I indicated I would ask for assistance:  here is a draft with much information missing, typos and bad grammar.  Looking for your help to improve all these issues.  I'm going to take a break and go out and shovel the drive. Hope to see you comments and suggestions in the comment section when I return.


Break Break - there is a second and third draft below.  No need to download this version unless for historical reasons.

http://huberresidents.org/uploads/filedump/Council_related/Tax_levy_2014/City%20Budget%20and%20Tax%20Levy%20Jan%202014_draft1.ppt

tom
let me start by answering your questions (our opinions of course)
1. Is a tax levy necessary? No, why do we need one?

2. If a tax levy is necessary, at which election should a tax levy appear? November's, more time to educate the public on why one is needed

3. If a tax levy is necessary, which is better ? an income tax or property tax? INCOME TAX, property tax is high enough and doesn't address "HH Rental Community" adquately enough, most renters use the city services, yet do not pay for them through property tax

4. If a tax levy is necessary, how much revenue will the City seek?  ??? I'd like to know the formula, why one is even needed! Lets cut back on luxuries first!

5. If a tax levy is necessary, what is the duration of the levy?  again, not up on how much is needed, why its needed therefore not sure how long one is needed

citizenforopenHHgovt   Thank you for responding.  This provides a good basis to start the discussion on how we can use this forum to develop good decisions through public engagement.  

One of the Colonels I respected the most when I was active duty made some decisions that I whole heartedly disagreed with.  He kept my respect by acknowledging my arguments and showing that he considered them even though the organization had chosen to take a different path.

Looking at your response "No, why do we need one?" to the question "is a tax levy necessary" is the kind of response I would have expected before the PP presentation was made available.  This is because the PP presentation tried to explain that for 2014 the budget tells us we will spend $2.1 million more out of the General Fund than what we take in as revenue.  The presentation relays that we've been told we've spent more from the general fund than we've been taking in since 2009.  The presentation also points out that  when we look at some of the documentation and other information it looks like in 2013 the General Fund actually grew by $1.7 million dollars.  Then the presentation goes on to explain that at least some of the increase we saw in 2013 was because the city made changes in the way they charge salary, water, and projects.  In 2013 more of the costs of these were charged to in other funds instead of the General Fund.  

Since the Citizen response came well after the PP presentation was posted, the statement "No we don't need one" makes me wonder if the person who made it; read the argument in the presentation and rejected it, read the argument and didn't understand it because of my poor writing ability, or didn't read the argument at all.  Hopefully, you can see that I'm perplexed at how next to respond except to say it would be pretty time consuming to compose a further responses that address all three possibilities.

To me if a person read the argument and understood it one logical progression of the discussion might include questions like these:

1.  If there wasn't a need for a tax levy last year and if the balance of the General Fund will be about the same at the end of 2014 as it was planned to be at the end of 2013, can a levy wait? (note: before I could ask the question this way someone would have to find the 2013 budget to see the  ending balance of the General fund.  Then I would add the $1,457,913.52 to the ending balance of the 2014 General Fund balance to make sure the two ending balances were about the same)  

2.  How systemic is the problem?  Was all the difference in the General Fund revenue due to the change in charges or could some of it been because the economy is turning around?  If the economy is turning around do we need a levy?

Those are questions I might ask.  It is actually your questions that I might not think of that make me ask for your help.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

If it turns out I've written the presentation poorly in this first draft, a person that reads it and then asks, "what are you trying to say here?" will help me as I prepare.  Even better if you read it and understand it but think the phrasing could be better, then your suggestion of a re-write helps my next draft.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

I wouldn't know how to respond to a person that had be given an answer but didn't show an interest in contemplating or disproving the answer but instead continued to press for the same information.  

Here is a second draft.  I didn't get much help so there is still information missing, typos and bad grammar.  Looking for your help to improve all these issues.  Heading to bed. Hope to see your comments and suggestions in the comment section when I return.


Break Break --- There is a third draft below this posting.  Download this draft for historical purposes only

http://huberresidents.org/uploads/filedump/Council_related/Tax_levy_2014/City%20Budget%20and%20Tax%20Levy%20Jan%202014_draft2.ppt

Here is the third draft.  I didn't get much help and I started adding numbers from memory, so not only is there still information missing, typos and bad grammar but I can use help with research as well.  Looking for your help to improve all these issues.  Heading to work.  Hope to see your comments and suggestions in the comment section when I return.

http://huberresidents.org/uploads/filedump/Council_related/Tax_levy_2014/City%20Budget%20and%20Tax%20Levy%20Jan%202014_draft3.ppt

I like this posting and here are the concerns that I look at when deciding to vote yes or no on any levy.  What is it for?  I think when you look at this proposed income tax levy you must look at the previous attempts.  The results from the Mar 2012 levy were poor.  The widest margins of any levys in recent elections–approx. 70-80 percent voting against.  When I was a commander at a military installation, I knew I could move money around to balance the books as long as I was within the laws that Congress gave me to follow.  If you want a .35 income tax levy into the general fund what will it be used for…yes it can be used for police and fire but also other pet projects…ie rob peter to pay paul…You need to clearly delineate what the funds can be used for and publish them via social media websites and articles in the paper…If you have knowledgeable residents they will make a more concerted choice on voting yes or no based on knowledge.  So explain what else it can be used for and include some of the projects that are up and coming that this money can and probably be used for future development of the area around the music center.  Also I would like to know the forecast for the next five years once the music center opens, by year what the projected profit and or loss will be for each of the first five years.  Keep it simple you either have a profit and or loss projected.  If a loss is projected who picks up the loss and where does the money come from.  If you have a profit where will it go to…If the music center does not meet expectations and it fails what happens–who is stuck with the bill.  This is a notional since we all must forecast budgetary requirements as a worst case.  Next police and fire levy is due to come up for a renewal the next year…will it stay the same as a renewal or are you planning something different…next school while it has little to do with you need to put yourself in the residents shoes and look out from their view…everyone wants more money but little accountability…As in schools also the levy’s have been voted down by historically large margins, why…no improvement…You need to be very explicit to say this is what our plan is for the money and let the residents decide.  If you continue to use we need more money levy’s and do not educate the people that vote it down every time you will get no where…we are not dealing with a 51-49 vote.  If you just ask for a renewal next year with NO strings attached of the police and fire levy–I will vote for it and probably most everyone else will.  In closing–Details of the money flow and how and where it could be used–do not want smoke and mirrors, what will happen with the police and fire levy that will expire–will it stay the same or add more to millage to it…especially when you can used the money elsewhere within the general fund…if you ask for more and cause it elsewhere–I WILL NEVER VOTE AN INCREASE.  Also what is the schools going to ask…As I look at it I can see the residents voting three times for tax increases…WE NEED KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW TO VOTE…with none and the ability to understand it goes vast distances on voting.  I want to know what kind of capital improvements projects this increase if passed will be used for at the development of the Heights.  Also in ending the projected yearly profit or loss by year of the music center…regards ron deak