Recent Posts
Joe, me moving to Jonesboro wouldn't that wouldn't change a thing for the betterment of the FS taxpayers. (Thursday May 9 | post #7)
I'm just saying, the owners of the riverfront property are very capable of providing utilities to their property themselves should that be a desire. When the FS work force has the lowest median household incomes, compared to all the surrounding comparable cities, how fair is it to take taxpayers money to provide these utilities? How fair is it to raise salary packages, ($801,000) at the convention center above their total revenue of last year, ($623,000), without scaling down the cc? I would like to know why the Chamber of Commerce stood quietly by while the city forced private trash haulers out of the city, isn't the Chamber suppose to be pro private sector? Wasn't the Marshal Museum originally considered a privately funded project, but how much FS taxpayer money has gone into it? I'm just a concerned citizen and taxpayer concerned about those working families on the lower end of the job market. Jonesboro, who doesn't have a riverfront, a interstate system, a convention center is growing at 23% versus FS at 7%, where are your jobs, jobs, jobs? (Wednesday May 8 | post #3)
Is this tax Fair? Was it fair to the average taxpayer, for the city of FS to raise water and sewer rates 3 time during a 4 year period, only to turn around and take $2.1 million out of the same water & sewer fund to provide utilities to 60 acres of private property downtown riverfront owned by a couple of millionaire's (Tuesday May 7 | post #1)
If Sandy Sanders is such a great leader, then why did he increase the salaries at the convention center to total $801,000. The total Revenue for the convention center all last year was only $623,000. The salaries he okayed at the convention center are higher than the total annual income and don't even add in the operating expenses. You are confusing that with leadership? How fair is that to the average taxpayer? (Tuesday May 7 | post #8)
Does 4% Cuts From City Hall Really Address Spending?
Couldn't Get City Wire to publish the following blog about the proposed cuts from the city of FS. To compensate for 4 consecutive months of declining revenues, the city of Fort Smith is proposing to cut 4% from programs supported by the general fund. Police Chief Kevin Lindsey is cutting $595,000 from his department’s $17,000,000 budget, by doubling up some beats, reducing the amount cars on the street, stop staffing its front desk on weekends and only filling half the current vacancies in the department. The Fire Department is cutting $433,000 from its budget. Mike Alsup said the Parks Department’s seasonal help will take a $47,000 hit, stating we could probably see a difference in the upkeep of the parks and cemetery and the “ part-time urban forester position is on “HOLD”. “That could affect our Tree City USA status”, Alsup said, “it’s also unlikely we’ll get the tree (City USA) Growth award again”. The parks department hopes to save about $10,000 by not opening wading pools this season at Tilles and Woodlawn parks. We all know times are tight right now, especially those of us in the private sector. What I don’t get is Fayetteville, up the road with only 10% less people, (77,142 pop versus FS pop at 85,544) and our total 2013 budget of $271.4 million is TWICE the size of Fayetteville’s 2013 budget of $134.8 million. FS Police Dept 2013 budget of $16,893,690, is 34% larger than Fayetteville PD budget of $12,330,883 and a total difference in 33% in personnel and the FS Fire Dept 2013 budget of $13,886,200 versus Fayetteville’s Fire Dept budget of $8,790,855 and 25% larger in personnel There are no mention of cuts at the convention center which loses between $600,000 and $1.3 million per year, every year. This too, comes out of the general fund and the 2013 salary packages at the convention center are $801,000 while the total revenue last year was only $624,200, but no mention of down scaling or cuts there, only salary increases for 2013. In the past, I first compared FS with the city of Jonesboro and now Fayetteville. Both cities are growing in the 20% range since 2000, while FS is at 7%. FS has the largest budget by far between the 3 cities, yet FS city leaders continue with scare tactics and the threat of closing kiddie pools at Tilles Park when revenues are down and special elections to extend a sales tax are coming up. One can’t help but ask, are these guys really serious about cuts? (Apr 9, 2013 | post #1)
Well, those in leadership should live by example. (Mar 12, 2013 | post #89)
Why Does Ray Gosack Send Out Mass Email to City Employees?
