Thanks for posting the statement Sprout. Government, like you, borrows for capital purchases. Both public and private financing recognizes that you match the life of the asset with its source of funds to pay for it.
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The comments you post tell us that City borrowing is well within its capacity to do so, and that it repays its debt quickly. We should all be so lucky.

I don't even want to get started on the gosh forsaken ice arena deal but will make just one comment...given we are running a $1,800,000 deficit, spending money on a highly discretionary project is just irresponsible to me. Somebody mentioned that city employees participate in a taxpayer funded pension plan...this needs to stop. Pensions are rediculously expensive, require no personal responsibility or accountability on the part of the employee, and cost us all a lot of extra money in a year when the market loses 40%. Look at what GM's pension plan did for them! Finally, the fact that the council members met at a retreat that costed a very small amount of money is not a big deal. Remember, they are unpaid volunteers and have a lot of dificult decisions to make on behalf of a lot of people. Let's just hope they use some foresight in attacking this budget issue. Just my random opinions.

MooShoo: Yes, the Council did fall for that scheme ... despite many of us warning them each step of the way. Sad but true.

The City is looking at $1.8 million deficit. The majority of the City Budget is made up of salaries and benefits. I agree with Evana - its a matter of priority. It is a matter of eliminating positions until you cut $1.8 million. The hard part is establishing the list to be eliminated and sticking to it when the affected constituency starts to raise hell.
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Do not take advice from anyone who does not know the difference between "deficits" and "debt".
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Very clever Garyprimer - the scary part is some on the Council might buy into it. They already bought into a bait n' switch scheme perpetrated by very rich men and their hired professional lobbyist.

Thanks for the information about the retreat. I'm curious, doesn't the City of Janesville have a meeting room at City Hall they could have used? With the police department moved to it's own building now, isn't there some extra space they could have used, rather than renting facilities?
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I'm glad they decided to support a local business, but I would think there might be a meeting room in one of our city facilities.

After reading about how much money a new ice arena is going to make, all you have to do is figure what the budget shortfall is, divide by the annual projected profit for the arena, and build that number of ice arenas. Budget balanced, problem solved. Thank me now, you won't care to later. ;-)

Janesville needs to budget the same as any other organization would. Make a list of priorities, and allocate funds from the most to the least important. When there is no more money you're done. Under no circumstance budget with a wish list like state has been.

What I meant is that the city employees should take a 5% cut in their pay check. This way we wouldn't be facing a money woes.

The employees at the City Hall should be force to take a 5% in their pay check. Also, the city employees should take a 5% in their pay check.

Thanks Greg. I never saw they were going to have this retreat on the council website. How many of these are held in a year? Do other city departments have them too and do they rent places and get food for them also? It just seems a place to start with the budget is with things like this. They couldn't meet in the municiple building and bring a sack lunch? Our area runs the highest unemployment in the state, with people in record amounts looking for food to feed their families and money to keep a roof over their heads. The city has a building for them to meet in, use it.

Walker and janesvillecomments: The retreat did receive proper advance public notice. Gazette reporter Marcia Nelesen attended it.

City Manager Eric Levitt told me in a phone message this morning (in answer to my question) that the total cost, including food/refreshments and room rental at the Holiday Inn Express & Janesville Conference Center, was about $530.

Levitt also explained that at his various jobs in municipal government, he has always used local facilities for such retreats in order to support local businesses.

Greg Peck

you could make it ok for me to open up a cannabis dispensary. id LOVE to give you that tax money:)

Is there anyone who knows where this retreat was held? Was any taxpayer money used to have this retreat? Did they travel out of town for it, or was it held here in town?

Cut the ice arena repairs AND subsidy. No more TIFs or other expenses to "revitalize" the corpse of downtown Janesville.
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Question - Did the "retreat" violate Wisconsin's open meetings law?

How about balancing the budget by not buying any new stuff for awhile? Also, eliminate any pension plans, and just have 401K. City employees don't need vision insurance if they have that, and they can pay a bigger co-pay. A pay cut for employees, too. Before long, the city will be doing every that's going on in my life.