Fulton City Budget/Think outside the Box!

First off, in order to think outside the box, one has to look inside the box!

Do you cut services to cut taxes? NO!

For at least two decades I have suggested closing the West-side Firehouse!

Let’s look at the total costs for the West-side Firehouse.

Manning is at 3 a shift, now if that is 3 per shift times 4 shifts, that is a total of 12 that are not mandated. It is nice to have when you can afford them. If you can’t afford them you must cut them.

Now there is going to be a cut of 4 in June saving around $96,000, this is the end of a Grant. After that there are 8 more that can be cut and the mandated number won’t be affected. Eight times at least $60,000 is $480,000(that is base pay it doesn’t include OT). That is a total of $576,000. Then you add in the maintenance of the building, estimated at $11,000, you get a total savings is, $587,000. All of these cuts could be resolved by retirement and not filling the positions. Selling the building for around $200,000. Gives the City a cut in expenditure of $587,000(over 20 yrs. That would have been a savings of over $11,000,000) and a increase in revenue of $200,000. That solves the Budget deficit. No tax increase, and maybe a tax cut.

That is how you look outside the box.

Do it city leaders! You were elected to make and do the hard choices, make us proud.

 Thank you all for your time and effort!

Frank Castiglia Jr. Taxpayer living on a fixed income!

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