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Your Letters 01/27/10

Posted: Jan. 26, 2010

Madison budgeting comes to Village of Big Bend

To the editor,

We are all aware of the budget gimmickry used in Madison to pass "balanced budgets." Whether it be through the pillaging of segregated funds like the state's transportation fund, or the use of the Obama "stimulus" to fill gaps in the operating budget of the state, we have seen it all.

This sleight of hand budgeting has now come to the Village of Big Bend. On Dec. 3, the Big Bend Village Board passed (by a vote of 6-1) an annual budget that at face value appears to decrease overall municipal spending. That is, until you look at the village's second set of books.

At the Jan. 7 Village Board meeting, the village took action and adopted a "capital improvements" budget which authorized the purchase of a new police vehicle to the tune of over $27,000. No debt service for this purchase is budgeted for, as the village has decided to raid one of a series of investment accounts (aka, the village piggy bank) to make this purchase. This should not come as a surprise, as the Village Board used similar accounting to pay for the reconstruction of the roadway in the Spring Heights neighborhood in late 2009 to the tune of a quarter of a million dollars, or about a fifth of the village's annual budget. This, by far the village's largest expenditure of 2009, appears nowhere on the expense ledger of the approved 2009-10 budgets. Which begs the question, "If this item doesn't appear in our expense ledger, where will it ever be accounted for?"

Our village board has yet to repair our most damaged and utilized local roadway, Edgewood Avenue, as it still considers the construction of a $4 million sewer project and it's impact to that roadway.

If our village board can't manage to budget responsibly and honestly for normal road repair projects or the purchase of municipal vehicles, how can that same board honestly and openly budget for a $4 million sewer project, the development of a TIF district and bonding, and the inevitable expansion of government to maintain these behemoth endeavors?

The only reason the village's property tax levy did not increase this year is that our savings was raided. Our village needs to get a tight grip on spending, and if it doesn't, our residents face huge tax increases in the coming years as our savings is depleted. In this time of economic crisis, I expect my government to tighten its belt, as my family has had to.

I believe Ronald Reagan was an astute student of government at all levels. This is clear from the great axioms he used in speeches throughout his career. In a speech to the Canadian Parliament, Reagan observed of government in general, "Government is like a baby - an alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other." As the father of three precious boys, and having worked in local government for the last two years, I wholeheartedly concur.

David Craig

Trustee

Village of Big Bend

Thanks to the community for support at difficult time

To the editor,

The families of Chelsey Lobenhofer wish to convey our most sincere thank you to all who were involved in the care of Chelsey.

We would like to acknowledge the EMTs, all the medical staff of Waukesha Memorial Hospital, and all our families and friends, including our church family and Chelsey's friends for all their support and prayers through this very difficult time.

She will always remain in our hearts and are consoled by knowing she is with our Lord Jesus.

May God bless all of you.

The Chelsey Lobenhofer families

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LCP Annual Writing Contest

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Contest entry based on newspaper coverage area.

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