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The Saratogian Newsroom blog, complete with thoughts and commentary from our newsroom staff and regular posts on happenings around town.

Thursday, October 23

New revenue?

Commissioner of Finance Kenneth Ivins Jr. is holding a press conference Friday afternoon to announce a new source of revenue for the city. He wouldn't hint at what that new source would be, and he wouldn't say how much money it would bring in, but in these times of hardship, I think it's safe to say that the whole city is eagerly awaiting his news.

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anything that will help keep taxes down will help!

October 24, 2008 at 6:41 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What did it end up being?

October 27, 2008 at 9:34 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Ivins budget has had serious flaws since the get-go. Here's the deal.

He proposed cutting approx. 25 jobs - including several held by combat veterans of Vietnam and Afganistan - without ever presenting a rationale or defining how much money he wanted to save. At the same time he doubled his budget for junkets and, for the first time ever, he is budgeting taxpayer money for his July 4 political event in Congress Park. In the past that event has been supported by the private sector.

Then, accoding to a letter from the deputy mayor, Ivins killed the summer concerts in Congress Park by taking all that out of the budget.

Then he budgeted almost $300,000 for "equipment" and staff of the the proposed Indoor Rec. Facility that probably will not eeven be open next year.

Ivins looks like a one termer. He's anti-veteran, pro-self and wants $300,000 to operate a rec. facility that may never be built.

November 3, 2008 at 1:51 PM 
Blogger The Saratogian City Desk said...

1:51 -- You need to do your homework.

First of all, yes, the July 4th celebration is on the budget, but it is not funded with tax payer money. In order for the city to receive donated funds there has to be a budget item.

Second of all, the 25-job figure is inflated. The number I heard was in the teens, and after tonight's revised budget, it has been further reduced.

Finally, the council is coming to terms with the fact that the rec center will not become a reality before next year. As such, the budget has been amended to reflect that reality.

November 3, 2008 at 10:08 PM 

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