MoDOT Grant Work Underway at Neosho Airport

Dirt work has started on what will ultimately be new taxi ways and hangars at Neosho's Hugh Robinson Airport. Most of the cost to build the taxi ways is covered by grants received from MoDOT in 2008. The new hangars, made possible by a $900,000 STAR loan, will be constructed once the taxi ways are completed.

The entire project must be completed by October, 2011 as part of an agreement reached with MoDOT. The STAR loan was received in early 2008 after the city applied for the low interest financing. The STAR loan is also granted thru MoDOT.

CJ Cuts $1.8 Million from Budget

From today’s Joplin Globe:

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Carl Junction School District has trimmed $1.8 million from next school year’s budget, but the superintendent is discounting the effect on students.

“I really don’t think the students will feel the impact of it,” Superintendent Phil Cook said. “We tried to keep the cuts where they’d feel it the very least.”

And while most of the trimming — a necessity of a state revenue shortfall — has come from a reduction in personnel, Cook said the district has managed to not lay off any teachers or reduce any salaries.

When staff members have retired or resigned, their positions have gone unfilled. The district has now left 25.5 positions across all its schools unfilled, including 21 certified positions, Cook said.

Jim Cummins, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, said the 21 unfilled certified positions will save the district roughly $900,000 in salaries and benefits.

Fewer teachers will result in larger class sizes, though Cook said classroom numbers still will fall within state recommendations, or 25 to 33 students per classroom, depending on the grade.

“Pretty much all the classes were close to the desirable mark (of 20 to 28 students per classroom),” Cook said. “When you reduce the staff, they’re going to go up, but they’ll still be pretty good.”

While the district has been able to hold salaries constant so far, Cook said, there are no pay guarantees for upcoming years.

“The staff, they’re going to feel it a little bit,” he said. “If things get worse, we just don’t know what could happen as far as salaries go.”

Cook said other sources of revenue for teachers might not be available soon. The Career Ladder program, which pays teachers for work done outside the classroom, has often been targeted for cuts by state lawmakers.

“There are programs that are going away that are dollars in their pocket,” Cook said. “We’re trying not to freeze (salaries) because teachers are already feeling it in other areas.”

Administrators also have cut expenditures for the current fiscal year by about $500,000, Cummins said.

The district picked up about $50,000 in unused employee health insurance that had been budgeted, he said. The technology department held off on about $100,000 in purchases, textbook orders were scaled back, and reductions in summer school supplies and transportation will save about $45,000, he said.

The future of education funding remains uncertain and unpredictable. With talk of more state revenue shortfalls by next summer, Cook said, it is nearly impossible to know whether more cuts would be necessary at the local level.

“We just don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “If it’s worst-case scenario where they start slashing our foundation formula (used to allocate state funds to public school districts) and we were to lose $1 million in revenue, I’m sure every school district in the state is going to have to make additional cuts. If it stays fairly flat, we’re hoping we should be all right going into the following years.”

Missouri Cuts Alcohol and Tobacco Staff

From today’s Joplin Globe (emphasis is mine:)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri is making significant cuts to the number of employees enforcing laws on underage drinking and smoking.

The state budget approved by lawmakers cuts more than $1 million from the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control. That will reduce the agency’s full-time employees from 41 down to 17.

A spokesman for the Department of Public Safety says some criminal enforcement work currently done by the state will have to shift to local police and sheriffs.

The state, for example, currently gets federal funds to do undercover checks on whether retailers are selling cigarettes or alcohol to minors. Local law enforcement now may be responsible for conducting those federally funded compliance checks.

Missouri Unemployment Rate Drops in April

From today’s SBJ:

The state unemployment rate dropped in April for the first time in 2010, according to data released last week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Missouri's jobless rate was 9.4 percent in April, down from 9.5 percent in March but still higher than the 9.1 percent rate of April 2009. The state's April rate was lower than the national rate of 9.9 percent, which increased 0.2 percent from the month before.

The Show-Me State was not alone in its jobless rate drop; 34 states and the District of Columbia recorded month-to-month rate decreases in April, with just six states reporting increases.

