“It doesn’t take a majority to win, just a tireless minority that will keep starting brush fires in the mind and hearts of their fellow men.”

Samuel Adams

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Peru's New Budget and Our Thanks To ......

Our thanks to you Gary Hylla Peru City Treasurer, Mayor Harl and Dave Bartley City Clerk
Gary  for presenting the people of Peru with a Budget, one that actually in black and white shows us where the money is spent, how it will be spent now and for some time to come. Thank you for making yourself available to the citizens and answering their questions in a forthright manner.

Putting all the figures down in black and white in the lengthy budget document helps us to evaluate the position that the City is in and perhaps understand just a little more the difficult financial situation that Peru had found itself in.

Thank you Mayor Harl, for bringing Gary into our government and working with him to try and improve our financial situation and to bring it all into the light of day.

Also last night City Clerk Bartley announced that the raise in salary that he automatically receives will be returned to the City. The City Attorney told the Council the raise could not be refused but that Dave would need to donate it back to the city if that is what he wants to do. Our thanks to you Dave.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think its wonderful, of Dave to give his raise back. Maybe the aldermen could learn from his generousity. We don't need to spend the money for 4 meetings a month. 2 would be sufficent.
Again thanks Dave.

Anonymous said...

I heartily agree - it has to start some where and the City Clerk's office can be a good role model. Now all we need is some good "student's" to follow suit.

Brian Foster said...

This budget has shown that Mr. Hylla and Mr. Bartley have good typing skills. But we hired a City Clerk and a City Treasurer. A budget needs to reflect an honest forecast of projected expenses. The current document has purposely inflated line items that do not reflect reality. $18K for furniture that will actually cost about a thousand dollars according to Mr. Hylla. A truck for the cemetery that will actually be a hand me down from the streets department. But hey… the document looks nice.

Steve said...

To Brian Foster - Thank you for your comment. You seem to be suggesting that Mr. Hylla and Mr. Bartley have not presented an "honest forecast" and perhaps not an honest budget. Treasurer Hylla and Mayor Harl have clearly stated this budget will be revisited in about 90 days for further changes and adjustments. There is no question that an actual budget for Peru is a grounbreaking and very unsettling experience for our aldermen and apparently for you as well. I know that I and many other residents of Peru are elated to finally have responsible, qualified, and honest elected officials performing their fiscal duties in an ethical manner. Maybe you would prefer to have old "Back-Peddlin Jack" O'Beirne crunchin' those budget numbers as our treasurer. Not me!
You and the aldermen can "cherry pick" the furniture, vehicle, or even the toilet tissue expenditures if you choose. If you don't understand it I suggest you contact Mr. Hylla as I'm sure he will be happy to enlighten you. Just pay attention.

J said...

Kudos to you Lois, Steve and even you,Brian Foster, for keeping the readers of this blog informed. While not all of our citizens participate in this site, I for one have taken information and opinions from this blog and shared it with those non-participants.

I'm am behind Gary Hylla all the way. He is a professional who knows what needs to be done and posseses the ability to do it. I shudder to think how the past administration came up with a budget. I imagine it was two of them, huddled over the mayor's desk, trying to work the numbers to make them look good for the uninformed.
Kudos also to Dave Bartley for taking the initiative. It would be nice if others would follow suit. Does that qualify him for Brian Foster's first payout?