One of the things I love about Cresco is that folks are respectful, but quite direct. What I find interesting are questions from the community. Some are cordial like "Is there going to be a citywide clean-up this year?" or "When is the curbside recycling?" some folks are a little more direct like, "I pay my taxes, when are you going to do the street in front of my house?"
    The City finished the budget for next year. A three-month process that ends with a vote and subsequent certification to the county auditor. Two weeks ago the Cresco Times Plain Dealer reported on the budget and what was in it. I thought you might want to know the answers to a few questions like the ones above.
    I'll guess that most of you thought that your property taxes helped chip seal and maintain the streets and alleys in town. Nope, your property taxes do nothing to pay for streets and alleys. They are funded by RUTF, or the Road Use Tax Fund. RUTF are monies funded to the city from the Iowa Department of Transportation on a per capita basis. This money is generated predominantly through the tax on gas we fill our vehicles with. As a note, the last time the gas tax was significantly raised was 1989, yes, close to 20 years ago.
    Last year the city made the decision to split chip sealing streets from every year to half of them every year. The cost of the oil sealer doubled. To maintain other services like plowing snow at the service level customers are accustomed to, we felt we needed to split the chip sealing into two years. The reason this is an important issue is the TIME 21 initiative at the State House. TIME 21 is a program that the legislature is looking at to assist in more revenues to fund RUTF at a higher rate.
    Now you know that your property taxes do not pay for streets, so what do they pay for? They pay for police and fire protection, Cresco's part of a joint dispatch and law center with Howard County, civil defense (training and coordination of events), animal control, street lighting, tree planting program, the Cresco Public Library, the Cresco Theatre, parks, the fitness center, the airport, community beautification, City Hall, elections, City Council, various boards and commissions, insurance and legal expenses. Oh, by the way don't forget there are costs to even having these areas exist. I doubt the police could catch a speeder if they did not have the cars to patrol with. The fire department needs the vehicles to fight fire (the ladder truck is paid for by a debt service levy, part of your property tax). The library needs to keep periodicals, books and upgrades to computers for their patrons. We also need personnel to run these areas, so wages and benefits are also reflected in your property tax dollars.
    None of the areas listed before are totally self sufficient. They are subsidized by your property tax dollars. They do bring in funds on their own. Hawkeye REC, Aquila and Alliant all provide funds for tree replacement. The fitness center generates a lot of revenue through memberships, classes and events. In the end they are subsidized, some more and some less, by property tax.
    Your property taxes also pay for General Obligation debt. The City has borrowed money to help match grant money for the prevention of storm water infiltration, a new city street shop and improvements to the train in Beadle Park. The ladder truck for the fire department and several improvements to the sewer plant have been and still are being paid through a general obligation loan.
    As far as citywide clean-up goes, it will be a year from this June. We have found that we get the best bang for the buck every two years. As far as recycling schedule goes, you can look it up on the City Web site, www.crescoia.govoffice2.com. Look under City Calendars and you can download a copy. We plan on posting minutes and agendas, and also portions of the ordinance on the Web site as well. There will be links to the Cresco Public Library, as well as the Cresco Chamber of Commerce and Howard County Economic Development. The Parks and Recreation Department is hoping to be able to do quite a bit with the Web site, so check back often.
    This is an exciting time, at least for me. New technology, like the Web site, GPS/GIS mapping and radio-read water meters. These additions will be able to help our staff perform their jobs better, but, most importantly, be able to communicate better with you, the people we serve.