Levy referendum, part two
I've already been asked why I voted against Mayor Castle's resolution to place a referendum question on the November ballot asking the citizens of Oshkosh to allow the city to exceed the state imposed levy freeze. Below are the reasons why I did not support the resolution.
1) I did not agree with the statement, "[t]he Council hereby supports (emphasis added) an increase in the city tax levy for 2006..." Just because a council places an item on the ballot does not mean they support it. That language should not have been included.
2) I am uncomfortable with the statement, "[t]he Council directs that the question of increasing the city tax levy for 2006 (to be collected in 2007) by (emphasis added) 9.5096 percentage..." To me, this resolution says the council is going to raise the levy by that amount. Along with that, City Attorney Kraft read the ballot language at the meeting last night - talk about confusing!
3) Similar to the reason above, it was discussed that the council would most likely not need the entire levy increase - then why ask for that much? We should have had a more specific number and clearly stated what we intended to do with it (similar to recent area school district referendums).
4) Finally, I'm not at all satisfied with where we are regarding the budget process. The only cuts mentioned by City Manager Wollangk were service cuts. No administrative cuts and no new ideas. I understand cuts will be made, but not all service-oriented. The council asked for an earlier and better budget process this year. It's good that we started earlier, however, it's now clear that the process also needs to be changed.
I encourage anyone with questions or concerns regarding my vote to contact me directly. Thank you.
-Bryan
P.S. I will continue to use this blog and my website to maintain an open dialogue as we work through the budget process. As I did last year, I will be creating a special budget page on my website complete with links to important documents, and it will also have a comment section.
1) I did not agree with the statement, "[t]he Council hereby supports (emphasis added) an increase in the city tax levy for 2006..." Just because a council places an item on the ballot does not mean they support it. That language should not have been included.
2) I am uncomfortable with the statement, "[t]he Council directs that the question of increasing the city tax levy for 2006 (to be collected in 2007) by (emphasis added) 9.5096 percentage..." To me, this resolution says the council is going to raise the levy by that amount. Along with that, City Attorney Kraft read the ballot language at the meeting last night - talk about confusing!
3) Similar to the reason above, it was discussed that the council would most likely not need the entire levy increase - then why ask for that much? We should have had a more specific number and clearly stated what we intended to do with it (similar to recent area school district referendums).
4) Finally, I'm not at all satisfied with where we are regarding the budget process. The only cuts mentioned by City Manager Wollangk were service cuts. No administrative cuts and no new ideas. I understand cuts will be made, but not all service-oriented. The council asked for an earlier and better budget process this year. It's good that we started earlier, however, it's now clear that the process also needs to be changed.
I encourage anyone with questions or concerns regarding my vote to contact me directly. Thank you.
-Bryan
P.S. I will continue to use this blog and my website to maintain an open dialogue as we work through the budget process. As I did last year, I will be creating a special budget page on my website complete with links to important documents, and it will also have a comment section.
posted by Bryan L. Bain at
9/20/2006 07:41:00 AM
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27 Comments:
Thanks for supporting the average middleclass taxpayers in Oshkosh Bryan!
I agree 100% with this comment you made:
"Finally, I'm not at all satisfied with where we are regarding the budget process. The only cuts mentioned by City Manager Wollangk were service cuts. No administrative cuts and no new ideas. I understand cuts will be made, but not all service-oriented. The council asked for an earlier and better budget process this year. It's good that we started earlier, however, it's now clear that the process also needs to be changed."
You have my support and my vote.
By
Anonymous, at September 20, 2006 10:50 AM
Scheuermann
Mattox
Tower
Castle
Thank You for having the Courage to Take a Stand on Making A Difficult Decision. Thank You for giving to Voters the Choice. We take encouragement that you will NOT shy away from the difficult decisions that will still have to be made!
"WE GET IT"
By
Anonymous, at September 20, 2006 11:25 AM
Here is my opinion:
My concern is many people who are posting to this blog and other blog sites seem to believe that every reasonable cut has been made in our current city government. It appears some believe, as our City Manager does, reductions in travel, training, subscriptions and…not filling open positions, are the last areas we can go to achieve any further meager savings to our multi-million dollar city budget.
