For anyone who's got a thought or more on any aspect of government related to the Park Ridge City budget, you can share your thoughts and more here. You should feel free to ask questions too.
This coming Saturday at City Hall another budget workshop is scheduled. We again strongly encourage residents to attend and comment.
The PRU Crew has noted the calls for balancing the city budget, the cries for maintaining favored programs and personnel, the moaning over increased taxes and fees, and the complete lack of conscience by those who've called for maintenance of favored programs and personnel without offering suggestions and ideas for either making budget cuts in other areas or honestly calling for still more increases in taxes and fees.
People, you cannot have it both ways. We either spend within our means or we buy on credit and shift the burden down the road. But make no mistake about it, all bills eventually come due. If anyone thinks there's some magic bullet as yet undiscovered and which will make the city budget magically balance without anyone incurring any pain, we welcome you aboard the crazy train.
To City Manager Jim Hock, the PRU Crew expresses appreciation for the effort you've made in suggested cuts and revenue increases so far, while we remain disappointed in the lack of your offering a preliminarily balanced budget -- we are looking forward to further suggestions from you at this Saturday's budget workshop.
March 25, 2010
City Budget Freewheeling Crazy Train!
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8 comments:
Isn't the obvious answer to our long-term budget issues to try to attract businesses here who can thrive? The irish pub should be opened, more zoning and archaic ways by Ald. DiPetro and others should come to an end. Park Ridge city govt is very hostile to business, and the citizens have to pay for it. I'm tired of my tax dollars going to Edison Park, Niles and Chicago (Higgins).
Anon@2:41 --
We're not sure what the obvious answer is.
We look at the city budget and see property taxes as accounting for 31% of the city's revenue -- more than any other source. We don't have a break down of how much of that 31% -- projected $16+million -- in revenue is attributable to residential vs. commercial.
We've heard many people say Park Ridge city govt is very hostile to business, but we have yet to hear anyone explain exactly how that hostility is manifested. We are all ears and eyes should you care to provide concrete examples.
And we aren't without expectations of those examples being limits to hours of operation and--or zoning variances. You should be able to anticipate our response to those complaints.
PRU, nobody in their right mind is going to say they want higher taxes and fees to cover everything. Everybody wants something for nothing or they want the other guy to pay for it.
Anon@3:38 --
As an argument against the first part of your comment, we offer the evidence of the School District 64 referendum. District 64 said they wanted higher taxes and fees and the voters agreed to the request.
Often enough we've seen evidence to support the second part of your comment -- however, we would suggest the phrase too many people in place of your having said everybody.
All I know is I can't afford to keep paying higher and higher taxes. The council should put all the cuts in place and then make more cuts until the budget is in line. That's how we all have to manage our own finances.
Nobody I know would go to their boss and demand more money because they want to spend more money. The boss would laugh in their face right before firing the fool.
2:41
Let's be clear, "more zoning" is NOT being imposed on the Irish pub in order to be opened.
Expectations of following current zoning is.
How do you figure that MANY other similar business', some new, some long standing, have been successful all while following the zoning that exists?? Hmmmm....
I know I know, something new and original is being offered here, that you can't find anywhere else but Park Ridge, which would draw people from miles around, so we should throw out the rules for the sake of a little revenue. Oh wait...an Irish pub, with a big bar area, some food and outdoor seating, now where have I seen that?!? Oh yea about a 1/2 a mile away.
Don't gt me wrong, I'm certainly in favor of having good business in town, and options, but no one business is going to be the salvation of our current economic situation nor does it warrant changing zoning when it has a lot more to do with satisfying the people asking for the changes than proves to be a benefit for the better of the community.
I am in favor of an Irish pub but not with roof top drinking. I know that the apartment complex 10 feet away has four apartments I surely would not want these people inconvenienced because of some bar owner. They have been there for years I know because I used to live there. It's all about money and greed not what's good for the city.
PRU: "We've heard many people say Park Ridge city govt is very hostile to business, but we have yet to hear anyone explain exactly how that hostility is manifested. We are all ears and eyes should you care to provide concrete examples." Check the number of months that go by while potential businesses are stumped over "gotcha" rules that PR pulls out of it's butt. Duncan Donuts on NW Highway? Sorry, they changed the zoning rules WHILE the company was in process of getting approval. DD told us to shove it. Landlord lost a tenant and we continue to look at empty storefronts. The old WamMu space on the same block? Five Guys Burgers have been in talks for months. No movement. The ENTIRE BLOCK between Touhy and Washington is now in decrepit condition (this one is partially due to our pals at PR Partners, ie: Norwood Builders) because the city and their buddy developers couldn't get the job done in time and the bottom fell out of the market.
I hear what you are saying about some people wanting to change the rules, etc. but the city treats ALL businesses as though they are trying to pull a fast one and it's just not true. Watch your taxes rise and revenue go to Niles, Des Plaines and Edison Park!
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