August "State of the City" Report by Mayor David Bower
Budget time is here again and that means the mayor along with the clerk-treasurer have been burning the midnight oil preparing a budget we all can be proud to support. I am very happy to announce that once again we have held the line on spending therefore doing our part to keep your taxes low. With the help of our department heads we have only raised our budget by one-third of one percent. It’s important to note that we know big brother, and I mean the State of Indiana will no doubt cut our budget a little more and knowing this from my years of experience with county and city budgets that we do not want to leave any money on the table. Many of you have read in previous State of the City reports our assessed valuation has dropped and we are compelled to do more for less. I think what is most important, while we have no doubt reduced our budgets we have not reduced the level of service that you as taxpayers have come to expect.
Our department heads have recently completed the employee evaluations and I must say the majority of our employees are doing a great job. I am not saying however that all of us in every job of life couldn’t improve just a little. Overall most of our employees are showing that they are stepping up to meet the needs of the City. My intent has always been for this evaluation to serve as a validation showing that most city employees are productively serving your city. On the flip side this will assist a department head in affirming that an employee may need to improve in some areas of their performance. As I must answer to the voters of this great city, it is important to note all city personnel now have a means to verify their efforts.
An issue that must need further clarification is the airport expansion project. As the proverbial elected official says, “Let me make this perfectly clear”, I have not and will not support the airport if it means that your city must spend a penny in the construction project. If another person or entity wants to support the project with funding which would move the project forward then I am okay with that effort. I will continue to be a good steward of your tax dollars and while I may have inherited this issue, I have accepted the challenge to be responsive to all sides. I feel part of my job is if I am given lemons, then I should make lemonade. I also support the airport board and respect their decision. I am grateful they realize your city just does not have the funding to take on this project. I am also thankful they will be aggressive in marketing land that may be used for economic development or rented for farm use. I believe and I have seen with my own eyes that research, engineering, and prototype development companies may wish to locate near an airport. Please remember I along with the airport board and now the county are doing our best in improving your community.
Thanks for allowing me to be your Mayor!
David
