Least it slip my mind, Happy Birthday Mrs. Mauch! Hope you saw your birthday greetings in the Tribune from ALL YOUR FRIENDS in New Albany. May I be so blessed to live to the ripe old age of 92 and still have your faculties! Susan and I have often wished someone could take the time and sit down with you about the illustrious history of New Albany...back when we had bootleggers and the such. The stories you know, along with the people, could fill two books & be a bestseller!
Rumors abounded last week about a certain Republican throwing their hat into the ring for the position of Mayor of New Albany. The rumor came around again today, through a golden source. If it is true, Randy Hubbard will run for Mayor for the Republican party in the upcoming election.
Police and Firefighters Union are meeting furiously, working out their contracts with the Mayor, and the Council Committee. Not sure if any progress is being made, or not.
Being so tired of some Council members calling their "Budget Variance Report" the greenbar, simply because it is printed on greenbar paper...I have a suggestion for all of Council. If the Mayor, nor his Assistant, will meet with Department heads and figure out if they are over or under their budget, I surely do wish this Council would call EACH department head and have them appear before the Council once a month explaining where they are on their respective budgets. Council holds the purse strings; can we at least hear the Department heads explain why they need all the additional appropriations, and why certain items were not in the budgets submitted to Council? Accountability in its truest fashion. Government budgets are set; and having worked for the Federal government -- by gosh, if you didn't get it in the new budget -- you put it down for the next year...not hound dog the authorities so you can keep spending OUTSIDE of same. Matter of fact, there weren't additional appropriations to be had. Budget hearings usually lasted two to three days, with some all nighters, a lot of yelling, and of course not everyone got what they wanted. They survived, though. And, the BIG BOSS, always had that monthly meeting with his department heads making them explain the variances (if any) from their respective budgets.
Did you hear the next Presidential election will cost each candidate over one billion (ONE BILLION) dollars, of public money of course. Can you imagine what these candidates could do for the people for a BILLION dollars? How about universal healthcare? Bring our soldiers home from IRAQ asap, account for the monies missing in action meant to rebuild Iraq and the billions spent through Halliburton.
I'm dreaming tonight, of course...but last time I checked, a body can do such a thing.
Blogging is bringing back the written word. One good thing about all of the various mediums we have at our disposal now. Later...
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6 comments:
Though I am a strong democrat, if Randy was to actually run for mayor, there would be no doubts who would have my vote. I feel that Randy would return accountability to the offices in which he would oversee, now if he just wasnt with the GOP!
At the risk of being called a "republicat", or something like that, I strongly agree as a Democrat to each and every word you posted. The big question all "strong Democrats" have to answer at this point in time, are we going to vote for the man most of us know and the accountability he will bring to office, or do we simply toss our vote to the Democrat party nominee?
Ought to be interesting, to say the least. Thanks for your comments.
I agree that each department head should be brought before the council to present their budget. I think each department should provide an itemized list of what needs to be funded, along with an estimate as to how much is needed, and an explaination why each item is needed and what the items are to be used for. I also think that there should be a budget deadline set for departments to present their budgets for the year.
The City Controller is already begging the Council to intervene and stop departments from asking for additional revenues at this time as the City hasn't received an "approved" budget back yet.
Wouldn't it be great for each Department Head, if they have those brackets around their budget for their department, to get up and explain why? Why didn't they "figure" that in when the Budget was hammered out?
Unbelievable, if you ask me. I feel it would be excellent Accountability for all citizens; me thinks some Council members may be afraid one meeting per month addressing these very people, who are already included on the agenda btw, would just make for tooooo long of an evening.
Personally, not a good enough excuse for me. Excuse me -- Council does control the Purse Strings.
BTW, everyone, check your ordinances. The Building Commissioner is in charge of enforcing all building codes, not the City Attorney.
It is good the news leaked out where everyone though our City Attorney didn't make enough money last year, and then the citizens found out about the $270,000.00 in bond monies alone from the Y were made. Gee, not enough money for the poor overworked City Attorney.
Thanks for caring -- not enough do.
And yes, another typo -- should read "everyone thought, not though -- sorrrryyyy. Been playing Canasta all eve. Peace.
I couldn't agree more with the suggestion that Council have ALL department heads explain their budget variances EVERY MONTH so they can begin reeling in substantial cost overruns and mis-appropriated funds.
Isn't it against the RULES that any department run over budget, thus putting that department in the red?
Those pesky rules seem to be too difficult for this administration to abide by. Yes, Council holds the purse strings, and they need to step up and get control of our collective "purse".
Also, name calling will always be a sporting event in New Albany, but I know a LOT of folks who will cross the isle of party lines to vote for a Mayor who will bring some honesty and accountability to our fair city. This is the best news I've heard in a long time!
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