IS IT TRUE OCTOBER 10, 2017

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IS IT TRUE that last night the City of Evansville 2018 budget was approved by a 8 to 1 vote?  …5th Ward City Council member Justin Elpers was the only one who voted “No” on the 2018 city budget?

IS IT TRUE its obvious that Councilman Justin Elpers understands that problems associated with economic distress cannot be solved by increasing taxes, not making any serious budget cuts, building a new penguins exhibit and practicing political patronage?

IS IT TRUE that the Evansville City Council doesn’t have a revenue problem? …they just have a spending problem?

IS IT TRUE it was announced that Mayor Winnecke was opposed to City Council increasing the COIT tax for 2018?  …it’s a well known fact that the Mayor has total control over the political and economic decisions made by City Council?

IS IT TRUE that City Controller Russ Lloyd Jr stunned those in attendence when he stated that all the medical bill payments are current?  …if Mr. Lloyd statement is correct then why does the city currently have a $3 million dollar healthcare deficit?

IS IT TRUE at last nights City Council meeting very few cuts were made to the 2018 budget?

IS IT TRUE that the City of Evansville is anticipating to collect $371 million in taxes in 2018 which is an increase of 7.6% over last year?…we wonder how on earth that a city that has ZERO population growth and minimal wage growth feel that they can collect 7.6% more tax money from its huddled masses than it did the year before?

IS IT TRUE with this kind of runaway spending at the city level, coupled with the rise in  electric bills, increase in the county wheel tax and the coming oppressive water and sewer bills, one could easily conclude that the citizens of River City are bleeding to death from the irresponsible governance past, present, and future?

IS IT TRUE that nothing was said about how Mayor Winnecke plans to pay for the Evansville Thunderbolts Hockey team operating expenses for 2018?

IS IT TRUE that one of the items on last nights budget chopping block was a $102,500 annual subsidy grant given by the city to New Hope Baptist Church to provide a shuttle to drive people to work on outer Highway 41?  …council decided to fund the work shuttle grant for another year even after finding out that currently the work shuttle has only one rider?

IS IT TRUE at last nights council meeting 8 City Council members gave themselves a nice raise for 2018?   …that 5th Ward Councilman Justin Elpers declined to accept a pay increase for 2018

IS IT TRUE we were told that the city provides council members and city employees with  a city paid healthcare benefit package that charges a monthly premium of $85 for single people or a family premiums charge of $183 month with a $1,500 deductible?

IS IT TRUE we wonder how many of our readers have an employer paid healthcare benefit package that cost $85 a month for single people or a family premiums offering for $183 month with a $1,500 deductible?

IS IT TRUE because of last night tax increases we are worried that some of our citizens who have the comfort of mobility will see the writing on the wall and will get out of Evansville while they can sell their house for more than they owe on it?

Todays READERS POLL question is: Do you believe the statement made at last night Council meeting that Mayor Winnecke was against the COIT tax increase is true?
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19 COMMENTS

  1. …council decided to fund the work shuttle grant for another year even after finding out that currently the work shuttle has only one rider? $102,000 for one rider? This may top the penguin exhibit boondoggle. Also why is New Hope Baptist Church doing this and not the city. Don’t we have a bus company? Just seems like a lot of money for one bus and driver regardless of riders.

    • This has to be a payback of some kind to someone. If it is really true that there is only one regular rider this is idiotic. It is not as bad as investing in penguin exhibit that comes with high maintenance costs and a long term cost structure.

      • This lone rider might well be a long termer himself. Could be a sleeper, a looper. Requisite number of loops around the route until he gets his proper sleep. If the bus driver doesn’t have a hot cup of coffee and a 2 day old Danish from the Donut Bank’s dumpster ready for him when he rouses, that driver could well be looking at training his own replacement.

