I’ll start of with a blinding flash of insight: Manassas is a City. Cities are interesting things as they have many different features and tend to attract a different kind of people than do more suburban or rural areas. It is my belief that these people may also be somewhat different in their politics than their rural cousins but, in Manassas, I’m not sure how much it matters. It is also my suspicion that these “city folk” tend to have different expectations of their government: more and different amenities, solid schools, good jobs in or around the City and the list goes on. Real tax rates also tend to be higher in cities to support those things – anywhere from 25%-100% higher. This isn’t terribly surprising as there tend to be more people in a smaller space and there are those other things to pay for.
In a tough budget year, priorities have to be established and spending targeted towards those things that are thought to be more important. In good years, those projects move ahead but the fundamental question is always “how much is enough”? How many City-maintained parks, schools with specialty programs and money spent towards economic development is enough? What kind of expenditure is the most important? So this, gentle people is my question to you. What is important to you? What makes Manassas different and a good place to live? What are you willing to see your money spent on?
January 15, 2007 at 11:15 am
I often wish we had a version of the computer game SIM CITY adapted
for Manassas – that would help us answer some of your questions.
But I already know:
– There is never “enough” for everything.
– Manassas isn’t an inert object – it is a living organism.
– Good government is often like riding a bike – maintain your
balance, pay attention to what is around you and avoid sharp
sudden turns to the right or left.
January 16, 2007 at 1:21 pm
I’d like to see some rotation on the various boards and commisssions. Some of fresh ideas and perspectives might help.
Oh…and lower taxes.
January 16, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Others have mentioned term limits for boards and commissions and it isn’t a bad idea. Only modifier would have to be that the limit wouldn’t be enforced if there was no replacement which has been the case at times in the past.
The lower taxes item is a balancing act but there is only one way to lower taxes in the near term. Some of the perennial favorites for closure are the museum, candy factory and pavillion. This will save about 1.75 cents on the real estate rate or $3/month per resident. In order to get *real* savings, you have to start cutting your biggest expense: people. If we look at the largest employers in government they are schools, public works and public safety. Those are tough (but not impossible) cuts to make.
January 16, 2007 at 4:53 pm
Andy,
The tax refrence was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. I understand where the money is spent. I still have the big-assed binder they gave us when we served on the City Futures Task Force. I just get upset when the I think the city is spending money on things it has no business doing so, like the opera house, or fixing the skate park every time some little punk vandalizes the place.
I would suggest that the candy factory be sold to a private interest. How about a “friends of the museum” to handle fund raising? The pavillion, I don’t know. All do bring value to the city in some fashion. What is the plan to make these assets self-funding?
January 16, 2007 at 5:05 pm
Roger! Didn’t know exactly how you meant it.
I don’t know that there is a plan to make them self-funding but it isn’t a bad idea if it’s possible. I think there is probably a debate to be had concerning how much of a “City” does the “City of Manassas” want to be. The answer effects every part of the City Government. I’ve got a comprehensive theory about it but that’s for another post…:)
January 17, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Steve Thomas…a man of my own heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t know you, but I’m certain our paths will cross someday.
January 18, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I would like the city to fund an illegal immigrant impact study. We are trying to determine where to cut spending, right? I’d like to see some numbers on what portion of tax dollars are exclusively benefitting non-citizens and where. This would give further impetus to the movement to control illegal immigration from an overcrowding/quality of life standpoint as well as give us some potential targets for spending cuts.
January 18, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Mr. Arnold:
The County currently has one underway. The results will be interesting as I would expect we would have similar impacts. Most people that I’ve talked to about it expect the highest impact will be carried by the schools but you never know.
January 24, 2007 at 11:23 pm
If every native-born family in Manassas with a household income below $80,000 would move away, then our problems would be solved. The immigrant community will move on as the the construction boom moves south and west. The real long-term problem for Manassas is the concentration of crummy housing stock that attracts/retains low income families (
January 25, 2007 at 9:57 am
Tudor Hall,
They don’t all live in “crummy housing”, as you say, but have turned what were once nice neighborhoods into “crummy housing”. I don’t see how native born folks under 80K leaving, would solve any issues either as not ALL of the illegals work for construction companies. I don’t know who are legal and who are not and where they are living, BUT, some of the “immigrants” are taking housing in Manassas Park (talk about blit) and really turning them into stunning houses.
Andy,
This is “an off the wall” question that I’ve often wondered about…What would it take to turn a NON-HOA community into one? Is it even possible? I don’t know if you can because of no common areas or what? I just want to ensure that neighborhoods have some protection from “yard trash”, improper upkeep, etc.
I don’t even want it to say what color a person can paint their house, or if they can or cannot put up sheds or additions, as I feel that is what makes some neighorhoods unique (I hate track subdivisions). I would just like to have one to ensure that we don’t have falling down structures because of poor maintenance, over grown yards etc. That way the “neighborhood” can help maintain it through the association and not always relying on ONE paid enforcement officer.