Othello mayor discusses city budget

OTHELLO — I would like to take this opportunity to add balance and clarification to the “tabloid” style of journalism of the Othello Outlook and in particular, the editorial, “Raise Your Hand” in the December 3 issue. The focus of the editorial is the 2010 budget for the City of Othello. Mr. La Fontaine discusses what he would do with $18 million. The City Council is entrusted with the taxpayers’ monies, not Mr. La Fontaine. The tax dollars the Council is entrusted with, come from many sources; the two most prominent ones are property tax and sales tax, which was omitted from the editorial. The City Council is under a sworn oath to adopt a balanced budget; Mr. La Fontaine is not. So if Mr. La Fontaine has $18 million, he could spend it on big screen TVs as he suggests. The high dollar figure of the budget is the sum total of monies entrusted to the City for reinvesting in the community, and includes enterprise funds such as water/sewer, not just the operating budget. Personally, I am excited that we currently have the monies in the budget to make improvements to our community – and yes, we are growing and are improving City services, an option other cities do not currently have.

I want to thank the citizens that come to the meetings and voice your concerns. In the past, we have heard from you on zoning issues, platting issues, development issues, multiple ordinance issues and budget issues. Your voice realized the park improvements and development standards as well as fire trucks and street improvements. You, as the public, voice your opinions not only at Council meetings but to Council members at grocery stores, church meetings and our local coffee groups. Your voice is always heard whether or not at a Council meeting. One of the best things about living in a small town is communication.

As to the $312,000 GRANT the city receives, that was obtained through the hard work of the staff; this money came to the City through federal funding – this is getting some of your taxpayers’ dollars back to benefit our community. The community of Othello has talked about the need for a community center for thirty years. Data? We have thirty years of data. In 1997, and again in 1999, the City conducted feasibility studies for a community center. The $100,000 in the capital facility plan is for three years and will only be spent if all additional funding is secured through grants. This is also true of the proposed skate park. If the City relied on “data” instead of what is good for our community, we would not have a swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, or any park toys, as none of these generate revenue.

The 5% increase for City staff is also not on point. The three police bargaining units received 5% for 2010 because, three years ago, the Council approved a collective bargaining agreement effect through 2010. However, the Public Works bargaining unit all received a 3% increase, again due to an agreement made three years ago. Non-union employees received a 5% increase as we do not penalize hard work. Non-union employees could form a union and bargain for salary increases at any time.

These are the facts that any reputable newspaper would be sure the community knew. Yes, please come and raise your hand so you will know the truth about what your City government is doing for you; then, you will not need to depend on tabloid half-truths and misinformation.