tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967431791857941720.post813373040620952555..comments2023-10-23T09:48:42.646-07:00Comments on Question Everything: THE BUDGET IIIMATT KELLYhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14019646896033476098noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967431791857941720.post-76006104500732081112008-04-16T18:37:00.000-07:002008-04-16T18:37:00.000-07:00I would like to see the budget priorities given to...I would like to see the budget priorities given to a raise for teachers and first responders (firefighters and police). These need to be our first priority as we need quality teachers to create quality schools. We need to pay our police and firefighters well in order have the best community health possible. Together those three community services and the quality of life that they create will attract people to choose to buy homes in Fredericksburg rather than Stafford and Spotsylvania. City employees should come next as they are critical to the day to day, behind the scenes work that enhances our quality of life. <BR/><BR/>Non-profits may need to take a cut. The private sector (through fundraising) will step in and give as they see that those charities need help. I don't want to see any money cut but like in a household budget, that which we can't do without is paid first and that which we don't have to have to survive gets cut back. These are not easy choices, but choices that need to be made.JStierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10729516026410893481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4967431791857941720.post-49081251518075924182008-04-03T14:08:00.000-07:002008-04-03T14:08:00.000-07:00Many of us in the commercial world are only receiv...Many of us in the commercial world are only receiving COLA increases this year (if that). Almost every business that uses performance based raises bases their "average" raise on COLA, with some getting less or none, and only a few getting more than that. <BR/><BR/>Could we look at funding the startup work on the courts? Moving the post office out, engineering, environmental studies, architectural design - all of the stuff that doesn't cost that much, so that next year we'd at least be 1/2 a step closer to the completed project? Or is it an all-or-nothing type project?<BR/><BR/>You probably saw my post about delaying the city's capital outlay on the cal ripken fields until after heavy construction is done. <BR/><BR/>I was surprised to see the article today that Stafford chose to keep their taxes level. That's going to mean a lot of tough choices in their core services.<BR/><BR/>I hate to point it out, but you know, city residents do get more services than surrounding area. I expect to pay a little bit more because of that. The real estate agents should have an easy sell on getting people to move into the city based on our tax level and services. Especially with rising gas prices. Glad to see we've got some creative developments on the horizon, can't wait to see what the next group is going to be (I vote for the river park)Bryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10612539514239011619noreply@blogger.com