reports on city meetings

 In the mayor’s report for August released in the Dodge County Pioneer circa August 22, 2020 Mayor  Robert Boelk reporter a projected revenue deficit of $90,000 negative.  Due to this deficit, Mr. Boelk proposed that the tax levy may need to be  raised.
 

Days later the finance committee of the whole met on August 24 to  discuss possible capital improvements for the 2021 budget. Staring at  $90,000 in negative cash assets, a $50,000 sign at the corner of Horicon  and Main Street was proposed along with a $900,000 ladder truck for the  fire department, $900,000 in new facilities and updates for EMS  services, and investments in the River Knoll business park to install  utilities. Granted, the River Knoll project would be an 80/20 split with  a grant from the federal government paying the other portion (this  grant is almost always available, but typically at a split of 60/40).
 

These proposals among others would put the city in the position of borrowing $3.4 million-more debt on top of a deficit.
 

As if the debt on deficit problem wasn’t enough, the city has also  planned $1.4 million for the reconstruction of bridge street. This plan  has already been put in motion and is presumably unstoppable at this  point in time-it is a necessity that cannot be forgone this year. 
 

Alderman Bob Smith was able to pass a motion to table the discussion on  2021 capital improvement projects for the time being. This gives us time  (about two weeks) until their next meeting to petition our  alderpersons, common council, and the finance committee in specific to do the right thing and cut our spending to minimum-focusing only on  absolute essentials.
 

In the days that have passed since the meeting, the mayor is now  updating his projection of net negative revenue to $150,000. This is a  $60,000 spike in approximately the span of a week.
 

I have personally reached out to the council as a whole, including the  mayor. So far I have received general or vague responses-none getting to  any of my questions.
 

With covid-19 being the potential blame winner, or in essence the  following of unconstitutional orders by our leaders, we need to be very  careful moving through the remainder of 2020 and into 2021. The council  must cut spending and implement a contingency fund should 2021 prove to  be as unpredictable as 2020. Any amount of tax levy increase should not  be considered acceptable, especially if increased borrowing should be  decided upon.
 

 Now is the time to do more with less, and our city leaders need to check and adjust for the situations at hand. We can work with fire and  EMS to ensure they are functional for the time being without spending in  excess. Bridge Street reconstruction street will have to happen on  schedule. However, we need to work with our leadership to quell the need  to spend frivolously.
 

The council meets again on Monday, September 14 and the finance committee on Monday, September 28th. 
 

Joseph J. Riese