This is where the comedy show called "the Police Department Fee" reduction played its most current episode. It is well known that Mr. Rapp, Ms. Smith, Mr. Rogers and Mr. Leach would not vote for it. The only missing tie in the knot was Mr. Bibbee who had voiced at an earlier meeting that he would not vote for it and than stated that he would. As noted before it would be a 5-2 or a 4-3 vote. Was when the dust settled a 4-3.
Mr. Conley answered the bell with a comment that giving up the Fee was not giving up Revenue. He than noted the 1% Sales Tax Revenue at $3,150,010. I don't know where he got that number? But here are actual numbers for the
2015-2016 Fiscal Year= $3,035,803.70;
2016-2017 Fiscal Year= $3,439,108.58; & for one half (1/2) of the
2017-2018 Fiscal Year= $1,717,577.90
Totals= $8,190,490.10.
This is $8,190,490.10 / by 2.5= $3,276,196 on average.
He also noted that reducing the B&O Tax was just $100,000., to $2.6 Million from the $2.7 Million before the Sales Tax went in. So for sure not much of a Revenue issue based on the two changes. But a whole lotta bucks increase in the end.
For the sake of argument, let's run this out at the same amount ($1,717,577.90), per quarter for the balance of the Current Fiscal Year (6 more months), and we get $3,435,155.80. This may well be deceptive for two reasons:
1. The Third Quarter each of the past two years has been the big one at $919K and $936K for each of those past two years.
2. The impending closure of K-Mart and Elder Beerman plus H R Gregg last year?
But for some reason which may well include a decrease based on what the City thinks it would receive from the above three closures, it may well be that the decrease for the three will not be as bad as assumed? One might think that the June- August period would be the big one because of School being out and than buying for the new year in August? Not true, the big quarter is the Jan-Mar quarter so far each year? So the next payment in April will begin to tell the tale for the above closures? Were it to drop way down, than there may well be a budgeting issue possibility for the balance of this Fiscal Year? If the other businesses are truly showing increased sales, that will offset much of the loss for the above three stores?
Plus, if Businesses are doing better should not B&O be going back up too?
Mr. Elem then chimed in that he supported the $25K reduction to the Seniors. It is a no brainier?
And than the really funny part of the show began with Mr. Rapp saying there had been "some animosity" over the issue. He does not want to take the money from the PD Ordinance. It was specifically put in place for the PD. He was more than willing to look at other areas for all the people. For him to sit there and look at people and lie with a straight face is a maturing from what has gone on in the past five years. He is not about to give anyone outside of the City Staff and his bubba's anything. One of the big goodies last year was the paving of an alley behind what is possibly the home of one of the City PD?
Mr. Leach than began to earn his position as the "new" fair haired boy on the block. "What benefit, for how many Seniors"? Ms. Roberts chimed in: a little over a 1,000 taking the Discount. (This out of about 1,400 total).
Mr. Leach: This is like a Special Interest Senior Group and began to question how the City could do this with the PD and Fire Dept.? Fire Department change due to County Fee. City could not also charge, but will bet would have (and did some months), if allowable?
Than Mr. Rogers made another of his famous remarks: "I don't know what I would do with another $2.00/ month? (There were both of his middle digits verbally to most of the Seniors in town)
.
He than noted we could do an Ordinance for the money directly to the PD. It would be easy to do and he opposed as a Senior. $2.00 will not buy a gallon of Gas.
Mr. Skogstad than had an Epiphany and said he would be remiss in his duty if he did not give advice. "Any reduction in Fee would not be Legal". City receives its authority for it from the State Legislature.
Taxes are based on property value; City cannot levy Taxes. Research to find way to allow for Reduction. Feel is applied equally to ALL. Better to eliminate altogether or leave as is. Otherwise creating two classes; one over 65; other under 65 paying the Fee.
Conley: Haven't we already done that by reducing 50%? Mr. Skogstad ignored him. Than Mr. Conley said to just do away with it altogether. (Allow me this, where was Mr. Skogstad on the first reduction? It too would have been illegal. Yet not a word, was it because we were going into an Election Year? He was clearly remiss in his duties, yet took almost a year and half to realize it? I have noted time after time that Mr. Skogstad will find the determination that Mr. Rapp is looking for. It has been and will be alleged yet again, he is nothing more than Mr. Rapp's personal defense Attorney versus the people of Vienna, who pay both their salaries.
Mr. Rapp: The question is to reduce the Fee. (It was voted down 4-3. Mr. Bibbee fell off his fence pole at this point). At a future point Council should address that issue per Mr. Rapp.
Mr. Skogstad: Next meeting on new Ordinance?
Than as we all know, the "new" committee assignments were made with only one change, Mr. Conley to Trees and Flowers; Mr. Leach to Chairman of Budget Committee.
The next day or so will be on the Town Hall held on Monday the 22d with my usual "aside" thrown in. Than of course to the City Council meeting of the 25th.
So on to tonight (Thursday) and more fun in the sand box. 'nuff said'.