tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post3967652177445527007..comments2024-03-14T21:27:48.439-04:00Comments on Plaintalker II: Rivers Questions Budget for Mayor, RecreationBernicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17728257853330372835noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-42844781296880608492017-01-14T19:47:28.402-05:002017-01-14T19:47:28.402-05:00"So, you see, that's what our democracy d..."So, you see, that's what our democracy demands. It needs you. Not just when there's an election, not just when your own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime. If you're tired of arguing with strangers on the Internet, try talking with one of them in real life. If something needs fixing, then lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If you're disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself.Show up. Dive in. Stay at it." POTUS Farewell Address Timothy Prianohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05593577728787389068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-58340669207396810912017-01-14T14:03:56.633-05:002017-01-14T14:03:56.633-05:00Timothy, Bridget Rivers is not your friend nor is ...Timothy, Bridget Rivers is not your friend nor is she Plainfield's friend. She is Jerry's friend and has a county job to prove it!<br />FYI, Jerry is Jerry Green. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-73967964000664780572017-01-14T13:25:26.423-05:002017-01-14T13:25:26.423-05:00There was only one member that was persistent abou...There was only one member that was persistent about "the cars" and her administration should be scrutinized first. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-59496977919087666602017-01-13T22:06:35.523-05:002017-01-13T22:06:35.523-05:00Thank you all for your comments. My point of the s...Thank you all for your comments. My point of the statement worked, looks like we have started a conversation that more eyes that are willing to be watching the numbers when we finally see a budget. <br /><br />Good to see that padding will not be part of the process and we will all be aware of increased expenditures of .01% to speak out.<br /><br />Amazing what concerned citizens will do to protect their tax dollars so that our property tax may be lowered or services for the city are in line.<br /><br />We all wish that we could call on these taxpayers to assist and voice their concerns, but at last we live in a world that people cannot use their real names and hide behind the curtain of "anonymous" to perform and voice their duties of civic.<br /><br />I will keep the pressure on all who are in public services, this is not a political issue, this is about servicing the public, fairly and honestly with accountability transparency and clarity with the government. We the People, For the People Timothy Prianohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05593577728787389068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-89921239874903438632017-01-13T18:22:53.365-05:002017-01-13T18:22:53.365-05:00Somehow that sounds like an election year blanket ...Somehow that sounds like an election year blanket condemnation. Bernicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17728257853330372835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-87196834057669757932017-01-13T16:46:38.497-05:002017-01-13T16:46:38.497-05:00not sure if anyone in the administration knows wha...not sure if anyone in the administration knows what they are doing! not sure any of them are qualified to do job picked for. problem with picking friends and supporters..not qualified. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-65867536973195475802017-01-13T16:16:57.673-05:002017-01-13T16:16:57.673-05:00Yes do a forensic audit which would also cover the...Yes do a forensic audit which would also cover the Robinson-Briggs administration.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-64073976329304102472017-01-13T13:39:42.089-05:002017-01-13T13:39:42.089-05:00Tim - your math makes a lot of assumptions (and we...Tim - your math makes a lot of assumptions (and we all know what happens when we make assumptions). <br /><br />Lets walk through this and use the Mayor's office as an example:<br />The 2016 approved budget was $208,957. The temporary 2017 funding request (pending approval of full budget) can be 26.5% of the prior years budget (i.e more than a quarter since that would be 25%). That would be temporary funding of $55,373.61. So right there the mayors office is coming in under the amount they could get (though very small). That number of $55,000 can't be taken out 4 quarters as they are not requesting that as far as we know. They are asking for temporary funding (1 fiscal quarter + 1.5%) until final budget is approved. So what would happen, using a flat request for 2017 to make it easier to illustrate, is that the $208,957 would have $55,000 deducted for the balance of the fiscal year or $153,957. That math, no matter how you approach it has ZERO padding in it. <br /><br />What you demonstrated was based on a made up scenario and an assumption that the administration is going to ask for a 5.4% increase to the budget. Additionally, you cast members of the administration in a negative light because of your bad math. I am assuming you are new to town and aren't aware of the enormous lift this administration had in cleaning up the finances from the prior administration. It was an effort that should be applauded and we should encourage them to continue their job of creating a fiscally sound Plainfield.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-60770315653892599162017-01-13T12:21:11.067-05:002017-01-13T12:21:11.067-05:00Anon 9:31 - such a great idea - based on Bridget R...Anon 9:31 - such a great idea - based on Bridget Rivers comment about $1,000 we should spend many thousands on a forensic audit - that is a great idea. So glad you aren't on the CBAC. Btw - moving funds from one cost center to another isn't padding of a budget.