Debt & Higher Taxes Proposed.

The City Council four member Budget/Ways and Means Committee discussion of future funding for capital improvement projects returned consistently to a common answer: borrow money and/or raise taxes. The comments came during the discussion of spending $600,000 of general revenue funds to renovate Memorial Hall.

"We really haven’t gone the second step in our capital improvement plan, to look for additional revenue sources," City Administrator Tom Short told the Committee. "Because there are other options out there if the City is willing to do that and they think these projects are important to do, we can do a general obligation bond."

Committee member Bill Putnam suggested a eighth cent City Park and Recreation sales tax be put on the ballot. Member Larry Ross said he favored that idea. Short wasn’t receptive to a specific sales tax.

Member Bill Fortune said that "other funding sources such as a tax or bond issue would be the way to go" for capital projects.

Committee Chair Jackie Boyer felt big projects could not be financed with a sales tax that would be approved by voters.

If ya remember, the Council voted last month to accept the second lowest bid so "negotiations" could begin to redefine the scope of the Memorial Hall project to fit the budget. Fact is there were no negotiations.

The Public Services Committee had a representative of the construction company come to a couple a meetings, but there was never a serious consideration of modifying the project. The cost of the kitchen and basement renovations, about $240,000, were separated out of the bid, but no other options were even considered.

‘Course a couple a Council members feel a little like they were hoodwinked into votin’ for acceptance of the contract for
$1 million and change. Had ta accept before negotiations could begin, they were told. Oops.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Carthage Printing Services

PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

After a month of changing schedules and routines, it’s an ideal time now to make a personalized phone directory of important numbers relating to your family’s activities. So gather the Post-it notes dangling from your phone, the tattered address books and the kids’ fall sports rosters, and make directory assistance a family project.

First, use a pad and pencil to jot down the names and telephone numbers of the important people in charge of your kids’ activities. Encourage your kids to think of activities they do during an average week. For example, include soccer coaches, scout leaders, piano and karate instructors and Sunday school teachers in the directory.

Remember to include important numbers at school, such as the names of teachers, the school nurse and the principal. If the school has a phone-in number for parents to call and leave a message if a child is going to be absent, or if there is a homework line, be sure to include that as well.

Then add your local library, pediatrician, community center, emergency numbers and, of course, your favorite take-out pizza place.

Finally, include the numbers of friends and relatives your family contacts regularly.

Type or print the directory and mount it on posterboard. Post it close to your busiest phone. The next time Mom or Dad needs to reach a scoutmaster or call in a sick day, the number will be easy to find.

For an extra project, help your preschoolers make their own picture directory of neighborhood, play group and day-care friends. They may wish to include grandparents or other relatives who live in your area, too.

To make the directory, glue photos or draw pictures of each person on large index cards. Below the photo or drawing, print in large letters the person’s name and telephone number. Punch a hole in the corner of each card and attach the photo cards together with string or a metal ring. As your children become familiar with using the phone, remind them that the phone is not a toy and should only be used with your assistance and permission.