I think that concept is flawed, wrong and a travesty to the citizens of Oshkosh.
I believe a growing number of citizens in Oshkosh are coming to the conclusion that city government and city leadership are not working for the best interests of the average taxpayer. As you watch the workshop debates on cable channel 10, you can make an easy case that the city administration appears to be more concerned about preserving the continuity of the city bureaucracy than the desire to root out unproductive, unnecessary and redundant city services!
I believe Oshkosh is not run in an opulent manner, but the notion that any additional meaningful reorganization is impossible is simply not true.
Much of the crux of the budget matter is the convoluted method the city must negotiate with the various bargaining units representing city union employees.
It is no secret that the past contracts have been very favorable to the union body. Wages appear to be average or a bit above average when compared to others in the private and municipal sectors. It is clearly the benefit package that is the anchor around the city’s financial neck. Many of the perks currently awarded to city employees simply no longer exist in the public sector. The current percentage of employee contribution to healthcare plans, (4% - 5% maximum) is unheard of in the private sector.
I believe the bottom line for most citizens are these key points:
1) Don’t place a fee structure on standard city services.
2) Don’t apply additional property taxes until ALL meaningful cuts, reductions and reorganization have truly occurred.
3) Get union contracts under control.
By
Anonymous, at September 20, 2006 11:49 AM
Concessions:
that is what union brothers and sisters heard the last time contracts were negotiated @ 2.5% 2.5% 2.75% The first time in years contracts were settled for less than 3% CONCESSIONS MADE.
Employee service, dedication and willingness to assist the City during those difficult budget times WAS NOT appreciated. Their value and worth as cooperative employees should have been undeniable, but it was not.
Since than unions brothers and sisters have heard work more work more less pay less pay and oh by the way your wages are frozen and benefits will be cut.
They don't want to be Heros any more.They have families to feed and bills to pay. They don't pay any less to heat their homes or any less for a tank of gas. They live, work and pay taxes in this same City.
Spell A R B I T R A T I O N
up to state allowed limits
By
Anonymous, at September 21, 2006 2:24 PM
Concessions:
that is what union brothers and sisters heard the last time contracts were negotiated @ 2.5% 2.5% 2.75% The first time in years contracts were settled for less than 3% CONCESSIONS MADE.
Employee service, dedication and willingness to assist the City during those difficult budget times WAS NOT appreciated. Their value and worth as cooperative employees should have been undeniable, but it was not.
Since than unions brothers and sisters have heard work more work more less pay less pay and oh by the way your wages are frozen and benefits will be cut.
They don't want to be Heros any more.They have families to feed and bills to pay. They don't pay any less to heat their homes or any less for a tank of gas. They live, work and pay taxes in this same City.
Spell A R B I T R A T I O N
up to state allowed limits
Bryan,
If this is truly the position of the average Union employee in Oshkosh, I hope that you and the rest of your peers on the council are willing to roll up your sleeves and play hardball with these people.
They currently have a Cadillac benefit plan and most are paid at or above average wages. Some wages are totally out-of-line (Bus Driver) but most are in the ballpark.
I cannot as a Oshkosh taxpayer continue to afford the ever increasing services of some of these workers when my wages haven’t gone up in 3 years and my medical insurance keeps increasing. I have all I can do to pay my own bills, much less pay more taxes to give these guys a raise and even better benefits.
Signed
I cant pay more.
By
Anonymous, at September 21, 2006 3:13 PM
OH BRYAN PLEASE let me get this straight...
The Leach Amphitheater and its bathrooms
Floating docks
Wolf exhibits
The museum
The Grand Opera House
Playgrounds up the wazoo
Opera House square and the sundial
And now the city workers are supposed to be the heroes and save the day? What's wrong with this picture?
You can continue to put the union spin on it, but it really doesn't hold water. The water trickling over the years caused the canyon. Now the only way to bail the city out is to go after the city employees.
