If only our neighbors could learn from Pleasant View City Council on how to conduct city business:


As reported in the Tennessean:

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080401/MTCN0101/80401052/1291/MTCN01

Pleasant View Mayor Kerry McCarver has proposed a $2.5 million “status quo” budget for the city.

Among the few changes from last year’s budget is a 2.3 percent cost of living increase and a $1,000 across the board raise for full-time employees.

“I don’t want to lose somebody to a surrounding government doing the same job,” McCarver said.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen will have a first reading at 7 p.m. April 8 at Pleasant View City Hall and a public forum and second reading May 13.
The town has eight full-time employees who would receive the raise, five of whom are police officers. The town’s two part-time employees will receive between 50 cents and $1 more per hour, depending on longevity.
Salaries were last raised in 2005. Cheatham County and Ashland City employees still make more, but McCarver said the raises would keep Pleasant View salaries close.
The only item still open on the budget is the town’s contribution to the Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department, which also serves Cheatham County, Robertson County and Coopertown, Tenn.
The town would still contribute at least $110,000 – the same as last year – but may add an increase to cover rises in fuel cost. McCarver said the city would pay one fourth of that and expect the same contribution from the other governments served by the fire department.
The city allowed $3.75 for gas in the new budget for its vehicles.

Revenues up this year
Sales tax revenues are increasing by 9 to 10 percent over last year, he said. But, building permit fees are down.
This year’s budget anticipated about $66,000 in permit fees, but the 2007-08 only anticipates about $40,800. That’s based on about two homes per month, he said.
“We budgeted responsibly from the standpoint of knowing that money’s not going to be there like it was last year,” McCarver said.
Two capital projects are in the new budget, which McCarver expected to be paid for largely by state and federal grants.
Phase II of the Main Street sidewalk project was included, which is paid for 100 percent by a safe routes to school grant from the state. The second is a box culvert on a bridge at Pleasant View Road near West Ridge, which would be paid for 80 percent by federal matching funds, he said.
McCarver said he decided not to add a new police officer due to slower growth, but would when housing starts pick up or if a hotel is built.
He said the town was on track to finish paying off its $525,000 note on city hall.
On track in third quarter, should pay off note of city hall in November, 7 acres, started at $525,000, city would be debt free, retiring $50,000 per quarter, $150,000
“We’re real excited abut that,” he said.

Census planned
Also in the budget is $3,500 for a new census, City Recorder Lisa Parker said. That money would cover postage and printing. The city would do the census in-house.
It could bring to the city more state revenue, which is tied to population.
“If we come up with an additional 150 folks in the census, that really helps us out,” she said.
In the 2000 U.S. census, the city had 2,934 people, but in the 2006 city census, the city had 3,645 people. There have been 103 new occupied homes since then, Parker said.
Census cards would go to residents in October to meet the April state deadline. Residents would only need to provide an address and the names of people living there.

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The first principle of a free society is an untrammeled flow of words in an open forum. Adlai E. Stevenson American Lawyer, Politician.