The state's total work force was 2.67 million in April, an increase of 14,800 from the month before.

Regionally, the Midwest unemployment rate was 10 percent, also down 0.1 percent from the month before. The highest regional unemployment rate remains in the West, where 10.9 percent of workers are jobless.

Complete unemployment information is available at the BLS Web site.

Missouri Auditor Releases Sunshine Law Findings

If you enjoy a good read of the Sunshine Law, you can’t miss this thriller of information!

From the state Auditor website:

Findings in the Summary of State and Local Audit Findings- Sunshine Law

The Missouri State Auditor's office is responsible for audits of state agencies, boards, and commissions; counties that have not elected a county auditor; all divisions of the circuit court system; and other political subdivisions, such as municipalities, upon petition by the voters of those subdivisions or request of the governor.

This report summarizing a variety of audit issues and recommendations regarding the Sunshine Law, Chapter 610, RSMo, and other issues related to meeting minutes, was compiled using audit reports issued between January 2008 and December 2009. These issues were addressed in 59 audit reports.

Open Meetings
Concerns regarding open meeting minutes and documentation for closing meetings were noted in 47 governmental entities. Business appeared to be conducted outside of regular open meetings in 4 governmental entities.

Closed Meetings
Concerns regarding closed meeting minutes were noted in 30 governmental entities. The governing body did not document how some issues discussed in closed meetings were allowable under the state law in 18 governmental entities and the governing body discussed issues other than the specific reasons cited for going into a closed meeting in 3 governmental entities.

Public Records
Policies and procedures regarding public access to records need improvement in 24 governmental entities.

Meeting Agendas
Improvement is needed in preparing and posting meeting agendas in 15 governmental entities.

Complete Audit Report
Missouri State Auditor's Office
moaudit@auditor.mo.gov

Carthage Plans for Cuts

From today’s Joplin Globe:

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Carthage school officials on Monday night outlined plans to cut school spending by more than $1 million in anticipation of further state budget trimming.

Measures would include a reduction in staffing, without layoffs, plus reductions and restructuring in areas including summer school, Parents as Teachers, and after-school programs, Superintendent Blaine Henningsen told members of the Carthage School Board.

The full article is here.

Don’t Touch My Holidays!

Another example of the “cuts are good…as long as they don’t impact me” attitude.

From today’s Joplin Globe (emphasis is mine):

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri state employees will still have days off for the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Harry Truman, but they will have to be at work the day after Thanksgiving.

Cash-strapped and facing the possibility of greater budget problems next year, Gov. Jay Nixon had called for canceling state holidays honoring the two presidents and ending the traditional day off governors had granted after Thanksgiving.

But the Missouri House refused to approve the legislation needed to cancel the presidential holidays before the session ended Friday. Nixon said he plans to keep state government open after Thanksgiving and warned that preserving the other holidays will force deeper state budget cuts.

“Clearly, we will get rid of the Friday after Thanksgiving,” he said. “People, I think, can take a vacation day.”

House Minority Leader Paul LeVota, who represents the city where Truman lived, said Democrats had been divided on whether to cut holidays. State workers, meanwhile, fired off dozens of e-mails to the governor objecting to eliminating the holidays and suggesting alternate cost-cutting moves.

“I personally had a little hard time getting rid of Harry Truman’s holiday — I’m from Independence, Missouri.” LeVota said. “We had some diverse views on that. What we continue to try to say is, we need to look at things in a balanced approach.”

Raytheon Marketing Video

While I suspect the terrorist filming this didn't plan on the eventual outcome, it makes a great marketing video for Raytheon's new anti-mortar technology.

US Constitution Relies on International Acceptance for Interpretation??

In a court ruling today, the Supreme Court decided (5-4) that juvenile offenders cannot receive a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole when the crimes do not involve a killing.  Such sentences were viewed to be “cruel and unusual” and thus in violation of the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

On the surface, I can’t think of many crimes (absent of a killing or possibly a brutal rape or molestation) that could justify that harsh of punishment.  But I would say that the opinion (written by Justice Anthony Kennedy and joined by Justices John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor) sites an unusual comment that I found concerning.

