MONROE - A newly formed ad hoc committee, with a long name, has a simple goal - make city government run more efficiently, without raising taxes.
"The city of Monroe is doing nothing less than what the citizens have been doing in their own private lives," said Jean Ruda, a business-citizen member of the committee.
The Ad hoc Committee for Restructuring City Government to Ensure Financial Stability met for the first time Thursday, since being created May 17 with the Common Council approving the appointed members.
Mayor Bill Ross implemented the committee in an effort to make the city more proactive in how its government is run and to prepare for a loss of state shared revenues, one of the worst possibilities that could hit the city. Monroe received about $2 million from state aid for 2011, about 20 percent of its budget.
"It appears the state is going to reduce that percentage more and more each year. We could lose the whole $2 million," he said. "If the state debt is not that bad, then that's just good news."
Phil Rath, city administrator and committee member, said economics and development are the top two priorities for the committee.
"Lost revenues or not, the question is, are we spending money efficiently?" he said.
Rath also wants to help development in the city by reducing time and frustration for builders and redevelopers, perhaps a "one-stop shop" process for obtaining building permits.
The new Information Technology Committee, upgraded from an ad hoc committee in May, is also going to become a "big part" of the picture, according to Ross.
Many residents increasingly want access to services online.
"And our seniors at the senior center want more computers to use. The day of playing euchre (for entertainment) is going aside."
Michael Boyce, chairman of the IT committee, said he wants information accessible to everyone, to use technology to provide easier ways for citizens to communicate their ideas to the city.
Ross has set a deadline of Sept. 30 for the committee to develop ways to streamline city government and keep the budget balanced, but he stated clearly that raising taxes was not on the table for discussion.
"We can't raise taxes," he said. Ross said, adding that "taxes are toxic."
"A lot of people in Monroe are hurting economically," he said.
Alan Probst, a specialist at the Local Government Center, University of Wisconsin-Extension, was invited to give an overview of the restructuring process and to identify pitfalls that come with zealous restructuring. Having spoken to other municipalities across Wisconsin, Probst said communities are looking at ways to overcome budget constraints and implement efficiency initiatives.
"You are not alone," Probst said. "It is a problem everywhere."
Probst warned committee members about making assumptions and the unintended costs of their recommendations.
"Don't assume getting rid of people is going to save you money," he said. "What happens if you should have to replace them with someone with the same experience and knowledge? It could cost you 10 to 20 percent more."
Probst recommended looking first at reducing sub-programs within departments and streamlining processes.
"We have to be very careful not to upset people's lives," Ross said. "But we have the intelligence and will and everything we need to make this work." The Ad Hoc Restructuring Committee is meeting at 4 p.m. every other Thursday at city hall. Agendas will be posted.
The committee is seeking citizen input at every meeting or by contacting a member of the committee. A separate e-mail account is being set up to allow citizen comments to the committee. Rath will announce the account name in the near future.
"The city of Monroe is doing nothing less than what the citizens have been doing in their own private lives," said Jean Ruda, a business-citizen member of the committee.
The Ad hoc Committee for Restructuring City Government to Ensure Financial Stability met for the first time Thursday, since being created May 17 with the Common Council approving the appointed members.
Mayor Bill Ross implemented the committee in an effort to make the city more proactive in how its government is run and to prepare for a loss of state shared revenues, one of the worst possibilities that could hit the city. Monroe received about $2 million from state aid for 2011, about 20 percent of its budget.
"It appears the state is going to reduce that percentage more and more each year. We could lose the whole $2 million," he said. "If the state debt is not that bad, then that's just good news."
Phil Rath, city administrator and committee member, said economics and development are the top two priorities for the committee.
"Lost revenues or not, the question is, are we spending money efficiently?" he said.
Rath also wants to help development in the city by reducing time and frustration for builders and redevelopers, perhaps a "one-stop shop" process for obtaining building permits.
The new Information Technology Committee, upgraded from an ad hoc committee in May, is also going to become a "big part" of the picture, according to Ross.
Many residents increasingly want access to services online.
"And our seniors at the senior center want more computers to use. The day of playing euchre (for entertainment) is going aside."
Michael Boyce, chairman of the IT committee, said he wants information accessible to everyone, to use technology to provide easier ways for citizens to communicate their ideas to the city.
Ross has set a deadline of Sept. 30 for the committee to develop ways to streamline city government and keep the budget balanced, but he stated clearly that raising taxes was not on the table for discussion.
"We can't raise taxes," he said. Ross said, adding that "taxes are toxic."
"A lot of people in Monroe are hurting economically," he said.
Alan Probst, a specialist at the Local Government Center, University of Wisconsin-Extension, was invited to give an overview of the restructuring process and to identify pitfalls that come with zealous restructuring. Having spoken to other municipalities across Wisconsin, Probst said communities are looking at ways to overcome budget constraints and implement efficiency initiatives.
"You are not alone," Probst said. "It is a problem everywhere."
Probst warned committee members about making assumptions and the unintended costs of their recommendations.
"Don't assume getting rid of people is going to save you money," he said. "What happens if you should have to replace them with someone with the same experience and knowledge? It could cost you 10 to 20 percent more."
Probst recommended looking first at reducing sub-programs within departments and streamlining processes.
"We have to be very careful not to upset people's lives," Ross said. "But we have the intelligence and will and everything we need to make this work." The Ad Hoc Restructuring Committee is meeting at 4 p.m. every other Thursday at city hall. Agendas will be posted.
The committee is seeking citizen input at every meeting or by contacting a member of the committee. A separate e-mail account is being set up to allow citizen comments to the committee. Rath will announce the account name in the near future.