Mayor Subprime Mike Huether

Someone beat me to the punch

l3wis December 12, 2010 5Comments

While I have been salivating since about 10:34 AM to post about this (but I was working) I see Mrs. Holsen beat me to the punch;

I agree that the City Council’s latest action in passing a resolution prohibiting the mayor from spending down the city’s reserves without council approval is a move to tighten control of the mayor, but to say there has been no attempt by Huether to change the reserve’s healthy level is a head scratcher.  Maybe the Editorial Board should start reading its own reporters’ news articles.

The mayor has stated in the past that surplus money will go into the cookie jar for the event center. His actions regarding cuts in departmental budgets and program services and going after employee pay and benefits to ensure the reserve fund continues to build a healthy balance for his EC vision is telling.  It may be a knee jerk reaction of the city council but, then the mayor has not been playing very nice with the city council despite his energetic projections on how he and the council were going to be a team and play nice together when he took office.

There are also several other expenditures he has approved without city council approval. This resolution approval by the city council was a smart move on many levels, even though Mike tried to play ‘Stimpy‘ when they voted on it. But it doesn’t stop the extremely out of touch, ignorant, isolated, idiotic AL editorial board to comment on something they know nothing freaking about, really, they don’t;

But it’s exactly this type of knee-jerk reaction to Huether’s style – rather than the result of a clearly articulated reason – that’s becoming tiresome.

Huh? Not only did the finance committee discuss this for 3 months, they had an unanimous vote on it, on top of that, this has been on the books since 2007. Knee-jerk reaction? Give me a break. You are out-of-line just like the mayor.

What kind of deal have you cooked up with Mike? Seriously? Does it have to do with the EC? Does it have to do with your credit rating? One wonders? I’m starting to think he gives you weekly beatings if you don’t let him say and do what he wants.

Myself? The guy doesn’t scare me, in fact, I find him quite comical, especially how he manages to hoodwink everyone. Keep it up AL Ed Board. I’ll keep laughing. As our city goes down the tubes.

Did the Mayor get his ass handed to him last night?

l3wis December 7, 2010 21Comments

UPDATE: This is the Argus story on the topic, written by the wonderful Megan ‘Patron’ Luther, this exchange between Erpenbach and Rolfing is priceless;

Councilor Michelle Erpenbach, who does not serve on the committee, said she was disappointed with the process.

“If we have this kind of confusion over something that has been in committee for three-and-a-half months, we have let people down and we have not done our jobs,” she said.

“We have also canceled a few of those meetings along those times,” Rolfing said.

“Don’t give me excuses. Let’s treat this committee process with the seriousness it should be treated with,” Erpenbach responded.

Yah could have heard a pin drop. All along Mike kept playing the ‘confused’ card. Whatever, this guy is so full of shit, if he ever explodes he could fertilize the entire eastern half of South Dakota.

Item #16

A RESOLUTION  TO AMEND AND RESTATE RESOLUTION 73-09 TO ADOPT AS A GOAL THAT THE CITY MAINTAIN AN 11% MONTHLY UNRESTRICTED CASH BALANCE AND A 25% GENERAL FUND RESERVE BALANCE AT YEAR END; THAT FUTURE BUDGETS OF THE CITY BALANCE WITHOUT THE USE OF UNOBLIGATED RESERVE BALANCES; ESTABLISHING A COUNCIL POLICY REGARDING THE USE OF PROJECTED REVENUE FROM FEE OR TAX INCREASES IN ANY BUDGET ADOPTED BY THE COUNCIL; AND ESTABLISHING A COUNCIL POLICY ON THE USE OF ENTERPRISE FUNDS.

WHEREAS, the Home Rule Charter of the City of Sioux Falls authorizes the Council to appropriate City funds and set City policy; and

WHEREAS, the City Council desires adequate reserves to cash flow City government and meet any emergencies; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the City’s Home Rule Charter, the Council may provide for the form in which the Mayor is to submit a budget proposal; and

WHEREAS, the City Council desires an ongoing plan for a fiscally sound budget; and

WHEREAS, the City Council expects potential new revenue streams be approved prior to final adoption of the budget;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF SIOUX FALLS, SD:

That the City establish as a goal that it maintain a minimum unrestricted cash balance at the end of each calendar month equal to 11% of the general fund budget for that fiscal year and a general fund unreserved fund balance as of December 31 for each fiscal year equal to 25% of the general fund budget for that fiscal year. If the unrestricted cash reserves at any month end or the general fund unreserved fund balance as of December 31 shall fall below these thresholds, the Mayor shall, as soon as practical thereafter, present the Council with an explanation and plan for replenishing the unrestricted cash balance or general fund reserve balance to the targeted threshold; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That the City establish as a goal that a Mayor’s proposed general fund budget for each fiscal year beginning with 2008 provide for balance between projected revenues and expected expenditures without the use of general fund unreserved fund balances, and that the elected and appointed officials of the City use their best efforts and mutual cooperation to accomplish that goal. If a Mayor believes that the financial condition or needs of the City require the use of funds from general fund unreserved fund balances in any proposed budget, such budget proposal shall include a statement of the reasons which the Mayor believes justify the use of the general fund unreserved funds; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That it be established as the policy of the Council that if a Mayor’s proposed general fund operation budget includes projected revenues from increases in fees, charges, taxes or other similar sources that require Council approval, the ordinance or ordinance amendment authorizing such increase should be presented to and approved by the Council prior to the submission of the proposed budget.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That it be established as a policy of the Council that enterprise accounts of the City relating to water, water reclamation, sanitary landfill and the city electric utility should cover the true cost for that enterprise, including operation, maintenance, periodic capital replacement, new capital acquisitions and improvements, debt service requirements, and other costs deemed necessary.