“The judgment of the world’s nations that a particular sentencing practice is inconsistent with basic principles of decency,” Justice Kennedy wrote, “demonstrates that the court’s rationale has respected reasoning to support it.”

My question – since when does a foreign country’s opinion or view of a US law become relevant to how we interpret OUR U.S. Constitution?

In this case, I think Justice Clarence Thomas got it right by commenting “foreign laws and sentencing practices” are “irrelevant to the meaning of our Constitution.” 

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. did not join the Majority opinion, but rather endorsed only a case-by-case approach.  He did vote with the majority in saying that in this case, the inmate had received a sentence so harsh that it violated the Constitution.

Miss USA Contestant Booed for Supporting Immigration Laws

I continued to be amazed at the outcry over Arizona’s attempts to enforce immigration laws in their own state.  The last event was during this year’s Miss USA pageant.  The crowed booed when Miss Oklahoma answered a question about Arizona’s new law that requires state police to stop and question possible undocumented immigrants.

Her answer:

"I'm a huge believer in states' rights. I think that's what's so wonderful about America…So I think it's perfectly fine for Arizona to create that law."

I guess I would have posed this question instead: “What’s wrong with enforcing laws for immigration and requiring those that want to come to our country to do so in compliance with US law?”

Gulfstream Sees Orders Climb

(I included this as a reflection of this business segment as it relates to overall business growth.  You don’t buy planes unless you’re optimistic about your business’ future outlook.)

From the Savannah Morning News:

New orders for Gulfstream jets ramped up considerably in the first quarter of 2010, offering hope a business aviation market ravaged by politics and the economic downturn of the past few years is beginning to thaw.

"The aerospace group is off to a very good start in 2010," Jay Johnson, president and CEO of Gulfstream parent General Dynamics, told analysts in a recent conference call.

"First quarter revenues are up 15 percent over the last quarter of 2009, and the G650 order book remains strong. Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul demand is good."

The Savannah-based company is on pace to deliver 77 large and 14 mid-size aircraft in 2010.

"I think we'll continue to see gradual improvement in the business aviation market this year," Johnson said.

The complete article can be found here.

Hard Cuts Left Up to Governor Nixon

From today’s Joplin Globe (emphasis is mine):

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Despite a nearly 12 percent decline in state revenue, Missouri lawmakers ended the legislative session without approving many of the moneysaving ideas they had proposed.

Lawmakers considered budget fixes that stretched from revamping the state’s pension system to closing prisons. Some of the proposals were even added to the state’s $23.3 billion budget.

Only a few of the dozens of ideas were approved before the session ended Friday. Senate leaders said many legislators still don’t realize how much trouble Missouri is in financially. They said many of the hard budget choices were left in the governor’s lap.

Gov. Jay Nixon said he expects to announce additional budget cuts within the coming weeks.

He has said that more than $500 million needs to be trimmed from budget he originally proposed in January, because of a drop in revenues and uncertainty over federal funds.

The budget passed by legislators appeared initially to have fallen just short of that $500 million target. But because they failed to pass several bills whose savings had been assumed in the budget, that gap is growing instead of shrinking.

Flooding Not Limited to Neosho

From KMIZ:

Flood damages to Columbia parks could cost the city upwards of tens of thousands of dollars.

The city's Parks and Recreation Department had multiple crews working on repairs to trails and bridges Monday, and that will continue for the next several weeks. They are working on fallen trees, debris, and heavy mud.

Parks Services Manager Mike Griggs tells ABC 17 News the repairs have a high price tag, and one that may swallow most of the Department's budget. It may also require officials to dip into a back-up account if a similar storm hits the city again.

The Department estimates the cost of repairs to hit around $20,000—a number that would make a major dent in the department's budget.

"Our whole budget for trail maintenance is $25,000, so a hit like this really does hit the fact that we need to look at some alternate means, especially in some of these washed out areas," said Griggs.

A second major rain storm before the end of the fiscal year could mean dipping into some alternative funding. Griggs tells ABC 17 News it's concerning that they could use a large portion of the budget on one storm, when a few months still remain before the end of the fiscal year. That may require the Department to dip into revenues from the parks sales tax.     

