Solutions are needed in our Town and we need them right away. Economic Development has come to a grinding halt and we can't be happy with our results in the last two years. I feel that we did not get what we should of when we hired an in house director and it was a costly mistake. Also, we are looking at people who just don't want to give any money to the DEDC to help in this arena, and in the end, the people of Derry are "missing the boat".
Derry once had the medical field niche with Parkland Medical and the doctors who associated with them and that was something Derry could be proud of, however while the powers that be argue about $20,000 to bring business into this town ( a very small amount and one which we are way out spent) Londonderry is now attacking this very niche with Elliot moving in and making their business friendly environment pay-off. Derry will again, come out on the short end of the stick and if we don't turn it around soon, will NEVER recover from higher taxes.
The issue and the question is simple: What does Derry offer for businesses and how can we use our positive attributes to attract business and help lower taxes in our town.
Lets hear some thoughts.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Budget Time
Councilors just finished up their 2nd round of budgets with a whole Saturday marathon meeting. We started the budgets last Thursday on April 16th with both the Derry Library and the Taylor Library. Right out of the gate, councilors looked to trim back a budget that was presented with both increases in salaries and benefits in some cases and putting money aside for capital projects. Both were either trimmed way down and/or eliminated all together.
For instance, Library staff were looking for a 2.5% salary increase and those were trimmed to a 1% increase instead. To my surprise, Councilor Coyle did not Zero line those increase but instead compromised instead.. This was a fair way to handle it.
However, I tried to take out the legal line which had $200 in it. My questions was what kind of legal advise can one get for $200. Besides, The library if need be could use town's legal council if need be..I doubt that it would get used.. My motion failed though, so $200 stays in for legal. I then made a motion to cut $12,000 for a security camera. I thought it could wait until next year. That item was flagged for now meaning we will bring that back up a little bit later.
The Taylor Library also had their salary increases knock down to 1%. They wanted 3.5% over last year. We also took out $20,000 which was to be used in a capital fund for Taylor Library Expansion.. Looks like that will need to wait until better times.
Yesterday we had the Saturday Marathon day and we took out more that $4 million out of what was in the budget. A bond to build a rec facility was motioned out by me because in this economy, the town must keep its spending in line.
I'll post more about the budgets in upcoming posts. Lets hear some of your thoughts about the budget and what should be done for this year.
For instance, Library staff were looking for a 2.5% salary increase and those were trimmed to a 1% increase instead. To my surprise, Councilor Coyle did not Zero line those increase but instead compromised instead.. This was a fair way to handle it.
However, I tried to take out the legal line which had $200 in it. My questions was what kind of legal advise can one get for $200. Besides, The library if need be could use town's legal council if need be..I doubt that it would get used.. My motion failed though, so $200 stays in for legal. I then made a motion to cut $12,000 for a security camera. I thought it could wait until next year. That item was flagged for now meaning we will bring that back up a little bit later.
The Taylor Library also had their salary increases knock down to 1%. They wanted 3.5% over last year. We also took out $20,000 which was to be used in a capital fund for Taylor Library Expansion.. Looks like that will need to wait until better times.
Yesterday we had the Saturday Marathon day and we took out more that $4 million out of what was in the budget. A bond to build a rec facility was motioned out by me because in this economy, the town must keep its spending in line.
I'll post more about the budgets in upcoming posts. Lets hear some of your thoughts about the budget and what should be done for this year.
Friday, April 10, 2009
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