From Bill Ross
Mayor, City of Monroe
It will come as no surprise to anyone that we are living in extraordinary times. The national and local news media are reminding us daily that the country is broke and the state of Wisconsin is broke. We have simply overspent and now the bills are coming due. As a consequence of this indebtedness, all of us in the city of Monroe are going to feel the financial pain needed to correct this problem.
As a city, we receive approximately $2 million dollars a year in state aid to help balance our budget. In the next biennium budget, the government is cutting financial aid to our city. The hard numbers aren't in yet, but we need to be prepared. Your city government has worked very hard the past two years to balance our budget and not increase taxes. The city budget is currently very tight, and all expenditures are routinely and carefully scrutinized by the alders to keep expenses in check. But this current financial crisis is like having a 500-pound gorilla at your front door and drastic measures must be taken.
After the April 5 elections, the city is going to establish an ad hoc committee to create an action plan to deal with this crisis. The make-up of the committee will include Phil Rath, our city administrator; Cara Carper, UW-Extension as facilitator; two alders; three city employees; and two at large members from the community. We will be looking at issues, such as: streamlining city government to be more efficient; services that the city provides to its citizens; and lastly, taxing issues. After the analysis is completed, the committee will make their recommendations to the Finance and Taxation Committee this fall when we put together the 2012 budget.
As taxpayers, we are all upset about this situation. I don't think that finger-pointing helps us reach the solutions we need. We need to assess and move forward. Over the next few years, times will be tough. The new normal will be one of austerity in order to balance our budget. That being said, in Monroe, we have an ethic of hard work and weathering storms and helping one another during tough times. We will pull through this one as well. So, we are asking all Monrovians to rally around one another to offer up any solutions as we work through this very difficult financial crisis.
Mayor, City of Monroe
It will come as no surprise to anyone that we are living in extraordinary times. The national and local news media are reminding us daily that the country is broke and the state of Wisconsin is broke. We have simply overspent and now the bills are coming due. As a consequence of this indebtedness, all of us in the city of Monroe are going to feel the financial pain needed to correct this problem.
As a city, we receive approximately $2 million dollars a year in state aid to help balance our budget. In the next biennium budget, the government is cutting financial aid to our city. The hard numbers aren't in yet, but we need to be prepared. Your city government has worked very hard the past two years to balance our budget and not increase taxes. The city budget is currently very tight, and all expenditures are routinely and carefully scrutinized by the alders to keep expenses in check. But this current financial crisis is like having a 500-pound gorilla at your front door and drastic measures must be taken.
After the April 5 elections, the city is going to establish an ad hoc committee to create an action plan to deal with this crisis. The make-up of the committee will include Phil Rath, our city administrator; Cara Carper, UW-Extension as facilitator; two alders; three city employees; and two at large members from the community. We will be looking at issues, such as: streamlining city government to be more efficient; services that the city provides to its citizens; and lastly, taxing issues. After the analysis is completed, the committee will make their recommendations to the Finance and Taxation Committee this fall when we put together the 2012 budget.
As taxpayers, we are all upset about this situation. I don't think that finger-pointing helps us reach the solutions we need. We need to assess and move forward. Over the next few years, times will be tough. The new normal will be one of austerity in order to balance our budget. That being said, in Monroe, we have an ethic of hard work and weathering storms and helping one another during tough times. We will pull through this one as well. So, we are asking all Monrovians to rally around one another to offer up any solutions as we work through this very difficult financial crisis.