"We do have that back-up funding source, if we ever get right down to the point," said Griggs.

Flooding also caused damages to Columbia and Boone County Roads. Crews with both departments worked on the repairs Monday. They do expect to have enough money in their budgets for the clean-up.

The Words I ‘Thought’ She Would Say

Over the weekend, my daughter was a little puny.  And when she’s not feeling well, she tends to want a little more attention – both by being waited on hand and foot (dad I need water, dad I need food, etc.) and by wanting to be held (she likes to nap laying on my chest and shoulder).

Anyway, at some point Sunday, she was laying next to me in the La-Z-Boy recliner when she said so softly “Dad, can I tell you something?”  My heart filled with pride and I had a momentary out-of-body experience seeing her as she muttered words of love and affection.  I said (as I always do) “Sure, sweetheart.  You can always tell Daddy anything.”

As she took her hand and rubbed her finger around the end of my nose, I heard the sweet little words that will resonate in my mind forever: “You have more hair in your ears than grandpa does.”

The sound of squealing tires echoed in my head as my euphoric moment came to a quick stop.  But before I could show much reaction, her hand slowly sank back to my chest and the quiet, but methodic, sounds of snoring once again filled the air as she fell back to sleep.

I sat there for a moment trying to relive and capture the true meaning of what had just happened.  But I soon smiled and thought to myself, “That’s my girl.  Tell it like it is.”

For the record, I did ask my barber to trim those hairs and the tweezers came out of retirement for some pruning and touchup. 

Oh what kids will say to their parents.

Unemployment Claims Virtually Flat

From the US Dept. of Labor:

In the week ending May 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 444,000, a decrease of 4,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 448,000.

The 4-week moving average was 450,500, a decrease of 9,000 from the previous week's revised average of 459,500.

And Just What Are Local Ad Valorem Tax Rates?

These are the property tax rates straight from my 2009 tax receipts.

Rate per $100	Taxing Entity
$0.0300	Stat
$0.0100	Fair
$0.0500	Hlth
$0.0803	Mntl
$3.1100	R5
$0.2322	NCC
$0.4000	Srtx*
$0.4000	Crwd
$0.1899	Amb
$0.1000	Libr
$4.6024	Total

*Srtx is $0.40 for businesses and is on real property only.

Updated 5-12-2010 - thanks for all of the comments.

Watch The Weather Tonight

  Tonight’s weather could get a little nasty.  Make sure your NOAA radio has fresh batteries and keep an eye toward the west.  The image above is radar from 4:37pm.

Oklahoma City (Norman) Radar Loop

Tulsa Radar Loop

Springfield Radar Loop

Counties Brace For Impact of Budget Cuts

From today’s Joplin Globe (emphasis is mine):

County officials are bracing for more state budget cuts to translate into a loss of county revenues.

In an effort to balance Missouri’s budget, the state earlier this year cut the amount it reimburses county assessors for work to determine property values. The budget approved by lawmakers for fiscal 2011 calls for cutting the amount the state reimburses counties to house prisoners bound for state lockup.

County officials, who have protested the cuts to state legislators, are concerned that there could be more to come, said John Bartosh, Jasper County presiding commissioner.

“Aside from holding down spending, we can’t really be proactive because we don’t know what’s next,” he said.

Lawmakers late last month approved a 2011 operating budget that makes cuts throughout state government. It trims spending on higher education, mental health and tourism, and keeps K-12 education spending flat — even though a state formula for basic aid to schools called for an increase of more than $100 million.

More than $484 million has been cut from the initial budget proposed by Gov. Jay Nixon, and Nixon’s budget director has warned that more spending reductions might be necessary. The budget takes effect July 1.

Cut or tax

The cuts put county officials in the position of either finding ways to reduce spending or asking taxpayers to make up the loss, said Dick Burke, executive director of the Missouri Association of Counties.

“No one wants to do that (seek a tax increase), especially now,” he said. “So when the state doesn’t fund an idea, the county either has to come up with the money or something is not going to be funded. They are extremely frustrated that this has been put on their backs.”