First “different reaction”, when you say Ray is constrained by a limited budget, I have to laugh. By limited are you saying the Ft Smith 2013 budget of $271.4 million is limited? Fact is, it is TWICE the budget of FAYETTEVILLE’S 2013 budget of $134.8 million. So don’t speak of limited budget. It is so bloated with non essentials and “non-profits” and departments that spend much more than Fayetteville and just larger by 8000 people. Also, I certainly don’t have a problem with huge salary packages, but I do believe for huge salary packages there should be “PERFORMANCE”. You can reduce the expenses of the A&P and the Convention Center to the lowest denominator, but for the hardworking taxpayers to be forced subsidize such losses all the while Mayor Sanders increases these already huge salary packages to is pathetic governing. (Mar 10, 2013 | post #74)
Why Does Ray Gosack Send Out Mass Email to City Employees?
Sorry the 2012 total personnel costs was $707,674 not $753,230. Which means the FSCC had another annual lost forcing the taxpayers of Fort Smith to subsidize the FSCC without Mayor Sanders scaling the FSCC down to reflect those similar venues in the private sector. (Mar 10, 2013 | post #69)
Why Does Ray Gosack Send Out Mass Email to City Employees?
The FSCC may not control content and may be meant for conventions, but it isn't getting it done in conventions and never has, but just last week Mayor Sanders gave Claude Legris another raise, proving non-performance pays 2012 Revenue for the Convention Center was $600,000 Total 2012 Personnel Costs was ............$753,2 30 How likely is that to happen in the Private Sector? (Mar 10, 2013 | post #68)
Why Does Ray Gosack Send Out Mass Email to City Employees?
Damon, would like to compare FS and Jonesboro? Jonesboro, no trash rates, trash pickup included in the 8.5% sales tax. FS charges $14, plus has a 9.25% sales tax. Jonesboro's mayor tells A&P to purchase land with the 3% hotel tax and contract with a private builder and manager to run the convention center, because is NOT GOING TO OBLIGATE THE TAXPAYERS ONE PENNY towards a convention center. True leadership. Jonesboro growth rate 22.4% Ft Smith growth rate 7% Fort Smith 2013 city budget is $271.4 million Jonesboro 2013 city budget is $63.8 million Nough said! (Feb 28, 2013 | post #39)
Why Does Ray Gosack Send Out Mass Email to City Employees?
"McPherson ", It is clear you haven't thought the Privately Owned Ferris wheel through very well. Of course the taxpayers are forced to lease and operate the Privately Owned Ferris wheel, pay all the insurance, utilities, wages, etc. Phil White is fortunate to have good friends in the city, willing to help out. The taxpayers don't need this, just like we don't need to subisidize the convention center and the A&P. Just like we don't need to force 3 water & sewer rates on the citizens in a 4 year period and then turn around and take $2.1 million from that same water & sewer fund to provide utilities to 60 acres of private downtown riverfront property. (Feb 28, 2013 | post #35)
Why Does Ray Gosack Send Out Mass Email to City Employees?
Hey "Stupid is", Does this mean Mayor Sanders that just gave Claude Legris at the CVB will rescind the salary increase he just gave him? Claude has a salary package of $119,100 and the convention center has a loss of between $600,000 to $1,300,000 per year. Do you really think the city will scale back the A&P and the convention center to reflect their private sector competition? Does this mean the taxpayers won't be forced to lease and operate the Privately Owned Ferris Wheel anymore? Of course our Police and Fire Depts have much more larger budgets than Fayetteville's, wonder if they will cut there without screaming? (Feb 28, 2013 | post #32)
Why Does Ray Gosack Send Out Mass Email to City Employees?
Those are some very interesting numbers there, "Hmmmm" (Feb 27, 2013 | post #22)
Sequester Could Close Local Air Traffic Towers
Thanks Bama Yankee, "LOL" fails to follow through. President Obama's #1 man Senator Harry Reid is responsible for producing a working budget for the House......Hadn't Happened! The President really needs to quit campaigning and start working with Congress. (Feb 26, 2013 | post #11)
Sequester Could Close Local Air Traffic Towers
WRONG!!!!!! President Obama's #1 man in the Senate has not given a budget to vote on since Obama has been president. (Feb 26, 2013 | post #6)
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