DATE: Sunday, May 18, 1997                  TAG: 9705160303

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 20   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:   83 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - SUFFOLK SUN

The ambition of every city manager is to hire as many people, create as much bureaucracy, raise the city budget and spend as much money as he can sell to city funders, even if it creates unnecessary debt.

All this looks good when the numbers are large in his resume, when he has worn out his welcome and has to seek new employment. If he is fortunate enough to have a city council with little or no regard for how much is spent and the way in which taxpayer dollars are spent, then the sky is the limit.

The manager plugs new and ever-increasing numbers into the same old format year after year, and taxes are increased to match the numbers. No slashing, no cutting of any numbers, approve the budget and spend the money.

If all this sounds familiar, you may be thinking of Suffolk's annual budget. The 1992-93 city budget was $100,186,508. The proposed budget for 1997-98 is $143,573,185.

Since 1990, the population has increased less than seven percent. How can the city manager justify such a huge increase, and how can City Council consider approving such a number? When do taxpayers stand up and say enough? When does he say what do I get in return for all my tax dollars?

If you examine the last few years' budgets, you will see that you get more government at a higher cost and not much else. Ninety-five percent of the people are getting the same services they received five years ago and are paying 50 percent more for them. The city manager wants property assessments raised so that he can borrow more money at lower prices in order to increase the city's debt more, allowing more expenditures.

Folks, it ain't going to get any better until pressure is brought on city hall to reduce wasteful spending and wasting tax dollars.

Take the time to examine the budget and ask a few questions.

Let your council person know that you hold them responsible and they will be held accountable.

G.E. Gaddis

Kings Highway

Suffolk Thanks for DARE support, mark calendar for picnic

This letter is to thank all of the Suffolk students, parents, citizens, businesses, law enforcement agencies and city leaders for taking part in the DARE parade on Saturday, May 3, in Portsmouth.

We especially enjoyed the 1927 Suffolk fire truck!

Since this was the first year for a big DARE Day parade, it was quite wonderful to have so many folks out supporting this event.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans for the DARE Family Day at Portsmouth City Park.

Due to the enormous thunderstorm that began as soon as the parade ended, the festival was canceled.

Yes, there were a lot of disappointed children. We were also very disappointed, because so many people put in long hours and hard work getting this event ready.

The DARE Family Day will go on as planned on from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 at Portsmouth City Park.

This will be a fabulous event for your children to experience.

We invite all Suffolk residents to come and experience the fun here in Portsmouth for the ninth Annual DARE Family Day.

Lt. Brenda M. Lundy

DARE/Crime Prevention

Coordinator

Portsmouth Sheriff's Office Would new collections mean higher payments?

I do not have a crystal ball, but from my past experiences with twice-a-year automobile insurance premium payments, I feel that I can predict what could happen after twice-a-year tax collections have been in effect for awhile.

In spite of my spotless driving record, at the end of each six months, an additional two-to-four dollars was tacked on to my renewal notice. The insurance company did not pass up the opportunity to raise my auto insurance rates at each six-month renewal time.

I believe that over a period of time, the taxpayers in the City of Suffolk would be paying the same amount of taxes for six months that they were paying for 12 months in the past.

The opportunity to raise taxes twice a year would be available, even if the city chooses not to do it.

Clarence L. Jones

White Marsh Road

Suffolk

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