Cuts in the state reimbursement to counties for property assessments came in January as a result of action by the governor. The reimbursement amount was trimmed to $4 per parcel, down from the $6 budgeted by lawmakers.

For Jasper County, the cut reduced revenues in the assessor’s budget by $115,000, said Richard Webster, county auditor and budget officer.

“We were able to change this year’s budget to base it on the $4 amount,” he said. “There was a rumor flying they would cut it even more; that’s really concerning.”

Newton County lost about $58,000 in the state reimbursement for property valuations.

Prisoner reimbursement

The state budget calls for a cut in the reimbursement rate for housing state prisoners in local jails from $22 per day to $19.58.

For Jasper County, that will amount to about $82,500 in revenue cuts, said Webster.

“It’s been $22 for quite a while, but counties are always asking for more,” he said. “Our average cost for housing prisoners is $45 per day.”

Newton County expects to take “a bigger hit” on prisoner reimbursements, said Jerry Black, an associate commissioner. Despite that, Black said he believes counties will be able to ride out the financial downturn more easily than the state.

“The state is in much worse shape than counties like ours,” he said. “Our revenue is based on sales tax, but the state’s is also based on income tax. When people aren’t working, they’re not paying income tax.”

Reserve funds

Jasper County currently has general fund reserves of more than $1.5 million, compared with $1.4 million a year ago, Webster said.

“We’re asking everyone to hold down spending, but it can’t last, because we’re reaching a point in the year where we normally have to spend more than we take in,” he said.

Newton County has general fund reserves of $1.8 million, down from $2.2 million at the start of the year, Black said.

“We’ve had to do some construction projects, but we’re being very judicious,” he said. “Our revenue from sales tax is down about $400,000, but hopefully collections will start getting a little better. We can’t generate other revenue without raising taxes, so all we can do is try to cut costs.”

Across the board

When it becomes necessary, it will take spending cutbacks “across the board” to offset the revenue loss from the state cuts, Webster said.

“We can’t cut the budget, so we’ll say, ‘Please don’t spend,’” he said. “That’s going to be harder in departments that have small budgets, because there are certain expenses that have to be paid.”

Pay raises for county workers were not part of this year’s budget in Jasper and Newton counties. Pay hikes also weren’t authorized for Jasper County workers the year before.

State lawmakers have proposed a measure that would allow counties to make midyear budget cuts, and Bartosh said he hopes the proposal becomes law.

State lawmakers also are looking to balance the state budget by giving local law enforcement more responsibilities in enforcing state alcohol and tobacco laws, while state officials would focus more on licensing.

Ken Copeland, Newton County sheriff, said that will have no effect on his department, which already enforces alcohol rules.

“Around here, police take care of that in the cities, and the sheriff’s department in the county,” he said.

Copeland said the budgets of sheriff departments and counties would be hard hit if lawmakers adopt another proposal.

Now, prison sentences of up to a year are served in county jails, and those with longer sentences go to the Missouri Department of Corrections. A bill proposed this session calls for sentences of three years or less to be served in county jails.

“That would greatly impact us and overcrowd every county jail in the state,” he said. “It hasn’t been passed, and the (Missouri) Sheriffs’ Association is fighting it.”

Tough Questions and Decisions Aren’t Just for Voters

Time is running short for decisions on a proposed property tax.  The most pressing issue relates to getting the ballot language done and approved before May 25th – the date set by the state for being on the August ballot.  Approving that language and getting the work done is the duty of the council – no one else is charged (or empowered) with that responsibility.

But as the council works to make those decisions, other complicated questions are surfacing.  The one that is most challenging to me is the debate over what authority the council is given by the Missouri Constitution to levy an ad valorem tax.

It is becoming more and more evident to me that all municipalities across our state MAY HAVE the constitutional authority to levy a property tax up to $1.00 per $100 in assessed valuation (subject to the mysteries and possible restrictions of the Hancock Amendment). It also appears that municipalities may even be REQUIRED to set a levy sufficient to cover the principle and interest on outstanding bonds and other indebtedness if a municipality doesn’t set a levy by Sept 1 of each year.

