Our Opinion: Get involved in budget process

Opinion

January 27, 2010

Remember all those letters we ran prior to the November general election?

A lot of letter writers had their say about how the City of Ottumwa should spend its dollars. We’d guess that many of those writers then voted for the council candidates who they thought would make wise decisions concerning our tax money.

Now, it’s time again for them and for all taxpaying Ottumwans to get involved in the city’s budget process.

City officials and council members discussed the new 2010-11 budget proposal at Monday’s special council session.

We hope you tuned in on GO-TV; not many showed up in the council chambers.

It’s no easy task to find the money needed to run the city. Especially when the money coming in keeps getting smaller and smaller, due in part to the budget crisis at the state capitol. Those problems find their way to cities like Ottumwa that have to figure out how to make due with less.

City Administrator Joe Helfenberger presented the proposed new budget which includes cuts to most city departments. Along with financial cuts may be staffing cuts and other measures needed to keep city services intact as much as possible.

The five council members asked questions and discussed the numbers.

“It’s a lot to digest,” Helfenberger said.

We hope the two new council members get some help from the incumbents, and also have new ideas to share. City officials will need all the help they can get.

And for the public, well, now is the time to get involved, too.

Another work session focusing on the budget proposal is planned for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at City Hall. The final budget hearing — which is usually immediately followed by a council vote — is set for March 2.

If you have concerns and helpful solutions, let your council know.

Tell them now, before that final hearing.