Revenue needs middle ground

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The City Council just recently has passed a budget for the new fiscal year which will begin on the first of October. This budget was based upon new revenue measure- higher landfill rate. Due to the Montogomery Mayor Bobby Bright not vetoing this increase there is no likelihood there will be a reverse to this increase.
Also this new budget has also practically wiped out the reserve fund for the city. More than 12 million dollars has been used just to balance the budget.
Several of the council members are quite concerened about having such a low amount of money in the reserve fund when entering a new year. Though Mayor Bright has vetoed all three of the tax increases which would help to rebuild the reserve fund. Though only a two thirds majority of the nine members of the council are needed to overrule Mayor Brights veto.
The three taxes which Mayor Bright had vetoed were a three sales tax for the mile police jurisdiction outside the city limits, four percent rental tax and a four dollar per month increase garbage fee.
There are legitimate concerns from both sides on the issues at hand, and it is very troubling entering a new year with such a low reserve fund, especially in a time of such economic troubles.
Two ideas which council member Martha Roby has offered are stopping any plans on paving for just one year which will bring a savings of around two million dollars. Roby's second idea was instead of trash pick ups twice a week set it to only once per week instead of raising the fee by four dollars per month, this would allow a reduction in the sanitation staffing. This suggestion only came about as there is a high rate of turnover in the sanitation department. A majority of the council has rejected these ideas from Roby. Though meeting Roby half way would help return more revenue to the reserve fund.
The last thing people need right now are more taxes and fees being dumped on them. Though when your city is in need of it what real choice is there. Anything that needs to be done the money has to come from some where and of course it always comes from the people.