Laserfiche WebLink
BOOK 9 F <br />� Fa, . 4,8 <br />growth, but he urged the Commissioners to avoid things during the <br />year which will result in more burden on the shoulders of the <br />citizens. <br />Joe Steinetz, River Shores, reported that he was surprised <br />when he received an increase in his assessed value. He went to Mr. <br />Nolte's office and questioned it, because real estate has <br />depreciated rather than appreciated. Mr. Steinetz claimed that an <br />employee in Mr. Nolte's office said they arbitrarily made <br />increases, which he thought is morally wrong and might be legally <br />wrong. Mr. Steinetz discussed the 3 percent cap that was recently <br />voted in and believed that it is not necessary to wait until 1995 <br />to put that cap into effect in the county. He reported that he <br />read in the paper that Mr. Nolte reduced his budget $100,000, which <br />is a 5 percent decrease in his budget. Mr. Steinetz believed that <br />$100,000 had to be "fat" or he could not have reduced it. He urged <br />the Commissioners to look at.all the budgets to see if we can get <br />rid of more fat. He contended that a problem in the Public Works <br />Department is not fat, it is inefficiency. He gave the example of <br />observing two employees lying prone on a pile of cement, and when <br />he returned a half hour later they were still in the same position. <br />On another occasion he saw three vehicles and four men gathered, <br />and the men were just standing there doing nothing. Fifteen <br />minutes later when he returned to that location, they were still <br />standing there. <br />The Chairman determined that no one else wished to be heard <br />and thereupon closed the public hearing. <br />Chairman Bird invited the public to remain to hear the Board's <br />discussion. <br />Administrator Chandler clarified that the public hearing <br />portion on the ad valorem tax budgets was concluded but there would <br />be public hearings on the other budgets, such as Street Lighting <br />and Utilities. <br />Commissioner Eggert wished the public had attended the budget <br />workshops to see how the budget was analyzed and reduced. She <br />asked staff to explain the circumstances surrounding the <br />constitutional officers' budgets. <br />County Attorney Vitunac advised that the State government can <br />override the Board's decisions regarding constitutional officers' <br />budgets. In other words, if the Board reduces their budgets, they <br />can appeal to the Governor and the Cabinet. This is to ensure that <br />the Sheriff, Tax Collector, Property Appraiser and Clerk will have <br />adequate funds to do their job. County Attorney Vitunac further <br />16 <br />