2:17, you hit the nail on the head. Concessions were made in the 90s, when everyone else was making huge wage increases and the city's wages remained stagnant. Concessions were made in the 80s, when the city didn't want to increase wages, so they offered benefits as a means to save money. Did anyone else see the presentation that Oshkosh is in the lower third when it comes to per capita costs for city taxes? It doesn't get a whole lot cheaper than right here in good ol' Oshburg!
There has been a lot of talk on how much fat there is to cut. Cut it! Some here talk out of one side of their mouth when they talk about how much the city can AFFORD to cut (extraneous services and duplication of efforts), and out of the other side when they slam city workers for not being union friendly to their co-workers when the city might have to cut positions. Which is it?
When the cost of peanut butter goes up and you don't want to pay for it anymore, stop buying it. When the cost of city services go up and you don't want to pay for them anymore, stop paying for it! Choose the services that we can do without, and we'll do without them!
By
Anonymous, at September 21, 2006 3:33 PM
No New Taxes said...
No one's hands are tied because of the state or union contracts. The council needs to quit being chicken shit and let it go to arbitration if necessary. Yeah, they use comparables of hours and wages, but do they also use comparables of revenue, taxes, and unemployment? So union shouldn't take it in the ass because they have to feed their families. Well guess what Mr. Union, at $20+ per hour I think you've got it made compared to those subsisting on unemployment, welfare, and Walmart wages. Try feeding a family of four or more on two part time jobs paying $8.50 per hour with NO benefits. Maybe a couple of weeks eating rice and butter will humble you to what many in this city have to deal with so you and your family can eat out, own your own home, drive a decent vehicle, and take a family trip now and then. My level of sympathy for a greedy, "pity me I didn't get a big enough raise," self-centered unionized city worker is exhausted.
You all can compare a little tax increase here and a little tax increase there as a pittance, and only a butterburger, or only a trip to McDonalds, but some of us live a life where fresh fruit is a luxury and meat is almost nonexistant. Some depend on library computers instead of having one or two plus internet. Some borrow movies from the library and have TV antennas that don't really work. Some take the bus or walk instead of backing out of the driveway in a reliable car. Some fill out lots of forms every year so their kids get one good meal a day for nine months out of the year. Many stand in line at the food pantry and count the days when the free Christmas gifts come from generous folks so the kids have decent clothes and maybe a toy. When you are complaining about not getting enough of a raise or having to take a cut that still keeps you well compensated, remember that you are not the only ones living in Oshkosh. I live here too. And if I am lucky, I'll still have a roof to live under next month.
By
Anonymous, at September 21, 2006 7:17 PM
It is the people like you and others that the city is concerned about. The less fortunate of the Oshkosh.
That is precisely why WE NEED TO VOTE YES to the proposed referndum.
We Need to give our city leaders the OPTION to have the monies available to keep services for You and your families. Monies to keep a book mobile and the library services. Monies to keep the busing running so you can get to work.
The city council WILL make the necessary costs but they need the option to keep services for everyone in the city.
That option comes by voting YES for the levy increase.
By
Anonymous, at September 22, 2006 7:41 AM
September 22, 2006 7:41 AM what an evil and greedy person you must be.
You want these poor people to further subsidize your bloated excessive wages with even more taxes. Taxes that pay bus drivers $18.05 an hour as a starting wage.
Benefits that have taxpayers paying 95-96% of your healthcare costs.
You are an evil manipulative person. Go back to the hole from which you crawled out of.
By
Anonymous, at September 22, 2006 8:22 AM
8:22
True Statements Hurt.
What does that say about you when
honesty makes you resort to name-calling?
All that person 7:17 was doing was offering out another viewpoint.
By
Anonymous, at September 22, 2006 9:29 AM
Don't forget the city employees pay state and county taxes too
Taxes to supplement the FREE hot lunch programs.
Taxes that pay for welfare benefits.
Taxes to pay for teachers salarys
By
Anonymous, at September 22, 2006 9:34 AM
9:34..OK, I get it.
