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Here are a few more suggestions for reducing expenditures and improving efficiency:
Thank you for your ideas. Keep them coming and let me know if you want your name cited. - Mike Cullen, moderator
City
- We should evaluate the police and fire departments to determine our year-round staffing requirements. Presuming the possibility of overstaffing in both those departments we might consider offering attractive severance packages to encourage early retirements. There is a whole range of financial options here to encourage acceptance of such offers but a financial feasibility study needs to be done to determine negotiating options. Such an offer may be a win/win for the city and the ambitious individual who wishes to start another career. The city facilitates a staff reduction with relatively little hardship all around. If nearly half the police and a significant portion of the fire department staff exist primarily to support seasonal activities why do residents pay a disproportionate share of taxes for those services? This is an issue that can be solved despite any negative arguments those departments may offer. (Fred Faerber)
- Reduce the proposed surplus of 10% to 5% and spend the balance on needed infrastructure improvements the taxpayers can see. The city’s $10.7 surplus results largely from not doing previously budgeted public works; so let taxpayers see some of that infrastructure improvement. I have written previously that a cash flow study should be done to determine the actual surplus requirements; not simply a premise that 10% is
nice to have. (Fred Faerber) -
School
- I know of no company that gives an employee $5,000 (or any amount) for obtaining a graduate degree. In
Newport - We should eliminate one or more elementary schools immediately. Maintenance and upkeep in the face of declining enrollment is expensive and unjustified. This should have been done sooner and is costing taxpayers unnecessarily. (Fred Faerber)
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