At the December meeting of the Common Council Finance Committee, city treasurer Heather Campbell undertook to answer the question of why the city budget increased by close to $5 million in five years' time. Her presentation included a lot of pie charts, which members of the committee had in hand, but members of the public attending both in person and virtually could not see.
The visuals that accompanied Campbell's presentation can now be found online here. The video recording of the meeting can be found here. If you are interested in understanding the city budget and why it has increased by more than 30 percent in the past five years, you are encouraged to listen to the video recording of the meeting while studying the pie charts.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CAROLE OSTERINK
Thanks to Carole for posting this, Heather for preparing the visuals, and finally, to our finance committee members.
ReplyDeleteThis is a City Hall that knows how to waste and squander money really, really well. It is getting out of hand. The budget will continue to go up up up every year year year year. But who to blame? Do we need a comptroller to control the out-of-control spending?
ReplyDeleteFor example, during last night's meeting, Rob Perry explained to the council that because "there was some money in last year's budget for equipment," he bought new plastic ("poly carbon") public trash cans that "HOPEFULLY will be more resistant to vandalism." He said they would be easier to maintain than the wood cans that have held up for decades with maintenance, calling the wood cans "the old style cans" as if to suggest there is something wrong with being old or living in an old city surrounded by classy old things made to last a long time. Perry didn't bother mentioning how much he spent on the new PLASTIC trash cans, nor did he say that the old wood cans that have been around forever were no longer acceptable. "Oh. look honey, there's money in the piggy bank, let's go shopping for something we want but don't need! What shall it be this time? Shiny new plastic trash cans to replace those old things made of wood we've had for too long?" In fact, just about every winter Perry regularly made reference to the maintenance of the wood cans that takes place then. I never heard him once complain about how time consuming and expensive that process was or is. In fact, he usually sounded kinda proud of the maintenance work his crew did on the wood classy wood cans in the wintertime when there's not much else for his 30 workers to do. "Look, here are the cans we are so proud of that have been with us for so long because of the great maintenance work we do." It was never, "God, the fucking maintenance of these cans is killing us and bankrupting us. When will it finally end and give me the peace of mind I deserve?"
As if all that isn't enough, the truly concerning issue is that Perry decided on his own that it was time for plastic trash cans on our sidewalks all over town. Why ask for permission when you don't even have to ask for forgiveness, since not one lousy council member called Perry on his bullshit: "Can you tell us why you didn't you run your idea before the council before you went and spent money on new plastic trash cans? Is this your normal MO for expenditures, Rob? How do you justify being so uncommunicative? What else could that money have been spent on that we actually NEED? I ask this because you've never once mentioned in recent years that the wood cans were a problem and had to go. Did you need new cans, or did you just want them because you found some extra money lying around at the end of the year? Was replacing the wood cans on you to do list, and if so, for how long did you not tell us it was? Is that how you justify your own personal family expenses, Mr. Perry? Spend it if you have it, don't justify or ask for approval whatever it is that you WANT TO buy? Do you regularly buy things you don't need and justify later that you did need them even if it doesn't make any logical sense?"
There should be a pie chart for Rob Perry's millions in expenditures, with an explanation of his by each one. A really big, colorful pie chart, plastered on the outside wall of city hall.
The percentages for police and their benefits seems in-line to me.
ReplyDeleteI don't see the point of having a library that is part of the city budget. I would remove it from the budget and let it be privately funded. If it cannot raise the funds privately, the city can sell/lease to a developer and turn into a hotel. The room taxes would turn it into a profit center instead of a liability. I know we recently voted to increase the contribution to the library, but I suspect the majority of the people who voted yes, don't pay property or school taxes?
I would have zero budget for Youth Services. We already pay school taxes, isn't that enough for the youth. If the city needs additional services then it can be privately funded or funded by the parents of these children who are utilizing these services. I didn't have children because I didn't want them, nor could afford them, but somehow I am paying for other peoples decisions to have children they cannot afford.
not sure hudson is the city for you my guy
DeleteObviously a parody account
DeleteHello David! If I had known about all the corruption and disfunction in Hudson I would have definitely given it a second thought, probably would have selected Beacon for my small town experience, more sophisticated and less mediocre than Hudson.. But, we have faith that Hudson may have some potential, fingers crossed. At least, the property value keeps going up.
DeleteHi Chris! The user name is hysterical right. LOLOLOL.
Hello Union Jack! Not a parody account, I gave my opinion, if people want these services, they can put their money where their mouth is and privately support them. Hudson does not have the income to support these programs. Maybe once they do a proper assessment on properties and/or collect the 2.5 in unpaid taxes, they will have the revenue, but I understand the Mayor will not allow it. I look forward to this being his last term and let's hope he is never elected to anything ever again. Also, new hotels in the pipeline, hopefully that will help bring some much needed revenue, or raise the parking meter prices and/or charge on the weekend.
The lowest property tax counties in America I believe are in rural Alaska, you won’t have to worry about funding or receiving much in the way of services. Better pack warm I hear it’s cold this time of year.
DeleteHello Chris! Hello Henry! I want to be clear, we have no problem paying our fair share of taxes, both school & property when the system is fair. In Hudson, you have homeowners in million+ homes paying less in taxes than someone who recently moved here in a much less valuable home because there has not been a reassessment in years. It is basically discrimination against recent homebuyers. The city assessor is not helpful, resulting in several homeowners filing lawsuits against the city of Hudson.
DeleteMy concern is that the leadership of this town is not doing everything possible to generate revenue for the city to offset the increase in expenses. Maybe some of these options are possible:
1. Collect the 2.5 Million in unpaid property taxes
2. Increase the cost of metered parking - charge on weekends and the month of December.
3. Increase the cost of permits. Currently, the permit fees seem to be based on the cost of the project, I am not sure how you would forecast that revenue, therefore increase them and make them a flat fee. No one in the permit office is verifying the cost of the projects so I am confident that people are not paying the correct fees.
4. Hudson desperately needs a property reassessment to make it fair for all homeowners, not just the ones who have lived here longer.
5. Explore increasing the Hotel City Occupancy Taxes.
It is the obligation of the Mayor and his leadership to research every option before passing along these costs to the home/business owner. I understand he is not a property owner, so property taxes are not a huge priority for him and that he is more focused on things that can personally benefit him.
And Henry, thank you for your suggestion on Alaska, but for now Hudson cold is about all I can tolerate. :). But, I always welcome "friendly" suggestions.
Mr Zero ... is only expressing his personal ire for how poorly this city is run ... making fun of his comments is just 'immature blather' trying to silence him. Clearly taxes are an issue for everyone, he's not a lone voice.
ReplyDeleteThank you Leonardo! If their snark gave them a moment of joy, then it makes me happy. I am unmoved by their remarks.
DeleteIndeed! I truly believe you should not have children if you do not have the means to support them. The property owners already pay school taxes, any extra services above and beyond that should be funded privately or paid for by the guardians of the children who are utilizing those programs. But, no worries, the city is not going to change their policy because of my post, so you win. :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI didn't read this post. As a relatively new home owner in this community, I have quickly learned to not read any post that displays the monopoly man, so that I may sleep at night. Afterall, I'll need my sleep if I'm going to be fresh enough to sell my damn house at a moment's notice.
ReplyDelete