Mike Morton makes his point against the tax increase at Tuesday's millage rate hearing. (Kaitlin Kolarik, RN-T.com)
The local increase isn’t the real problem, Tea Party member Mike Hadaway said, after Rome City Schools Superintendent Gayland Cooper attempted to address the many calls to cut spending.
“We’re concerned about government gone wild,” Hadaway said. “It’s not an accusation of you people. You’re not that way. But you’re piling on.”
The City Commission sets the tax rate for both the city government and city school system. An increase of 1.63 mills — to 26.15 mills from 24.42 mills — is proposed.
A final public hearing and vote by the board is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 601 Broad St.
City Manager John Bennett said the value of taxable property dropped for the first time in a quarter-century, and the city’s extra 0.18 mills will still mean less revenue than in 2009.
The school system would get the lion’s share, 1.55 mills, with the additional revenue going to partially offset a $1.4 million reduction from the state.
Cooper told the crowd there are limits to where cuts can be made without compromising programs that ensure today’s students have the same opportunities they had in their youth.
“Let’s protect the children from the Great Recession,” he said, noting that a school year in Japan is 243 days compared to about 190 days in the United States.
“Our country, our community and nation, will pay if we can’t compete in a global economy,” Cooper said.
While sympathetic, many attendees said their financial squeeze is greater than the school system’s. Others contended more “efficiencies” are needed to prepare for leaner years in the future.
“These are desperate times,” said local Tea Party founder Mike Morton, who recommended privatizing services and consolidating the Rome and Floyd County school systems.
A majority of the speakers demanded a new look at merging both city and county schools and governments to save money.
Randy Smith read a letter of support from the absent Larry Madden, who served on the Rome-Floyd Consolidation Task Force that studied the issue from 2003 to 2006.
However, Jim Greer, a former city school board member who also served on the task force, waved the final report from outside consultants who recommended against the merger.
“If we could save money by consolidation, we would have recommended it,” he said. “It’s just not there, folks.”
Click here for more reports on consolidation studies
A new task force of local business people to razor-out unnecessary budget items was among the other suggestions from speakers — many of whom do not live in the city but own property there.
“Use us. Use our expertise,” said Mike Hadaway, who asked the board to table a vote on the tax rate until the study is done.
City Commissioner Kim Canada said the board members are also tax-paying business people who share the speakers’ frustration.
“We look at it from the same side you do, and we strive to eliminate costs without reducing what you have come to expect from city services,” he said.
Other suggestions included:
“If you can’t sell it, shut it down,” Morton said about the city-owned course.
The department is wholly funded by its customers at no cost to taxpayers, Canada explained, and its budget is a separate enterprise fund.
Paul Jackson said the government should provide roads, police and fire protection “and get rid of unnecessary, unwanted services.”
Cooper said school staffing has been reduced by 37 teachers and six paraprofessionals in addition to the savings from merging Anna K. Davie and Southeast elementary schools. Bennett said the city cut 40 positions permanently and has a hiring freeze in effect.
Cookie Wozniack said all salaries should be cut 5 percent “across the board. And don’t promise to give them a raise later.”
Some school salaries are set by state law. All school employees will take six unpaid furlough days again this year, equal to a 3.1 percent cut.
Bennett said cuts have been made to city employees’ pension and benefit plans, no raises have been granted for two years “and I anticipate more cuts this year and next year.”
Janice Hadaway said schools should stop educating children of illegal immigrants, end special classes for non-English speakers and eliminate free meals.
Cooper said public schools are required by law to educate any child who attends, regardless of citizenship.
This is a direct result of our US Government representatives' stupidity. It is totally and completely unfair that tax paying citizens of this country should foot the bills for the education of an illegal child. I feel sorry for the child, but charity starts at home, not with illegal aliens.
Another law on the books that makes absolutely no sense at all is the one in which all children born in this country gets automatic citizenship regardless of the status of their parents. This should be done only if both parents (or at least one parent) is already a US citizen. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this stuff out.
I'm trying my best and working hard to help get us through this, but it's been almost three years now and I'm really getting tired.
I say this not to gripe, but to ask the people mechanically repeating "lay off workers," "work smarter," and "what the hell's taking so long" to examine your own lives to see if you're not in the same boat.
Someone's got to start the rebound by hiring enough people to get the job done.
There are so many places to buy things these days -- The price being fairly equal, I choose my stores by the cleanliness and quality of their service. Or, to put it another way, by the minimum of hassle for me.
I would like that minimum of hassle from our community's shared services too. It makes me feel as if we've got a good foundation to grow on.
Priorities, people.