So...you pay yourself.
Anyhow.....
Now, here is the bottom line of this.
When it is time to cast your vote, you see these questions on the ballot...
THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD CAST YOUR VOTE TO SUPPORT WHAT'S IN THE AVERAGE MIDDLECLASS OSHKOSH TAXPAYERS BEST INTEREST.
1. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that a fee of ZERO DOLLARS per month per residential unit for collection by the City of Oshkosh of solid waste and recyclables is hereby established.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that said fee shall be in full force and effect starting January 1, 2007.
VOTE- YES
2. Can the city administration raise the tax levy by 9.5096% for 2007 (exact wording not available)?
VOTE- NO
By
Anonymous, at September 22, 2006 11:05 AM
Response to 8:22
I am Not a city worker! I am Not a greedy or evil person.
I stand by my posting as being my true and my honest opinion. Intimidation and name calling from posters will solve nothing.
We ALL have the freeedom of speech.
I will not apologize for trying to present another viewpoint.
I will not apologize for TRYING to carry on a civil exchange of ideas.
Your bullish tactics will NOT WORK You can NOT suppress Freedom of Speech.
By
Anonymous, at September 22, 2006 2:11 PM
7:17
It is the people like you and others that the city is concerned about. The less fortunate of the Oshkosh.
That is precisely why WE NEED TO VOTE YES to the proposed referndum.
We Need to give our city leaders the OPTION to have the monies available to keep services for You and Your families. Monies to keep a book mobile and the library services. Monies to keep the buses running so you can get to work.
The city council WILL make the necessary costs but they need the option to keep services for everyone in the city.
That option comes by voting YES for the levy increase.
September 22, 2006 7:41 AM
By
Anonymous, at September 22, 2006 2:16 PM
I believe the bottom line for most citizens are these key points:
1) Don’t place a fee structure on standard city services.
2) Don’t apply additional property taxes until ALL meaningful cuts, reductions and reorganization have truly occurred.
3) Get union contracts under control.
In order to accomplish that objective and reign in the bloated benefit packages provided to our city union workers, please vote the following when you visit the polls in November.
Remember, city employees will attempt to tell you different, but their message is self-serving. If property taxes are raised, they get more of your hard earned money.
Stop the insanity of paying bus drivers $18.00 + per hour to drive empty busses!!
Stop the insanity of paying 95-96% of the union employees healthcare costs!!
HELP STOP THE INSANITY BY CASTING A VOTE FOR THE AVERAGE MIDDLECLASS TAXPAYER.
CAST YOUR VOTES AS FOLLOWS:...
1. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that a fee of ZERO DOLLARS per month per residential unit for collection by the City of Oshkosh of solid waste and recyclables is hereby established.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that said fee shall be in full force and effect starting January 1, 2007.
VOTE- YES
2. Can the city administration raise the tax levy by 9.5096% for 2007 (exact wording not available)?
VOTE- NO
By
Anonymous, at September 22, 2006 6:50 PM
One huge topic not discussed at the workshop is the tremendous burden the current collective bargaining contract places on the taxpayers of Oshkosh. This is discussed at great length on several other blog sites, and I believe the Northwestern should run an in-depth investigative report on not only wages, but more importantly benefits awarded to the various unions in the city.
