Recently, you have seen articles in the newspaper about large sewer rate increases and storm drainage fees. Feeling that these will have a strong impact on your household budget, I want to give you the information I have received to date. Some of this information I received yesterday.
The storm water ordinance was created to comply with an EPA mandate. While we have to comply, I do not feel it is necessary to form a new board to deal with this issue. The council or sewer board can perform these duties at no additional cost to the citizens.
Currently, there is a move to create an additional board with the mayor, and two members to be paid six hunfred and twenty five dollars a month each ($7,500.00) per year, and a secretary five hundred and twenty two dollars per month ($6,264.00) per year. That is an additional twenty two thousand and five hundred dollars ($22,500) per year. I feel that this money would be better spent on drainage problems.
On Monday, June 5th, I will be proposing two resolutions.
R-06-15: This resolution deals with the money the city will receive from the jail bonds. The amount will be close to 3 million dollars. Considering we are approximately 5 million short on our sewer funds. I would like to see the Edit Reserve from the jail bonds transferred to the sewers. This would reduce the amount needed for a sewer rate increase. The administration will argue this money is needed to cover other expenses.
What we need to do, is operate within the budget that the State allows.
R-06-16: This resolution deals with the city financing of the Scribner/YMCA bonds. We the taxpayers, are asked to pay up to 400 thousand dollars per year, for 17 years, to finance the bonds for this project. The bonds are also backed with the promise that if we run short on funds, that our property taxes will be used to pay them. This could lead to higher property taxes! I feel that we cannot afford this. We need to use that money for streets, sidewalks, and the drop retirement program, (which is estimated to be 1 million in the red), and other city needs. That is why I am introducing R-06-16. With the Edit Reserve from the jail bonds, and the money we save if we do not bond the Scribner project, we should be able to keep our finance in order and not have to ask the good citizens of New Albany for another sewer rate increase. If you have any concerns or comments, call me at 949-1262 or 797-8347.
Thank you for reading, and may God bless.
Dan Coffey 1st District City Councilman
Freedom Of Speech would like to ask Councilman Coffey to continue to fight for what is best for all the citizens in New Albany. And we thank you Dan for refusing to be a "Rubber Stamp" for this Administration.