At this point, I’ve got more questions than I have answers.  I’m hopeful that many of those questions will be answered by officials in Jefferson City before May 25th. 

For what it’s worth, I’d take comfort knowing your elected officials are asking these types of questions.  It shows that your council takes their role and duties seriously.  It also shows that they want to know ALL of the options available to them to deal with the financial situation at hand along with making sure the decisions they make are authorized by law.

MoDOT Lacks Funding

From tonight’s KMIZ website:

A proposed five-year transportation improvement program presented to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission today contains construction awards averaging $500 million per year down from $1.25 billion in the previous program.

To cope with this funding challenge, the Missouri Department of Transportation has adopted a five-year direction to deliver commitments promised Missouri citizens.  MoDOT will focus on keeping major highways in good condition, improving smaller state roads and keeping pace with needed bridge repairs and maintenance.

State Revenues Drop Again in April

From today’s TSBJ:

The state's funding woes continue.

State Budget Director Linda Luebbering announced Wednesday that net general revenue collections for April were down 3.6 percent compared to the same month in 2009, to $986.8 million from $1 billion.

Year-to-date for the fiscal year that began July 1, net general revenue collections are $5.7 billion, down 11.7 percent from the first 10 months of fiscal 2009.

Individual income tax collections were down 6.5 percent for the month and are down 8.9 percent so far this fiscal year. Sales and use taxes are down 3 percent for April and 6.5 percent for the year.

Corporate income and corporate franchise tax collections increased 7.5 percent for the month but are down 8.3 percent for the year, and all other collections were down 9.3 percent for the month and 7.7 percent for fiscal 2010. Refunds decreased 15 percent for April but remain up nearly 13 percent for the year.

Luebbering noted that the $520 million the state borrowed from the Budget Reserve Fund over the course of the fiscal year for cash flow has been repaid. The state had a May 15 deadline to repay the funds.

Update on SEAL Trial

Note the highlighted conflicts in testimony.  Witness says the terrorist was punched in the chest.  Terrorist says he was hit in the back and shoulders. 

From Foxnews.com:

NORFOLK - One of the government's two key witnesses testified Wednesday morning that he saw Navy SEAL Matthew McCabe deliver a "right punch to the chest" of his detainee, suspected terrorist Ahmed Hashim Abed. McCabe is facing a court martial in Norfolk, Virginia, charged with assault for the alleged incident last September in Iraq.

Petty Officer Third Class Kevin Demartino testified that when he came into the detention cell, three Navy SEALs were leaving. He testified that Abed had fallen from his chair to the floor after the assault and when Demartino lifted him up, he noticed blood coming from under Abed's hood.

Asked on cross examination why he said nothing at first about the alleged assault, he told the court "I had a choice of being in good graces with the Navy SEALs or being in good graces with God." Demartino admits he's guilty of dereliction of duty for not immediately reporting what he saw.

Abed is the alleged mastermind of the grisly attack on four Blackwater contractors who were ambushed and killed in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. Their bodies were burned and dragged through the streets as crowds cheered. Two of the bodies were hanged from a bridge over the Euphrates River.

This is the second day of testimony in the case of McCabe, the 24-year old Navy SEAL from Perrysberg, Ohio. A seven member jury is hearing the case, presided over by a Judge Advocate General, Captain Moira Modelewski. Two other SEALs faced trial in Baghdad and were found not guilty last month. Demartino gave the same testimony in those earlier trials.

Abed's taped testimony was heard in open court Tuesday. He said he was handcuffed and blindfolded and placed on a chair in the holding cell. He claims he was hit on the back and shoulders and knocked to the floor. He says he was kicked in the stomach and sworn at when he was down. But he says he could only see one person's feet and legs under his hood and cannot identify his assailant.

The defense claims Al Qaeda detainees are trained to claim abuse and that Abed caused his own lip to bleed.

Abed testified in person in the previous two trials, but the defense in this case declined the opportunity to confront the accuser in court.

Ballot Language DOES Matter

From 4029TV.com (emphasis in mine):

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Aside from voting for their favorite candidates in the Arkansas primary election, voters in one local city will also be voting on a tax issue.

