bbb- no ref on ice arena for 3 mil. Was there one for schools at 70 mil?
YOu need to learn how to work within your budget. Cut the crap and use funds that are needed for fire and police.

Jesse, the mayor would spend his first two years running for his second term.

Would there be councilmembers elected at large or per aldemanic districts?

oldvet - Let's say you have a higher opinion of people than I do.

Think we should go to a 2yr term Mayor with no more then 2 terms in office .

billnewbie: referenda

"Consequently most votes would be to never spend money. ".....it seems the last round of referendums in Wisconsin would contradict this statement.
" We now have the technology that could give everyone the chance to vote on something from their computer.".....I could type a whole day the number of people I know who have never used a computer.
As for the posted question....I am a fan of referendums. Of course only on the bigger items. To propose a referendum asking us if we want less, or want to spend more, is a joke. Give me details, I will take the time to read them.

It's funny how, when a body such as our city council, refuses to do what a minority of its members want it to do, they start clamoring for referendums to override the majority.

Perhaps if these council members really want a referendum that if passed will affirm their desire to tax and spend beyond the limits of the law, we should have one. Then when it is resoundingly defeated, it may put to rest, at least for a while, the constant push to spend frivolously and to raise taxes and fees pertinaciously without regard for the plight of the taxpayers that certain members of the council and the administrator have adopted of late.

I have never been a fan of the referendum idea. However in today’s world of politics I have been feeling for a while now that I am not really being represented by any of my elected officials anymore. I have in the last 5 years been ignored by my local Assembly representative on at least 5 attempts to discuss issues before him. I feel my congressional representative has become a star in the Republican party and cannot be bothered to DISCUSS my views just regurgitate party rhetoric to the point where I no longer wish to identify myself with ANY political party. I have tried on MANY instances to meet with and discuss my concerns over many of today’s critical issues before my representatives and the best I have gotten so far is form letters reiterating the party line rhetoric or at best I was able to speak with a Collage age intern representing my representative and having little or no interest or knowledge of the subject at hand but they assure me they would discuss it with him.
In light of these issues and the childlike way the majority of “representatives” on both sides of the isle have taken governing to a state of chess play on every single issue to come in front of them and the decisions to sign “contracts” with lobbyists that effect every decision they are supposed to be making I think I would welcome the chance to again feel I had some say in many of the decisions being made that effect my life in many ways.
This statement includes all forms of representatives from City Council members running on single issue platform like sidewalks to Assembly members voting for bills they truly do not believe are in the best interest of ALL the constituents to Senate representatives who take on dictator like personalities simply because they have the numbers in the Senate to pass anything they feel with benefit them or their benefactors.
So ether clean it up and act like adults or BRING ON THE REFERENDUMS. If you will not do your jobs then let us decide for ourselves, one person one vote!

It is unfortunate that in today's world, a lot of elected officials say tough things to get elected, then lose their "BxxxS" when it comes time to back it up on tough votes.
NO, referendum's should NOT be used for this type of things...only for major building decisions and things like that..
This is one more example on what is wrong with all elected officials today, and it starts right here.

Yes, maybe we would not have spent the money on the ice arena.

They need to do away with all the regular forms of this and adopt something new. We now have the technology that could give everyone the chance to vote on something from their computer. I think they should have all the things on a website and see what the public actually votes. Right now the people have absolutely no say in anything. once a leader is elected.... its their way. Also, the big sugar coated front that people put on in their campaign to be elected is seldomly who they actually are... its all marketing. And there is no way just a couple people can have the know how and experience to make the right decisions for everyone.

wasp2491 writes: "People would never take the time to have enough information on issues, to make a decision" . Oh really?
This is the mentality that assumes that most of us know nothing and that we should always ask those elite "in the know" people to make our decisions for us. Sorry but most of us have a perfectly good brain and know how to use it.

Referendums are a formula for disaster. People would never take the time to have enough information on issues, to make a decision. Consequently most votes would be to never spend money. Sounds nice but would eventually lead to very bad results. We have a representative democracy for a reason. It was done to prevent the mob from taking over

Anything to get the decision making away from the elected leaders. Unless you have every decision that a person will face on a ballot ahead of time how are you to know what a person is going to decide? They obviously dont base decisions in the right criteria. Needs and wants are 2 entirely different things... they dont seem to know that.