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“We simply can’t run the city with budget cuts!”

BY JAKE FULLER

    • Yep, stuck in a nobody candidate, never intending to have a chance.Both of these nobody’s are continuing the ruin of Gangsville started by hanrrahan, poe and his failure lackeys (ward, hayesshltos, arreloa, ward)…the demise and destruction continues! All mistakes paid for by citizens.

    • He’s not giving the “_____jobs” you so willingly give to those you support if that’s what you mean.

      Apparently Jake is doing a great job though – at getting under your skin. Jake, keep it up!

  • How about asking the University of Florida to pay some taxes? The average person living in Gainesville is unable to afford to do so these days. GRU has gone off the charts, raising rates to the point where there are a lot of people who are going to really suffer. Double the bill for the same usage as always? Does that sound like a reasonable rate increase? Last time I checked, price gouging and monopolizing were illegal business practices. Do we have to file a class action lawsuit? Do we?

    • State entities don’t pay taxes. Neither does the city or county. That’s why every piece of green space, conservation easement, property donated or purchased by/to city or county removes a source of revenue. Those revenue streams have to be made up somewhere – taxes.
      Welcome to the Blue Utopian Society of Alachua County.

      • Same with Shands…and they’ve turned in to a real estate investment company locally by buying up so much property with their untaxed hospital/ medical earnings…Same with credit unions. Government and quasi government entities rule Gainesville & Alachua Co

  • Rock it Jake! They won’t feel uncomfortable at all. Their thermostats will be set at 72 cold degrees while their constituents go hungry, no electric due to the outrageous bills.

  • “‘Can’t’? Or ‘Won’t’?”
    “Either. Both. Pick one.” — Archer

  • To be fair, the recent GRU rate increases do not increase the general fund transfer to the City from GRU.

  • Eliminate Office of Equity and Inclusion. There are multiple “new account clerk” positions….you can’t AFFORD THEM! Eliminate the Climate Change position. Drop the Reichert House. Delay IT upgrades to city hall. Don’t do interior building and HVAC upgrades. Delay citywide radio replacement….make do with what you have. They are and have been operable. Don’t do this…it is 2.5 MILLION DOLLARS! WSPP Cultural Center/Festival and Arts Park. Don’t do this: Trail from SE Williston RD to Depot Park. It is a MILLION DOLLARS! There’s a 12 percent INCREASE in Cultural and Recreation. Sorry, you can’t afford the INCREASE! Get out of economic development….that is not the government’s ‘business.’ Drop the Stop the Violence contribution. Who’s is making this money, I wonder? I would take a look at the Combined Communication Center. . . perhaps, we should have our own. Again, eliminate Equity & Inclusion. Shut down the Communications & Engagement Dept. (didn’t exist 20 years ago and is unnecessary). Don’t need this: Strategy, Planning & Innovation. Don’t need this: Sustainable Development. There….I’m 1/2 way through the budget and I have saved a lot of money already. Do your jobs and FIX THE ROADS!

    • Agree. Best post of the day.

      It’s time to get back to basics. This town can’t be a Toyota anymore. Time to transition to a Yugo.

  • Stop all pay raises until further notice. Freeze hiring. Eliminate longevity pay 2x/year and remove that as a city ordinance. Cut all manager pay up through charter officer pay by 10%. Freeze the pension plan and move to 403(b) plan for city. Mandatory retirement for those with most senior service. No double dipping for working retirees. Quit funding commissioner pet projects where they have any vested interest. Sell off GRU to a real utility who can run the business efficiently and cost effectively. All great ways to start balancing the ridiculous budget. Or just let the State take over the entire operation and start over. It could only be a vast improvement.

  • The City has plenty of money. Public Works .just bought $200,000 of solar powered garbage cans to reduce the litter problems. A regular $25;garbage can is not good enough. Accepted delivery on Friday. R2D2 has arrived.s

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