Here is a sampling of what has been in circulation:
Oshkosh City Employee Union
Local 796 - AFSCME, AFL-CIO
Rates Effective Pay Period 1, 2006
Clerk Dispatcher - $15.79 - $16.66 per hour
Shop Laborer - $18.05 - $18.67 per hour
Transit Operator - $18.05 - $18.67 per hour
Service Technician - $18.05 - $18.67 per hour
Sanitation Operator - $18.42 - $19.15 per hour
Groundskeeper - $18.42 - $19.15 per hour
Z0o Specialist - $18.42 - $19.15 per hour
Traffic Painter - $18.42 - $19.15 per hour
Maint. Shop Worker - $18.42 - $19.15 per hour
Street Maint Worker - $18.48 - $19.49 per hour
Parks Maint Worker - $18.48 - $19.49 per hour
Utility Operator - $18.99 - $19.65 per hour
Park Trades Tech - $18.99 - $19.65 per hour
Arborist - $18.99 - $19.65 per hour
Park Maint Leadperson - $18.81 - $19.79 per hour
Traffic Painter II - $19.06 - $20.05 per hour
Water Meter Reader Service - $19.06 - $20.05 per hour
Parks Maint Tech - $19.06 - $20.27 per hour
Welder - $19.48 - $20.91 per hour
Lead Mechanic - $19.79 - $21.32 per hour
Mechanic III - $19.48 - $20.91 per hour
Electrician Ii - $21.10 - $23.03 per hour
NOW....A small picture of some of the benefits that Oshkosh City Employees enjoy, IN ADDITION TO the wages listed above:
Oshkosh City Employees - Benefits.
This is a list of SOME of the benefits we taxpayers are paying for. How many of you have jobs which have benefits this good? (NOTICE THE MEDICAL BENEFIT!!)
Vacations:
1 year of service = 2 weeks vacation
7 years of service = 3 weeks vacation
12 years of service = 4 weeks vacation
20 years of service = 5 weeks vacation
25 years of service = 5 weeks + 1 day vacation
Sick Leave:
1 day of sick leave for each month of service.
Holidays:
12 paid days per year.
Medical Benefits:
Employee contributions for PPO
Effective January 1, 2006 employees will contribute 5% up to a maximum of $30 per month toward single; $45 per month towards dual and $55 per month towards a family premium equivalent.
Employee contributions for EPO
Effective January 1, 2006 employees will contribute 4% up to a maximum of $20 per month toward single; $40 per month towards dual and $50 per month towards a family premium equivalent.
Retirement Fund:
The Employer shall pay the employees mandatory contribution to the fund, up to 6.5% of the employee’s gross wage.
Longevity Plan:
The following longevity plan is in effect-
$2.77 bi weekly after 5 years of service
$5.54 bi weekly after 10 years of service
$9.23 bi weekly after 15 years of service
$12.92 bi weekly after 20 years of service
The wages listed are certainly nothing to "sneeze" at. They alone are easily comparable to average to above average wages in the private sector. But take a look at the benefit package. The benefits listed, specifically the healthcare coverage are unheard of in todays private sector environment.
I hope our City leaders are taking a different stance on contract negotiations during this session. If things don't change drastically, cuts and service reductions will need to continue. Oshkosh taxpayers can't keep financing these amazing benefit packages for city employees.
By
Anonymous, at September 22, 2006 7:04 PM
According to the Saturday September 23, 2006 edition of the Oshkosh Northwestern:
County Executive Mark Harris will again propose a 0.5% County Sales Tax.
“Harris proposes to use the projected $9,000,000.00 generated from the sales tax – projected to be $12,000,000.00 for a full year – in three ways:
1) $7,400,000.00 in property tax relief.
2) $800,000.00 to “retain key county personnel”.
3) $800,000.00 Pass on to each city, town and village on a $5.00 per resident basis.
Comparisons:
2005 per-capita spending by counties:
Winnebago - $346.42
Outagamie - $295.24 (17 percent lower than Winnebago)
Brown - $298.52 (16 percent lower than Winnebago)
(Source – Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance.)
Ok…so given this information I have 2 questions to start:
1) Who are the “Key county personnel”? What have they done to deserve this increase?
2) Why are we spending more per-capita, than two adjacent larger counties...and yet we need this additional tax?
Mr. Harris has some answering to do!!
By
Anonymous, at September 23, 2006 1:31 PM
I remember when private employees SCOFFED at public sector jobs because they did not offer the kind of money available at a company. I can recall when a city or county worker was looked down on for having chosen security over opportunity.
Now the tables have turned. How many of you asked that public servants get higher pay back in the day? How many of you felt sorry thatpublic employees got so little money and nearly no thanks for their work, as well?