The city of Fayetteville will be asking voters to allocate some of its hotel, motel and restaurant tax to pay for park maintenance.

Jennifer Bryant can attest to how "green" the city of Fayetteville truly is. She's been going to the parks for more than seven years.

“Wilson Park is our favorite because it's got the castle and it's got the small and the big playground. There are lots of walking trails,” said Bryant.

And she wants to keep it that way for her kids.

“We want to come to a nice, clean park,” said Bryant.

On the May ballot, voters like her will have the choice to approve using part of the 1 percent HMR tax to maintain the park grounds and facilities.

“Right now, it is difficult enough to keep up with the parks that we have,” said Fayetteville finance director Paul Becker.

The HMR tax, which generates $2.2 million a year, is already used for parks -- but just for development and expansion. Becker said the word "maintenance" was left off the last ballot.

“There wouldn't be additional taxes on citizens. It would be the same amount, the same tax generating the same amount. So it's not an additional burden on citizens,” said Becker.

The city of Fayetteville currently maintains 71 parks, stretching more than 3,700 acres. For years, the city has been using money from its general fun to keep its amenities in top shape.

“That's about $2 million worth of maintenance paid out of the general fund,” said Becker. “As we know, the general fund is declining. Revenue sources are declining. If they continue to decline, it's going to affect all of our programs.”

Becker said by passing the measure, it would give the city the flexibility to use money from the general fund on other things.

It’s something Bryant said she's more than willing to approve.

“I think parks are definitely great for the kids, so I think any money that they offer would be fantastic,” said Bryant.

If the measure is passed, the HMR tax funds would go into effect the next budget year.

City leaders aren't sure yet where money from the general fund could be used if the measure is passed.

J.C. Penny to Save Dollars in Energy

From today’s HFN:

PLANO, Texas–J.C. Penney has set a corporate goal to reduce the energy consumption at its facilities by 20 percent per gross square foot by 2015.

In a statement, the department-store retailer said it will reach this goal by improvements in energy efficiency and by accelerating its company culture, which advocates and practices conservation. J.C. Penney has invested more than $130 million over the past 10 years on energy-efficiency technologies in its stores and logistics centers. This expenditure resulted in a year-over-year elimination of about 80 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions in 2009 alone, the statement said.

Other aspects of its conservation efforts include EMPowered, a program that encourages and educates J.C. Penney employees to seek new ways to save energy. In addition, the company has established a goal to obtain 25 percent of its total operating power from renewable resources over time. The latter initiative involves the use of rooftop solar-power systems at stores in California and New Jersey (with others planned for this year) and the hosting of Architectural Wind turbines at its logistics center in Manchester, Conn.

New Orders Up in March

From the US Dept. of Commerce:

New orders for manufactured goods in March, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $5.0 billion or 1.3 percent to $391.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.3 percent February increase.

Excluding transportation, new orders increased 3.1 percent. Shipments, up seven consecutive months, increased $8.6 billion or 2.2 percent to $395.6 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent February increase.

Daddy’s Were Seeing “Blue” on Saturday

For the first time in my forty years on this Earth, I had the opportunity to dance with my seven year old daughter in her annual dance recital.  In fact, me and another dozen or so “dads” performed in a daddy-daughter dance Saturday night in Miami, OK.

So what’s the big deal?  Well, the dance instructor (who happens to be my mother) decided that the fathers (as has been done in the past) would be in blue dresses and wigs as they danced to the song “Devil in a Blue Dress”.  Oh what a dad will do for their daughter.

So IF photos get leaked (and they already have thank you very much), please make sure you understand the background (that means you Rick Rogers – Neosho Daily News – Don’t make me use your Senior picture!)

Hard Decisions Get Harder Next Year

As state officials wrap up the budget process for this year, they are already predicting bigger cuts for next year.  The current budget just adopted and sent to Gov. Nixon for signature was $23.3 million – nearly $500 million less than what was originally proposed.  For next year, some estimate that the budget will require $900 million in reductions.

Why?  Because some federal revenues are a one-time hit and those funds dry up. 

Here’s the full NDN article.