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-70407773915782663962017-01-13T12:19:05.175-05:002017-01-13T12:19:05.175-05:00Timmy - it would appear that you enjoy jumping to ...Timmy - it would appear that you enjoy jumping to conclusions and placing blame haphazardly. It is always a better approach to ask questions first and then make these types of board stroke judgments that you seem to enjoy.<br /><br />I for one think that Ron West is a fine public servant and I am sure he will be happy to answer all your questions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-73999101095650715362017-01-13T12:09:25.328-05:002017-01-13T12:09:25.328-05:00I would love for a forensic audit to be done for t...I would love for a forensic audit to be done for the past 20 years. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-32008889256621863482017-01-13T12:08:27.457-05:002017-01-13T12:08:27.457-05:00This is the same Bridget Rivers who wanted to spen...This is the same Bridget Rivers who wanted to spend $1,000,000.00 on shot spotter without doing any research. Funny how politics plays into all this. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-60370071060796888112017-01-13T10:06:53.044-05:002017-01-13T10:06:53.044-05:00But for those instances when you have the FBI and ...But for those instances when you have the FBI and IRS raid a city's financials, in which case tax payers should, then, begin to question the checks and balances which often fail the very citizens its meant to protect. Oscarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-21990937151201163482017-01-13T09:44:20.912-05:002017-01-13T09:44:20.912-05:00The question of accountability and transparency ne...The question of accountability and transparency needs to be addressed, these documents should be on the website, also the calendar of Council Meeting for 2017 with the agendas, last minute posting documents cannot be reviewed and questions asked properly. At the Council meetings you watch the members shuffle papers trying to articulate their questions to be asked and do not focus the points of what is being past in that session. Clarity would assist in so much of misinformation and speculation on the part of the citizens of PlainfieldTimothy Prianohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01818223783023670043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-31592721511705785972017-01-13T09:43:49.291-05:002017-01-13T09:43:49.291-05:00The question of accountability and transparency ne...The question of accountability and transparency needs to be addressed, these documents should be on the website, also the calendar of Council Meeting for 2017 with the agendas, last minute posting documents cannot be reviewed and questions asked properly. At the Council meetings you watch the members shuffle papers trying to articulate their questions to be asked and do not focus the points of what is being past in that session. Clarity would assist in so much of misinformation and speculation on the part of the citizens of PlainfieldTimothy Prianohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01818223783023670043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-47063727069478500472017-01-13T09:31:20.907-05:002017-01-13T09:31:20.907-05:00I am so glad someone is watching the budget. I can...I am so glad someone is watching the budget. I can remember serving on the CBAC and discovered they padded the budget in the police division to buy cars for the Mayor and the City administrator. Was that legal heck no.<br /><br />Council do a forensic audit immediately. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-40893093719518430372017-01-13T08:08:03.563-05:002017-01-13T08:08:03.563-05:00Please keep in mind that the budget can be adjuste...Please keep in mind that the budget can be adjusted as needed and the temporary budget is a projection. There are many nuances to a municipal budget. Having seen many finance directors over the past three decades, I can say I have faith in Mr. West's ability and knowledge of what the state Local Finance Board allows. The budget process is complicated, but it has checks and balances built in to make sure tax dollars are properly spent.Bernicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17728257853330372835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6911830315140428673.post-51346736846751486612017-01-13T06:36:14.424-05:002017-01-13T06:36:14.424-05:00For the mayor's office, the salary " wage...For the mayor's office, the salary " wages line in the <br />temporary budget is $55,000 × 4 quarters =$220,000. and the amount in the adopted 2016 budget was $208,957. <br />The "other expense" line is $7,500 x 4 quarters = $30,000 compared to $25,500 for 2016. <br />The temporary budget for Recreation is $52,000 x 4 quarters = $ $208,000. salary " wages, compared to $195,392 for 2016 and <br />$44,000 × 4 quarters = $176,000. in other expenses for January through March contrasted to $167,400 for 2016. <br />The three-month amount is supposed to be 26.25 percent of the prior year's adopted budget.<br />We can see that over a year thar the increase will be more than a thousand here and there, most all have worked in business, this is a position that is taken when you want to pad a budget. If the rule of thumb of 26.25 is used, the math is off by a few dollars that can and will add up to thousands over larger numbers. <br /><br />Is it so hard for the city to live with in it means, we all have to this personally when we balance our finances.<br />Ron West, please be prepared when you are asking for funds from the city, raising your voice to council members or stumbling over the answer, shows a lack of accountability from you office.<br />We need to focus on every penny and dimes, being vague with finance is a smoke screen, accountability and transparent government is what is needed for the City of Plainfield <br /><br />Why is the temporary budget not on line or accessible to the public with out dealing with a dog and pony show to retrieve one.<br />Timothy Prianohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05593577728787389068noreply@blogger.com