Despite the misleading information given out by the City Manager that "Budget and Capital Improvement documents are available for viewing on the City's Web site at www.manassacity.org." in the most recent edition of "Town Hall," I was able to obtain the handouts of the previous week's City Council meeting.

Those documents show that the Real Estate Tax and Levy Rate will go up 23%.  Can any one in these economic times why such an increase is justified unless they have no fear of voter retribution? 

Whose salary or income is going up that much in one year?

A more detail review of the documents from the City Manager demonstrates that the City run-electric utility fund is going up over 16% followed by a 6 plus % increase in the General/Fire Rescue fund; 5.2% in the Airport Fund; and 5.4% increase in Water Utility Fund.  Perhaps it is time to privatize these utility functions since such increases are beyond the cost of living increases for the same period.

According to city documents, Council is happily sticking it to private enterprise by jacking tax rates in the tangible personal property tax rate, machinery and tools tax rate, pp tax rate, BPOL contractors rate, BPOL retail merchants tax rate. Anyone still want to be in business in Manassas?  

So where to cut?  Here are some suggestions:

1.  Fuel costs should go back to $321,200.  I have observed too many city employees traveling individually to job inspections without carpooling.  They also let their vehicles run especially with air conditioning going, even though they are not in the vehicle at all. 

2.  No increase in the City Attorney Hourly Rate.  If the current attorney is not happy with getting what s/he is paid, there are so many other attorneys out there.  A 13% increase in pay is not justified.

3.  Cut support to school system.  Having been a teacher, I know how important education is.  But I have also seen the incredible waste that goes on from the central office to the classroom.  Eliminating the $2.8+ million increase would go a long ways to eliminating such waste and balancing this budget without a major tax increase.

So, there are some things that can be done.  This Council self identifies as Republican, but they have not practiced Republican principles in this budget.  Republicans often state that taxes should be CUT to stimulate a poor economy.  Guess that message didn't get to this group in Manassas.

One councilor, in his successful bid to get elected stated:  ""Property Taxes are out of control!  When assessments go up 30%, the budget shouldn't go up the same amount.  As your councilman, I will work to begin the budget process in a way that might seem new: the republican way.  We will start with a 0% increase in budget outlays and work from there.  The actual budget amount might go up or down but 50% in 4 years is crazy"

Funny how election rhetoric does not meet reality. I would say a 23% increase is "crazy."