business of a City Council to spend tax dollars on. NONE WHAT-SO-EVER.
March 8th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I just hope they don’t touch the budget for the “I heart Burnsville” bumper stickers! That would be a travesty!
March 8th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Promoting the city’s hospitality industry is pretty damn important, actually, considering it leads to job growth, increased tax revenue, and more money for local restaurants, hotels, and other businesses. I do think all of the funding should come from the lodging tax, though.
The best way to keep property taxes lower is to attract business. Careful spending and budgeting goes a long way too, of course, but you can only cut so far. Finding more ways to make money gets better results in the long run.