LETTER: School-city facility group not a good idea

Mayor Cook:

When I spoke with you on the phone the other day about this emerging relationship with the school district, I was attempting to grasp the full benefit and impact of such an association. I know you have an upcoming meeting concerning the subject, but wonder if you could now, or after the meeting, provide specific examples of what such a relationship might look like, and what you hope to accomplish. I for one, like the idea of each entity being aware of each others short and long range goals. I would assume this would lead to planning projects and expenditures accordingly, but I can see some would be leery of such a connection. I think it would benefit everyone if we could have a discussion about it on this forum to educate the public, and dispel misinformation.

The HATS facility in Hutchinson is an example of state, county and city governments sharing a garage for road and snow equipment, mechanics, tools, etc.

McLeod For Tomorrow group was also put together to get cities in the county talking to eachother.

A recent story in the Leader mentioned the possibility that Hutchinson's building department might be used to inspect Glencoe buildings. That sharing of people could help both cities.

Gov. Pawlenty also allocated money in the 2009 state budget for each county to review if could combine its police dispatching centers with neighboring counties. That could result in 87 counties using far fewer dispatching centers, and avoiding paying for expensive radio equipment in each county.

Private businesses review efficiencies and partnerships, too. Clock Tower Plaza in Hutchinson is a office condominium with businesses sharing an underground garage, etc.

I can't wait to move out of this town and school district as others have. What a joke.

We are waiting to move out of this city soon. Most of the leaders in this town try to think this is such a big city. Wake up!!! This city is small and the leaders need to come back down and try to create a hometown feeling. We do not need to be like Chaska or Chanhassen like others would like us to be. They are alot larger than Hutch. What a joke we have our own police dispatch, a building and permits dept with several employees...lol...How many building permits have we had in 3 years? 2 full time building inspectors and I can go on and on. Hutch should try doing what is the best for tax payers and not listen to the leaders in this city that do not even live in Hutch and Want to make this city like the ones they live in. I do not know the exact number but for all the city managers that are employed by the city of Hutch there is only like 3 that actually live in the CITY of Hutchinson NOT including the city council.

Yet you still feel the need to keep up with and comment on the happenings.........time to move on and start complaining about the town you now live in!

Mayor Cook, thanks for the update. It almost appears most municipalities taxes go up no matter what the Council ideology is or who they are. I remember you at the podium in front of Mayor Torgerson addressing ideas to lower taxes. Can you elaborate on the reduced property tax accomplishments under your watch - I don't see it!
I beleieve the only way to accomplish reducing property taxes is by reducing non-essential programs,technology upgrades,freezing wages/benefits, and eliminating unnesessary meetings. If Council would roll back to providing basic essential Govt services.(ie: not selling liquor )we would all be for the better.
Please provide some "measurements"

mj, perhaps you are among the group of people who still don't realize that operating the liquor store does not add to the city's general fund, nor tax levy. In fact, it contributes about $325,000 per year in profits to the city, thus reducing the need to levy that amount in taxes. And, as we've also written numerous times, the store's recent remodeling/addition project is entirely paid for through the store's own revenues, not though taxes.

So while there may be other services the city could reduce and that residents would find acceptable to do with less, the liquor store is not a cost — it is a money maker.

One last point, Hutchinson did freeze employee pay for 2009 and has trimmed at least six people this year through retirement incentives from its workforce.

I'm sure Mayor Cook will elaborate on the tax issue you mention with exact numbers, but I believe the "tax rate," a somewhat complicated number arrived at using tax capacity, levies, etc., has gone down somewhat from the level it was at under the last administration. Also, this year's preliminary levy, passed on to the county auditor in September, called for a minimal increase in taxes. As an example, the owner of a home valued at $140,000, would see the city portion of his/her tax bill go up $17, according to City Finance Director Jeremy Carter.

The 2010 general fund budget, as currently proposed, would actually be $346,000 less than this year. The city has absorbed cuts in state aid totaling about $1.2 million in recent years.

To their credit, council members have tried to engage residents in budget discussions. However, the public generally has not attended the several meetings the council has organized, including a town hall meeting Sept. 30 attended by only 6 mostly satisfied people.

(Terry Davis is a Hutchinson Leader staff writer. E-mail him at davis@hutchinsonleader.com.)