  2. Did anyone read the bizarre and moronic article by Jon Webb in today’s C&P where he claims to be “too smart” to let Trump divide the country by Trump opposing the NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem. Yep, in the mind of a left wing snowflake like Webb, it’s Trump and Pence that are dividing the Country by not agreeing with spoiled multi-millionaire football players that disrespect the flag and Country during the national anthem. Also the left wing rag C&P threw in its standard Editorial blaming the NRA for all gun violence. Thankfully we have the CCO for rational reporting and news!

    • Let go of that bottle of Thunderbird Joe, have a cup of coffee and try to remember we need to repeal and replace Obamacare, we need a tax reform package and Trump needs to get something done besides signing temporary executive orders. You stupidly pay attention to mind-wasting distracting NFL tv sideline drama because you won’t put coffee in your cup. Sober up JoeBiden.

      • Mike Ditka disagrees with Jon Webb and Kevin Schmidt:

        ““There has been no oppression in the last 100 years that I know of,” Ditka said. “Now maybe I’m not watching it as carefully as other people. I think the opportunity is there for everybody — race, religion, creed, color, nationality. If you want to work, if you want to try, if you want to put effort in, you can accomplish anything.””……..

        “The Super Bowl-winning coach, who is a supporter of President Trump, added that if he still were coaching, he would not tolerate his players protesting during the national anthem.

        “Yes, I don’t care who you are, how much money you make,” Ditka said. “If you don’t respect our country, then you shouldn’t be in this country playing football. Go to another country and play football. If you had to go somewhere else and try to play the sport, you wouldn’t have a job. … If you don’t respect this flag and this country, then you don’t know what this is all about. I would say, adios.””

        http://nypost.com/2017/10/10/mike-ditka-sounds-off-on-anthem-protests-go-to-another-country/?utm_source=zergnet.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=zergnet_2134440

        • Ditka has an excuse for being stupid enough to be distracted from important things like tax reform and repealing Obamacare. His brain is damaged from football.

          You? You can layoff the Thunderbird Joe. Trump is doing nothing, stuck signing temporary exec orders. And you’re stuck on dumbass nfl tv drama.

          • right on………right on………Joe……….the liberal left is without a doubt cracking up before our very eyes……………destroy some more statues……sell some more baby parts….that’s the ticket…………russia russia russia…………has anyone told hillary that she lost time to get lost…..harvey weeniestein the dnc very public masturdoner……..MAGA TRUMP 2017 And Beyond……..😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

          • Reading Al Sharpie and JoeBiden, it’s clear drunkenness is the order of the day in here.

            You people don’t give a damn about repealing Obamacare or changing the tax code to create jobs, no different than Trump.

  3. If Winnecke is adamantly against the 17% increase in our income tax, doesn’t he have a veto pen? What a hypocrite!!!

  4. I watched a lot of the council meeting last night. Councilman Adams said he thought it was time for a tax increase because ours is low compared to other places. He cited Boston from where I think he is from and said that their taxes are twice as much as ours. A member of the audience reminded him that Boston’s median income is about 2 times more than Evansville. The bottom line is they have no intention of cutting back on spending as long as they have a free hand in continuing to find ways to come up with the money. As they say elections have consequences and this is what the people voted in and by next election will all be forgotten. So I predict more of the same.

  5. Russ Lloyd’s statement that the Medical Claims bills have been paid current is a TRUE statement.

    The City’s Main Bank Account at 5/3 has around 80 funds sharing the same bank account. Even though the Hospitalization Fund (I believe it is 0474) is WAY NEGATIVE, the net amount of all 80 funds combined is in the black, so the check is written and the health providers paid. The check clears because the other funds are subsidizing the Hospitalization Fund’s overdraft.

    The check clearing in no way changes the fact that the Medical Plan is not sustainable, and that is why the other funds have to subsidize that payment.

  6. I have to pay 4 times as much for my health insurance. Sweet deal for public employees.

  7. The 3 M’s need to go. Last month Mosby,McGinn, and Mercer voted to give out of state millionaires a tax break on the shopping center on Green River. They voted against the poor and non profit groups. They voted for the largest tax increase in 20 years. They can spend all we give them.

Comments are closed.