I’m a City Councilwoman as well, and we too have made some tough decisions. In order to keep our mill levy at the same rate we had to freeze hiring in all our departments including police. I didn’t like that because in tough economic times, crime DOES NOT go down.
The county, and the school district WAY raised their mill, and the library district is asking voters to approve a new library. We were the only ones to hold our mill levy down.
A hiring freeze! You’re lucky! At least you have been hiring! I feel like I’m in a Monty Python post.
We are VERY fortunate to have great City Administrator and Assistant. These two are the highest paid in the city, and are kicking butt and taking names. Our city has gotten grant after grant, to get improvements done for cheap or free, all due to one man. He pulled a coup in a deal where we got a FREE steel framed building, from a private business, and got it set upon a concrete pad, all in a year without a dollar spent. He’s paid his salary (some in town say exorbitant salary) multiple times a year since he’s been here. ONE dealing with the State Dept of Transportation saved us a quarter of a million dollars.
I hold this man in high regard, and his job in my hands.
Start cutting.
Work harder.
Welcome to the world.