Campbell reported that the overall fund balance was now $4.4 million, but the unassigned fund balance was only $1.395 million. She noted that it is recommended that a municipality have a minimum of two months' expenses in its unassigned fund balance, which for Hudson would be $2.6 million--twice what the City currently has. She advised the Council to work on building the fund balance. Councilmember Jason Foster (Third Ward) asked, "What does 'work' look like?" Campbell's answer was simple: "Increase revenue, or decrease expenditures."
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As a resident of the 3rd Ward, and former council member representing it, permit me to say "doh" on my and my neighbors' behalf. Mr. Foster -- you don't know what the job is yet? You're a quarter through your term. Perhaps time to do more than simply show up.
ReplyDeleteWill 2027 be the first year Hudson's budget exceeds $20m?
ReplyDeleteWho knows how many of that $19.5m City of Hudson budget is raised from property taxes?
A) $5m?
B) $10m?
C) $15m?
D) $19.5m?
Now and for the past several months, perhaps the most worthwhile questions to ask of any department head or the mayor (at a "town hall") are these: Where are you cutting back on expenditures? Where are you saving money? How are cost cutting measures affecting your department and the city generally, including essential city services?
ReplyDeleteAlas, there has been no talk about how the city is going to regain its financial foundation. Silence. Nothing, other than one council member wondering out loud how to get this accomplished. It's frightening. It's like they're all in denial, including the so-called mayor. And where is mayor Ferris during these days of supposed financial hardship? He's preparing for his 9th Town Hall of the young year so that he can hear the same old complaints and concerns from residents over and over again and do nothing about them! He's a listener, not a doer. He's our second consecutive $75,000 do-nothing "mayor."
We need a professional manager we can rely on who does not hold a worthless so-called town hall every week and who has no need to run off to Albany for a day or two for a photo op with the governor. Enough already! It's time for something approaching austerity... or it will be forced on us full fledge when it will really hurt.
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