All of us Lansing residents want more services. My personal priorities are putting cops on actual walking beats in neighborhoods and general street repair. Others want more maintenance on parks, restored golf courses, better neighborhoods, etc. etc.
The point is, we all want more. But where does it come from?
Consider your answer in the context of this nugget from the city budget proposal this year: “The costs of employee compensation — wages, health insurance, pension payments and other benefits — comprise 75% of General Fund expenses, and have been rising nearly three times faster than the City’s income.”
Now, it seems to me that if we want more services, either something has to be done in the compensation world, or the city has to look at raising taxes to generate more revenue to do the things we all want, right?
This fall’s election offers a prime opportunity to discuss just how the city allocates the money. I don’t think we will get much of a debate, since the open differences of opinion on actual major budget items are quite rare at City Hall, but it would be great if we did have one.
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