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The developing web address of the Ridgeside Community Network.
Ridgeside Commissioners Vote 20 Cent Tax Increase at the July 15th Meeting
The developing web address of the Ridgeside Community Network.
Ridgeside Commissioners Vote 20 Cent Tax Increase at the July 15th Meeting
Ridgeside’s taxes are going up twenty-cents.
The city commission Tuesday evening voted to approve Mayor Mason’s budget proposal. The proposal includes a tax increase from the current $1.60 to $1.80. Mayor Mason said the purpose of the increase is to fund needed improvements in the community.
Debate among those at the meeting was brisk. At least one of the attendees questioned whether additional community resources should be invested in the community pool. The questioner wondered if the community was investing more in resources for younger residents than for older. One of the pool committee members responded by suggesting that an attractive pool and park will benefit all of Ridgeside’s residents whether swimmers or not. Some of the recommended improvements to the pool and park will make the facilities more easily accessible to older residents as well as to people with baby strollers, she said.
Mayor Mason said that several items in the his new budget are in the budget to give flexibility to the city commission in implementing possible improvement programs. Several of the improvements, including some alley work, have not actually been approved. However, with the commission's approval of tax increase and the approval of next year’s budget, if those projects are given the green light, the projects can begin without a mid-year budget increase.
The commission voted to approve the budget by a vote of two to one. Commissioner Sanders said that he voted against the tax increase because he has not had time to review the budget carefully. Sanders said he wanted to know how much of the city’s current balance really needed to be kept in reserve. Sanders said he agreed with the concept of community improvement, and he called the budget proposal one based on “unknown math.” The mayor responded by saying the budget as approved was really an estimate.
The new tax rate will be $1.80, twenty-cents more than the current rate of $1.60. Mayor Mason said that figures to about $100 addtional tax on each Ridgeside household.
The commissioners fielded a number of questions about security, lighting, and community improvements. A full recording of the meeting with a few photographs are available.
Mayor Mason also introduced a proposal for the city to adopt a set of operating standards. The proposal is available for review. Mason requested Ridgeside residents look over the proposal and send comments to him or to post comments on the community's email list.
2008-01 Proposed Ridgeside Standards (in portable document format, .pdf)
Photographs and an audio recording of the meeting
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