What ever happened to the Millions in the RAINY DAY FUND

[BettyBedford]

Years ago this was ever increasing and was thought to be the security blanket for our community in case of financial emergency. It had what I was told over 3M in it.  Now, this is seldom if not ever mentioned. I think it was used and it's details never made public.

Well boys and girls, it pouring...let pull it for the roads now!!!!!!!!!! I have heard spooky stories it was used to build the tax drive up window,,, you know, the one with all the cob webs from little to no use....

BB

[KeepItPositive]

BB,

   The "rainy day" funds for municipalities and school districts have been drying up for the past several years.  It has been in the papers.  Everytime the county, township or school tries to balance their respective budget and maintain some level of service that the community and their constituents have become accustomed to, they have been forced to use this "savings" to accomplish that.  The stock market crash, health care costs and increased energy costs have all contributed to this problem.   So now elected officials are stuck with either making DRASTIC cuts or asking for tax increases.  They didn't create this mess, but they are forced to clean it up.

[BEDFORDNEEDS2KNOW]

BB hold on here I go,

That drive ithru was for the white haired friends of yours that couldn't make it into the building!! Or started to walk in the building at 4:00 on a friday and not make it to the counter to pay taxes until 4:59. and stand there asking questions and recounting the $1.35 you get back.  Price of gas has gone up. we pay high ranking employees so much money ( Ie Walt, Bob, Sherry, Dennis Jenkins) so when they have to go to the bank for the township or the post office they take their car and get $.54 per mile for gas.. ripoff

[BettyBedford]

What .54 per mile I don't think IRS give that much
allowance

I go in and so do all my friends. the window was
a pure waste of tax dollars

I also heard they did not need the fancy floors and wood
trim but it was they were insistent on them. They thought
they would be hosting "Dancing with the Stars"

[teri1222ls]

First of all I like you BettyI  thought the drive up window was silly! I have since used that window everytime I have gone to the city hall, and not just to pay my taxes. I have to say, I LOVE THE WINDOW and last time I actually had to wait in a line at THE WINDOW! So I am a window convert!  I use it because it beats dragging the little ones in there to stand in line, because in case you didnt notice the inside isnt all that big, and when there are a lot of people in there paying taxes it can be kinda jammed, then add a few little kids running around. I dont think the new City Hall is "over the top" as far as decorated.  It seemed nice, but not too nice. I actually went to a meeting there In walts office, and we had to go to a few other room to get enough chairs, his office isnt big by any means. I think many things in this Twp. could be better and need to change, but I feel your nit picking here. Just my thoughts

[Director29]

BB,

   The "rainy day" funds for municipalities and school districts have been drying up for the past several years.  It has been in the papers.  Everytime the county, township or school tries to balance their respective budget and maintain some level of service that the community and their constituents have become accustomed to, they have been forced to use this "savings" to accomplish that.  The stock market crash, health care costs and increased energy costs have all contributed to this problem.   So now elected officials are stuck with either making DRASTIC cuts or asking for tax increases.  They didn't create this mess, but they are forced to clean it up.

KIP, you also need to add in your list, raises and benefits that have public sector compensation packages much more expensive than in the private sector. For example, health insurance, the average contribution in the state of Michigan in the private sector is 22%. In the public sector, next to nothing.

[BettyBedford]

First of all I like you BettyI  thought the drive up window was silly! I have since used that window everytime I have gone to the city hall, and not just to pay my taxes. I have to say, I LOVE THE WINDOW and last time I actually had to wait in a line at THE WINDOW! So I am a window convert!  I use it because it beats dragging the little ones in there to stand in line, because in case you didnt notice the inside isnt all that big, and when there are a lot of people in there paying taxes it can be kinda jammed, then add a few little kids running around. I dont think the new City Hall is "over the top" as far as decorated.  It seemed nice, but not too nice. I actually went to a meeting there In walts office, and we had to go to a few other room to get enough chairs, his office isnt big by any means. I think many things in this Twp. could be better and need to change, but I feel your nit picking here. Just my thoughts

teri1222ls

The next time your out and visit other townships, cities etc. see if they have what we have or the drive up window.

"Spoils begot spoils".

I can sympathize with you on doing things with children. Been there long time agar.  Here is something to look at. Most all banks now have online bill pay.., this is why our postal system is drowning in the red, I do all my bill paying online, it saves gas and time. Soon, all of us will do it if congress has it's way. So, that window, might just one day be nothing more than a window garden...just my opinion.

[kc]

I really liked what Keepitpositive said. We didn't create these shortfalls, yes shortfalls that have been coming from the state for years, BUT we are expected to "fix" it! How frustrating. The economy stinks, but we must focus on what's important, our community and our children. We are all struggling, but do we let our public schools go under? Doesn't that make our country great? That every child has the opportunity to get an education.....hmmm...I remember a visit to a foreign country in the Carribian and after talking with the locals I learned that the poverty cycle doesn't get broken because if you're poor, your children only go to school for 1-2 years (because they pay for all the schooling out of pocket) AND their children can only get low paying jobs because of so little education...the cycle continues. Yes, times are tough, we are ALL stretching our dollars, but there comes a point when we CANNOT cut anymore from our schools and public services. As a community we need to help find different alternatives to funding. We cannot count on the state to balance their budget and give us our tax dollars back into the community. They've proven this time and time again. I for one will not stand by and let our schools and public services go down the tubes!

[Director29]

Workers in the private sector are not getting raises and loosing thier jobs. Their benefits are getting cut. There is no question that education is the great equalizer. However, when the average wage and benefit package in the private secoter is getting smaller, then the public sector has to follow suit. The growth in the public secoter wages and benefits is unsustainable.
When the money was flowing into the public coffers, public employees got raises in proportion to the amount of the increase, however, with the pot getting smaller, then there should be some give backs.

[mike1959]

 I think its time to start thinking about different ways of schooling. we have the means and the need. could we not use the internet and do some kind of home based school? so much does it cost to keep the building and bussing going.i think we could use smaller buildings and have the same teacher's broadcast to many classes at once.and some to homes. we could use less teachers and have parents and even teacher aids of some kind to keep order and test the kids. why should we have hundreds of teachers paid to teach the same state run curriculum in 2010.This i think could save us huge money. alot of college's are starting this to save money why cant we? And it might stop some of this fighting and bulling that seems to be getting worse all the time,or we could even do three days of home classes and two days of at school . or we could have one small school that the kids who are not doing their work at home and keeping up could go to. If for some reason thier home's didnt work out. It may even help the kids who cant keep thier minds on school work because of to many distractions by thier friends and what not. Or is it just a baby sitting place? or is it just to keep the teachers in high paying job's? we could make this work for our kids sake. We could keep sports and music and who knows what real training for jobs? with the money we could save. our kids education is not something i want to play with and cut back on!