October 19, 2009

Budget notes: An ulterior motive to the North Beach walkway

Mayor John Dickert delivering his budget address Monday night to the City Council.

Pete has a good overall write-up about the budget here. Here's some notes from Mayor John Dickert's budget address Monday night in the City Council chambers:

* While taxes would go up under Dickert's budget, spending went down an estimated $683,000, Dickert said. City staff went through the budget "line by line" to come up with the savings, he said. The savings got the attention of one alderman who said, off the record, they were interested to read the budget to see how it was possible to cut spending that much. There was a skeptical tone in their voice.

* The bulk of the savings appear to be zero-increase contracts with the city's labor unions. Those deals went a long way toward preventing layoffs and reducing spending, Dickert said. One slide during Dickert's presentation showed salary and fringe benefits make up 76 percent of the city's budget.

* One of the showcase items in the budget - a new walkway across North Beach - has an ulterior motive, Dickert said. The walkway itself is a rubberized modular path made from recycled tires. Terrewalks, of Fountain City, Calif., manufactures the "Rubbersidewalks," which the city hopes to buy for $46,500. Along with the walkway, Dickert hopes to lure Terrewalks to Racine. The California-based company doesn't have a Midwest presence. Dickert said he's been talking with the company for the last three months about opening a new office in Racine.

* Speaking of that walkway, the plan is to use the Rubbersidewalks across the beach and then a retractable walkway into the water. It may be the first walkway of its kind on the Great Lakes, Dickert said. (Anyone who's tried to haul kids, coolers, beach towels, etc. across North Beach understands why this is a good idea. Maybe a little pricey, but good.)

* Former Mayor Gary Becker tried to increase recycling in the city by proposing to give a recycling bin to every home in Racine. That idea was rejected as too expensive. A few years later, it's a necessity, Dickert said. The city is planning to save $150,000 next year by increasing recycling and reducing the amount of money it spends on "tipping fees" set by the state. That means it will cost the city more to send garbage to the landfill. It's a lot cheaper to recycle, Dickert noted, so the recycling program is environmentally and fiscally responsible.

"I'm making a big push to increase recycling," Dickert said.

* Dickert said he didn't know where his proposed splashpad would be located, but he narrowed down the choices. He wants to keep it in the Riverview area (basically the inner city) and it will probably need to be tied to a community center. One thing is for certain: the Laurel Clark fountain will be shut down as a splashpad, Dickert said. The fountain, which will remain a fountain, wasn't built to handle chlorine and it's costing tens of thousands of dollars a year to maintain. (Click here for background on the fountain issue.)

* Dickert also isn't saying where he hopes to locate the three new community police officers provided by stimulus money. The stimulus cash covers three officers for three years, but requires the city to pickup a fourth year with cutting other positions. This year's budget includes money to cover part of the fourth year, Dickert said.

* Despite being his first city budget, Dickert said he didn't have any trouble with the process. He said working with state and federal budgets for two decades prepared him for the city's spending plan. Dickert said the mark he tried to leave on this budget was to get all department heads looking 10 years into the future. "We're not talking about next year," he said, "we're looking at how to save money over the long range."

* While not in the budget, Dickert reasserted his support for building a new senior center in Racine. He's looking for a building that will house health, education and entertainment services in one space. He cited Kenosha and Fox Valley communities as positive examples he'd like to follow.

16 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. Monte is an advisor to JD on the city's budget? All his past business successes must qualify him as an advisor to the budget process.

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  3. Looks like someone has one hard crush on Monte. Get over him, move on guy. I found Monte to be pretty dang smart in the few discussions I have had with him. It's time to grow up and get over your Monte thing, seek mental health.

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  4. Easy way to save some $ John cut Tommy and stop flying all around the USA on my dime!

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  5. The big recycling push comes with a new $10 fee for recycling on the tax bills.

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  6. Not only is he flying around..but bringing a close "friend".

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  7. Stop Dickert10/20/2009 7:47 AM

    Taxes go up and spending goes down???? I have one No Honey I will not...

    * One of the showcase items in the budget - a new walkway across North Beach - has an ulterior motive, Dickert said. The walkway itself is a rubberized modular path made from recycled tires. Terrewalks, of Fountain City, Calif., manufactures the


    "Rubbersidewalks," which the city hopes to buy for $46,500. Along with the walkway, Dickert hopes to lure Terrewalks to Racine. The California-based company doesn't have a Midwest presence. Dickert said he's been talking with the company for the last three months about opening a new office in Racine."

    Something not needed in the City and if the idea is to buy a produck and have the manufacturer
    move to Racine is just dumb.

    Recycling there are companies that pay cities to run recycling programs where the home owners get something if they recycle more. Of course that would end the cities new $10.00 tax
    The compost site idea that was brought to the City of Racine and ignored would not only save tipping fees but produce a product that could be sold.

    Splash pad read Johnson's does not want to see kids playing so THe city will have to close the fountain

    The stimulus cash... that's our tax money too just so you know and even I can live with the numbers of officers we have now.

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  8. ...Dickert reasserted his support for building a new senior center in Racine. He's looking for a building that will house health, education and entertainment services in one space...

    How about combining it with the Mexican Center, or the Urban League building. Or put it in the Housing Authority bldg on Main St, or the CAC bldg on Gould, or the WFDC. I think there is plenty of floorspace in Racine already dedicated to "quality of life" issues.

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  9. Dickert=Failure

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  10. http://corporate.recyclebank.com/home

    And it's free to home owners and the city/home owners receive cash/neat stuff.
    My thought who in Racine MIGHT get the contract to handle the bids needed?

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  12. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Storm-Racine/2009/10/22/Mayor-John-Dickerts-budget-address

    Thursday 9:00 AM A real look at the budget

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  13. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  15. Well I have been talking to several organic grocers to move here too. I emailed them. I received responses too. They said not looking to expand to that area. They have several places all ready lined up. So I am not so impressed that he has talked to this rubber side walk company. He needs to do more than that.

    What about the plan?

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  16. I can't believe what a loser the fools of this city elected as mayor.

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