The new City Hall is described as a "community centered…". If it were, instead, described as a new City Hall, would the answers have been different? I think the question was phrased as it was in order to get the "right" answer.
My point here, is that it is extremely important that whatever gets put on the ballot this fall be worded neutrally.
They aren't calling it City Hall because it will be a different type of building. The municipal court will be there, as well as places for the community to meet. But I agree with the need for neutral language.
I have a background in social science surveys. This is well calculated to get the answers the city wants to hear in the first place. Why exactly do we need new structures? Also, we are not given info on items such as projected economic and population growth, what the city plans to do with the new digs as opposed to the old digs, etc. How will it affect the economy of the city, both bad and good? One of the bad is that we need a plan for city services and projections given what money we have to spend now. Another bad is that if we have expenses in the future, can we cover them? I don't have time for more, but there is more to cover here.
Back in my day the city was always one bad choice away from financial problems. You remember Kerry made a big deal about the reserve back then, and over the years it was whittled down. I don't know what it is today. I do remember Doug Short mentioning it back then but apparently in the scheme of things it was not as critical as other issues.
If you want to talk about socking away money, street maintenance is another example. Based on a study done we should be spending 2 million a year just on street maintenance, which we don't. In 2007 Ballot issue 2c for a 9 million Street Improvement Revenue Bond was passed (repaid in 2019) to cover specific streets, traffic signals, and city parking lots. My guess is the city will have to do that again at some point.
I was halfway through an answer when I had to restart my laptop and of course, it disappeared!
I remember Jeff Monica wanted a fund to save for various vehicles. I see there is a fleet fund. The 2025 budget book has the projected general fund balance for 2025 at $27,843,252.
I wrote about that street repair issue a while back. We are way behind on what we should have done by now.
I don't know how many more bonds the city can stick the residents with.
According to that report 44 roads were recommended for improvement in 2025, but the budget only allows for 15.
Here's an explanation I wrote about it: In 2020, IMS recommended spending $2.5M a year to get to a 74 PCI rating (satisfactory) by 2026. However, since 2023, the city has averaged spending about $1.5M a year.
In 2023, the implementation by the US Access Board of the Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) and the adoption of Lafayette’s Multimodal Transportation Plan occurred. This led to the cost for concrete work rising from 13%, or ~$400k, to 46%, or ~$ 1.4 M.
Frank, can you shed any light on the question that keeps coming up? Why wasn't the city preparing for these needs over time? I know Gary used to keep a large general fund, but he was a frugal planner and I don't know why he wasn't socking money away into a capital project fund.
Karen, I just finished reviewing tonight's workshop package which is very informative. After, reading the Financial Update Memo it confirms that the financial future is not good or positive and I don't know how the residents will feel about a ballot to increase property taxes. I am torn on the issue because the Service Center really needs to be brought up to current standards. I love the BBRC too. 😒
My daughter pays some $17,000 a year in property taxes for her modest NYC area house; You get those numbers when we pay for free social services and other DOGE type stuff. And it seems to happen a little at a time. All these city initiatives become taxpayer subsidized. Citizens must think in terms of fiscal responsibility like any household.
Snark Alert.
The new City Hall is described as a "community centered…". If it were, instead, described as a new City Hall, would the answers have been different? I think the question was phrased as it was in order to get the "right" answer.
My point here, is that it is extremely important that whatever gets put on the ballot this fall be worded neutrally.
They aren't calling it City Hall because it will be a different type of building. The municipal court will be there, as well as places for the community to meet. But I agree with the need for neutral language.
I have a background in social science surveys. This is well calculated to get the answers the city wants to hear in the first place. Why exactly do we need new structures? Also, we are not given info on items such as projected economic and population growth, what the city plans to do with the new digs as opposed to the old digs, etc. How will it affect the economy of the city, both bad and good? One of the bad is that we need a plan for city services and projections given what money we have to spend now. Another bad is that if we have expenses in the future, can we cover them? I don't have time for more, but there is more to cover here.
Karen,
Back in my day the city was always one bad choice away from financial problems. You remember Kerry made a big deal about the reserve back then, and over the years it was whittled down. I don't know what it is today. I do remember Doug Short mentioning it back then but apparently in the scheme of things it was not as critical as other issues.
If you want to talk about socking away money, street maintenance is another example. Based on a study done we should be spending 2 million a year just on street maintenance, which we don't. In 2007 Ballot issue 2c for a 9 million Street Improvement Revenue Bond was passed (repaid in 2019) to cover specific streets, traffic signals, and city parking lots. My guess is the city will have to do that again at some point.
I was halfway through an answer when I had to restart my laptop and of course, it disappeared!
I remember Jeff Monica wanted a fund to save for various vehicles. I see there is a fleet fund. The 2025 budget book has the projected general fund balance for 2025 at $27,843,252.
I wrote about that street repair issue a while back. We are way behind on what we should have done by now.
I don't know how many more bonds the city can stick the residents with.
Here's the post about the roads.
https://apoliticalhobbyistinlafayetteco.substack.com/p/do-you-feel-lucky-2025-street-and?utm_source=publication-search
According to that report 44 roads were recommended for improvement in 2025, but the budget only allows for 15.
Here's an explanation I wrote about it: In 2020, IMS recommended spending $2.5M a year to get to a 74 PCI rating (satisfactory) by 2026. However, since 2023, the city has averaged spending about $1.5M a year.
In 2023, the implementation by the US Access Board of the Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) and the adoption of Lafayette’s Multimodal Transportation Plan occurred. This led to the cost for concrete work rising from 13%, or ~$400k, to 46%, or ~$ 1.4 M.
I agree with Ron. The Service center should be the priority, and is the cheapest of the three. Rec center is popular and does generate some revenue.
Frank, can you shed any light on the question that keeps coming up? Why wasn't the city preparing for these needs over time? I know Gary used to keep a large general fund, but he was a frugal planner and I don't know why he wasn't socking money away into a capital project fund.
Karen, I just finished reviewing tonight's workshop package which is very informative. After, reading the Financial Update Memo it confirms that the financial future is not good or positive and I don't know how the residents will feel about a ballot to increase property taxes. I am torn on the issue because the Service Center really needs to be brought up to current standards. I love the BBRC too. 😒
My daughter pays some $17,000 a year in property taxes for her modest NYC area house; You get those numbers when we pay for free social services and other DOGE type stuff. And it seems to happen a little at a time. All these city initiatives become taxpayer subsidized. Citizens must think in terms of fiscal responsibility like any household.