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Post by oldtimer on Nov 13, 2013 11:23:33 GMT -6
Here's the problem I have with the proposed increase - NOTHING has happened in Streator to actually "raise" the value of any property, thus there's no actual justification to increase the property tax... In fact, more has happened in Streator to decrease property values, much of which goes ignored until the city is forced to deal with it... Case in point, there's a burned out house on Cotton Street that has not been roped off, sealed for safety, or torn down...What happens if one of the neighbors wanted to sell their home?...Their property value would surely go down upon notice of the "blight" on the block, essentially screwing that seller out of earned equity... Top that off with the lack of jobs and amenities, and I'd say that the city would be shooting themselves in the foot... U are so correct on what u are saying here. Come in our neighborhood. see the empty houses, houses that are section 8 and look like they should be tore down. I see a lot of House with crap and I mean crap sitting out in there yard. What for why arent they told to clean it up? I keep my kitchen curtains closed for I cant stand to see what I see next door. Im sure that brings our property down. Weren't you one of those who said that people should be able to do whatever they want with their property?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2013 11:24:27 GMT -6
I see they want to mess with yard/ rummage sales but dont take priority's Somewhere they are messed up.
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Post by Blue Star on Nov 13, 2013 11:25:06 GMT -6
@cs, the city CANNOT sell the golf course! Check the history & limits set by the family who donated it to the city!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2013 11:37:55 GMT -6
Oldtimer u said u weren't going to read my post too. Also get your storys straight. I did not say people should have all kinds of crap sitting in there yard. We built a very nice carport and it upgrades our property not takes away from the neighborhood. We wanted it built on our driveway so our daughter could come home to see her dad when she was sick. In her chair. She didnt come for we were not allowed to build on our driveway. She never got to come home. but than Oldtimer that does't matter to u for u have no sympathy for anyone. you are just cruel.
We did put one up for us but it has gravel in it would not be good for her chair. Have no idea why i am enen trying to explain this to u. For u just dont get the sadness we have been thou.
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Post by no1inparticular on Nov 13, 2013 12:21:52 GMT -6
Here's another thought to ponder - Since a portion of property taxes are designated for the schools, what happens when they wantonly decide to close schools?...
Who gets the savings there?...Clearly not the property owners...
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Post by dive61364 on Nov 13, 2013 12:23:23 GMT -6
I would agree that is a fair assessment. Now what cuts would everyone suggest and how much expense would that particular cut save? Don't just throw a suggestion out there without including a dollar value. A $60k budget deficit is basically one full time position when benefits are figured in. its not my job to find cuts so the city survives on what it takes in. the city manager is suppose to find these cuts and make recommendations to the city council. so far all I have heard from Nicholson is raise the taxes. I do think phelan is heading in the right direction and agree with his statement oldtimer. many smaller communities in lasalle county are making due with a lot less then Streator takes in.
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Post by dive61364 on Nov 13, 2013 13:05:36 GMT -6
maybe everyone should leave Streator before Nicholson recommends an exit tax on the citizens leaving.
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Post by dog on Nov 13, 2013 13:40:01 GMT -6
Here's another thought to ponder - Since a portion of property taxes are designated for the schools, what happens when they wantonly decide to close schools?... Who gets the savings there?...Clearly not the property owners... Excellent observation!
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Post by dog on Nov 13, 2013 13:44:57 GMT -6
A $60k budget deficit is basically one full time position when benefits are figured in. its not my job to find cuts so the city survives on what it takes in. the city manager is suppose to find these cuts and make recommendations to the city council. so far all I have heard from Nicholson is raise the taxes. I do think phelan is heading in the right direction and agree with his statement oldtimer. many smaller communities in lasalle county are making due with a lot less then Streator takes in. Clearly, you don't think that Nicholson is doing his job properly. The only reason I asked for suggestions was that it seems there are many armchair quarterbacks who can just say cut expenses, but don't really have a clue on how much those cuts will save and what would be the ramifications of those cuts. It may not be your job to find cuts, but respectfully, it is your responsibility as a citizen and taxpayer to at least research the issue and maybe make a positive and educated suggestion.
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Post by dumdave on Nov 13, 2013 13:46:52 GMT -6
From today's webtimes article on all this. Please read the whole article . This is just a few lines from it. A lot of interesting stuff went on other than taxes like Code Enforcement & business Zoning.
"Finance Director Pamela Leonard presented two estimates to the council, one at no increase to the tax levy and one with an increase of 4.99 percent. The city has not increased the amount it has collected in the past three years, said City Manager Paul Nicholson. Leonard said if the levy is increased the city would come out with $75,000 more in its general fund, which is used to operate the majority of city functions."
-http://www.mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/display.php?id=484451
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2013 14:01:10 GMT -6
im waiting to see who the first one on here is going to solve all these problems lol we might have this one now next week will be something different. lets get our heads together and get this all soloved. oh no than we have nothing to talk about. arent we a little crazy. doesnt matter how we think or what we say its not us to make the final decision. but we can/have input lol this conversation is like going around robinhoods barn
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Post by dive61364 on Nov 13, 2013 14:04:24 GMT -6
I do know one thing dog. if taxes keep going up more people will move and more houses will be left empty. the last 20 years have been proof that the population in Streator is decreasing and property values are going down. quality homeowners have moved and sold their homes to absent owners that could care less what the property looks like since they live in another town. I have dealt with Nicholson and the city council concerning the problems Streator is facing. my days of caring are long gone.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2013 14:07:35 GMT -6
I do know one thing dog. if taxes keep going up more people will move and more houses will be left empty. the last 20 years have been proof that the population in Streator is decreasing and property values are going down. quality homeowners have moved and sold their homes to absent owners that could care less what the property looks like since they live in another town. I have dealt with Nicholson and the city council concerning the problems Streator is facing. my days of caring are long gone. smart man
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Post by Kyle Mitchell on Nov 13, 2013 15:54:30 GMT -6
its not my job to find cuts so the city survives on what it takes in. the city manager is suppose to find these cuts and make recommendations to the city council. so far all I have heard from Nicholson is raise the taxes. I do think phelan is heading in the right direction and agree with his statement oldtimer. many smaller communities in lasalle county are making due with a lot less then Streator takes in. Clearly, you don't think that Nicholson is doing his job properly. The only reason I asked for suggestions was that it seems there are many armchair quarterbacks who can just say cut expenses, but don't really have a clue on how much those cuts will save and what would be the ramifications of those cuts. It may not be your job to find cuts, but respectfully, it is your responsibility as a citizen and taxpayer to at least research the issue and maybe make a positive and educated suggestion. You are right dog, most citizens don't have the information needed to know what cuts should be made and how much some of them would save. I could suggest that they could postpone the fountain project until we could actually afford it to put $38,000 towards the deficit, from information that was in the paper. That would just leave another $22,000 to come up with. However, if I wanted to suggest that since they didn't include an automatic irrigation system for the new landscaping in the park, instead of paying for four public works guys and two large sewer vacuum vehicles that we could buy a couple of hoses and have some Garden Club volunteers or community service workers water flowers daily throughout the summer, I wouldn't be able to provide the amount of savings on payroll and equipment expenses that would be generated; I could only speculate that it would be over $22,000. We don't have all the information needed to decide what cuts should be made. That is why I look at the end results of what they do. Higher taxes, very low and still decreasing property values, and continually decreasing population is what I see. That is why I say that we need new leaders.
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Post by beachbum on Nov 13, 2013 18:48:51 GMT -6
Does anyone know how much our new code,building,whatever guy is being paid.
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