Following was shown posted on local Post Office Bulletin board today:
“Town of Fromberg Public Notice
On Monday, September 11, 2017, 7 PM at the Regular Town Council meeting the 2017-2018 Preliminary Budget was approved. A copy for review is available on the counter at the Town Hall of Fromberg. Public comments welcome. The 2017-2018 Final budget will be on the agenda at the October 2, 2017, Town Council Meeting Open to the public.”
Please see blog post entitled: “TOF Budget Workshop August 16, 2017 7PM” for past coverage of this event. As there was no quorum for this Budget Workshop due to two Councilpersons calling off well in advance of said meeting, why wasn’t the Budget Workshop rescheduled? Why nearly a month after the August 16th (non-meeting?) was the Preliminary Budget deemed ready to go? At the 8-16-2017 public workshop, as evidenced by You-Tube, there was serious discussion of reduction of force. It now appears with no subsequent public discussion that there will indeed be an over 3% wage increase for town employees. Does anybody else have a problem with how this has been handled?
If not, there should be. I need to check, but usually you have to have a quorum at a budget workshop. The Mayor says no. Truthfully, t does not pass the smell test, when you have three people deciding on how much money to spend, without taking into account the amount of funds that are a complete waste. Unfortunately, it is always two for and two against and the Mayor breaks the tie. Yes there were suggestions on ways to save money and start saving, cut waste and make some much needed improvements. Alas, it did not go far. We will have an increase in costs amounting to $700,000 or more, that will have to be renegotiated in our loan for the well and lagoons. By the time construction is actually started it may be a lot more. So, yes, large raises are not something we can afford at this point. Costs are rising, revenue is dwindling and yet we have increased almost every line item in the budget. SMH