On Wednesday, the Common Council meets jointly with the Finance Committee to discuss the 2010 City of Franklin budget. Right now, Mayor Taylor proposed a budget with a 2.9% tax levy increase, just 0.1% short of the 3% allowed under state law. With the proposed budget, the impact on residents is great. Two fire stations would be understaffed by at least one firefighter under this budget. Another police officer vacancy won't be able to get filled. The civic celebration funding has been cut in half. Where's the light at the end of the tunnel?
A reader asked me directly on this blog, "Where would you cut?" As I said then, and will say now, I can only do my best guesses to answer that question. I'm not a member of the Finance Committee, so I don't have the in-depth analysis and reviews that those members receive during this time. However, I believe I can make some points about things that were approved by the council throughout the year that certainly could have an effect on the budget today or in the future. Some of those include:
- First and foremost, I'm not a fan at all over the city spending millions of dollars for the 27th Street Corridor. While some will just point out and say it's TIF (tax-incremental financing) money, meaning that those businesses in the TIF will pay it off via property taxes, I still get a little bothered by it. The TIFs along 27th Street do nothing to impact the property tax base that truly needs the additional revenue, the Franklin Public School District. In the meantime, City Hall has been consistent on approving funds and more funds to facilitate a roughly 10-year-long vision to turn 27th Street into the next Mayfair Road. This just extends the TIF Districts that were created for Northwestern Mutual and Wheaton Franciscan drag on longer, and doesn't provide tax relief for residents.
- In my opinion, some aldermen are only focused on expanding the city rather than currently tinkering with what we already have. Alderwoman Kristen Wilhelm pointed out 2 weeks ago at a council meeting that while water mains and sewer extensions to encourage and entice more development get approved without many questions, items that truly benefit the taxpayers run into roadblocks. In the NEED vs. WANT scenario, I'd tend to believe the residents NEED pedestrian access to schools, and I'd tend to believe the aldermen WANT water mains and sewer extensions for more development.