NOW you want to kick them to the gutter because YOUR BIG job fizzled.
By
Anonymous, at September 24, 2006 4:15 PM
Concessions were made in the 90s, when everyone else was making huge wage increases and the city's wages remained stagnant.
Concessions were made in the 80s, when the city didn't want to increase wages, so they offered benefits as a means to save money.
Did anyone else see the presentation that Oshkosh is in the lower third when it comes to per capita costs for city taxes? It doesn't get a whole lot cheaper than right here in good ol' Oshburg!
By
Anonymous, at September 24, 2006 4:16 PM
The citizens of Oshkosh cannot continue to provide unrealistic wage increases and exorbitant benefits to city union employees.
I cannot continue to pay the on-going raise to my family’s healthcare policy and pay more property taxes to pay 95% of the city workers plan.
It just isn’t fair.
These guys don't have a clue how good they got it. They need to get a dose of reality realy soon.
I'm willing to do without alot of services. Cut them and there positions and maybe then they'll figure out what its like to try and earn a living and deal with medical insurance outside of there goldplated world.
By
Anonymous, at September 24, 2006 9:28 PM
Concessions were made in the 90s, when everyone else was making huge wage increases and the city's wages remained stagnant.
Concessions were made in the 80s, when the city didn't want to increase wages, so they offered benefits as a means to save money.
By
Anonymous, at September 26, 2006 9:02 AM
9:02 AM
Paying bus drives $18.05 an hour as STARTING wages and taxpayers paying 95-96% of city union workers healthcare doesn't sound like much of a consession to me.
Those in the private sector would only wish to have those "Concessions".
Sorry but no empathy from me or my friends. You guys got it too good and you don't even appreciate it.
Time to stop the insanity. Either your benefit package is brought in-line, or you're jobs and union positions get cut.
By
Anonymous, at September 26, 2006 10:29 AM
Okay Kent are you polluting this site too?
By
Anonymous, at September 26, 2006 4:34 PM
I was extremely disapointed.
I'm at at point where I think I'd vote to throw all the rascals out...council, manager everybody.
But then again...maybe I should spot bucking the trend...
Give the unions 10% raises
Give the unions 6 weeks minimum vacation.
Give the unions heathcare, dental, vision all at no cost to them.
Give the City Manager a $50,000 bonus
Build a new Street Dept building.
By a new fleet of police cars.
Build a few new fire station.
Buy the Park Plaza Hotel and have Jackson Kinney manage it.
I want to pay a fee to have my garbage picked up...AND I want to pay taxes over the state levy limits.
In fact, I'm going to write a check to the City and go down and personally give it to Mr. Wollangk tomorrow as my little token of appreciation as he's doing an EXTRAORDINARY job as City Manager.
I think the council should appropriate money for a large raise for Dick.
I'm so happy!!
I can't wait to go on the next Gallery walk!!
I feel so much better when I throw away my concerns.
By
Anonymous, at September 26, 2006 9:30 PM
Let's get both these referendums passed and move on with more important things in life. Like enjoying it insteaad of always looking for something to complain about or someone to pick on. People like that are pathetic.
By
Anonymous, at September 27, 2006 3:32 PM
City union members may be part of the middleclass, but the increases in wages and benefits are not borne by some greedy bloated CEO...they are borne by the other average hardworking tax payers in Oshkosh.
Yes, city employees may pay city property tax IF they live within the confines of Oshkosh, but any increase to property taxes that are used for increases in wages and benefits have a direct bottom-line benefit to them, not other thousands of hard working middleclass Oshkosh tax payers.
When city employees demand more compensation, they demand that their neighobors and friends pay more property taxes.
By
Anonymous, at October 03, 2006 7:01 AM
Voting YES to increase the tax levy means an INVESTMENT to make our city grow.
IF the CIty is to move forward we NEED the Opportunity to INVEST in our future and our childrens futures.
We need to vote YES to invest in a future in OShkosh!
By
Anonymous, at October 10, 2006 3:55 PM
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