Fond du Lac Looks at 2.5% Increase for Proposed 2011 Budget

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Link to October 14 Fond du Lac Reporter article, "Proposed 2011 city budget calls for 2.5 percent tax rate increase".

Excerpt:   In budget considerations next year, [City Manager Tom] Herre said, leaders should discuss whether to close the Taylor Park Pool, reduce library funding, initiate charges for city services in support of non-profit organization events and reduce or alter public works services. The matters were discussed but not recommended for 2011*.  

[*Actually, this is how it's stated in the City Manager's executive summary to his proposed budget: With that in mind, actions discussed but not recommended for 2011 will deserve consideration for the 2012 budget.]

If approved, the proposed 2011 budget would be below the state-mandated property tax levy limit for the sixth straight year.

Expenditures are up slightly as are general fund revenues. The use of a portion of the general fund balance and a reduction in debt payments provided sources of tax relief in the proposed budget.

"Belt-tightening measures and a reduction in capital expenditures allowed these sources of funds to be available," Herre said.

The Fond du Lac City Council will hold a series of budget workshops, public hearings and informational sessions on the budget beginning in mid-October and culminating with adoption of the budget the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

From the City of Fond du Lac 2011 budget proposal.

Look for this Book Soon @ a Madison-Area Library Near You

Sounds like some weird variation of re-gifting to me.

No copies in LINKcat (yet)

Link to October 13 CHANNEL3000.com article, "Ethical Questions Raised Over Book Given To Council Members. Union Members Loan Book On The Arts". (Thanks, Tony!)

Excerpt: Common Council and committee members received a book concerning the importance of the arts during a time they're making critical decisions on one of the city's premier art venues.

"No one wants to lose Overture, but are we capable of making a success out of it? I don't believe we are," said Alder Judy Compton.

Compton said she was incredulous when she found the book, "The Art of the Turnaround: Creating and Maintaining Healthy Arts Organizations," in her council mailbox. The Michael Kaiser book profiles five performing arts operations rescued from failure. It arrived at a time when the council is being asked to consider buying the struggling Overture Center for $1.

As a rule, council members can't receive anything of value. But the local stagehands union that purchased the books for the entire council and members of the Overture ad hoc committee said the books aren't a gift, but a loan. They said the books are to be returned to the union. They will then be donated to the Madison libraries or other libraries if there is no need for so many copies.

When the Library's Closing Procedures Go Awry

LIS 712 students. Guess what we're going to discuss next Wednesday?

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Link to October 6 Boulder Daily Camera article, "Man accused of bias-motivated encounter at Boulder Public Library".

Excerpt:  Manuel Rodriguez-Calanche (Boulder County Sheriff's Office)Boulder police have arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of bias-motivated harassment after a confrontation with a Boulder Public Library employee, police said.

Manuel Rodriguez-Calanche is accused of yelling racial slurs and making threatening comments to a library employee who told him it was closing time and he needed to leave, police said. The employee is originally from Africa.

The incident occurred just before 6 p.m. Sunday at the main branch of the library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. The victim reported the confrontation the next morning when he returned to work and saw the suspect outside the library, police said.