To the editor:
At the June 17, 2013 council meeting, I asked city council to forego compensation for the remainder of their term. I further suggested that our city manager voluntarily agree to return 5 percent of his salary to the city due to the economic crisis we are facing. Unfortunately, neither council nor the city manager would agree to this during the meeting.
I made this request because Caribou is facing budget deficits that will either result in increased mill rates, further slashing of the budget or most likely some combination of the two. At a meeting held the prior week, council asked the city manager to go back to the well one more time and see what the department heads could propose for further cuts. It is important to note that these cuts were on top of the cuts made earlier in the year. The city manager included further cuts in an attempt to reach the full figure needed to balance the budget.
This proposal included reducing employee hours, reduction of staff (which had occurred prior to the meeting taking place), reduction of services, and at times the elimination of entire departments such as the Nylander Museum and Emergency Management Services. It is clear that in times of budgetary crisis tough decisions will be made and I applaud city employees for digging deep and making personal sacrifices. However, there is also a need to look towards the future. Eliminating Emergency Management Services would be irresponsible and potentially dangerous. Reducing services to the recreation department and the library will make Caribou less attractive for future business development and for families who are looking to relocate. These are the things we need to make Caribou competitive in the modern environment and should not be reduced more than they already have.
In the face of all of this, I found it disappointing, and shameful, that no member of Council or the City Manager were willing to sacrifice just a small amount of their expense to the city. It is incumbent on city management and leadership to stand with the city. Our employees have sacrificed so much, our citizens have suffered through depleted services and increased tax rates, and yet management and leadership could not find it in themselves to join in that sacrifice.
I could not in good conscious sit at the council table and even consider the cuts being proposed while accepting compensation for making those decisions. In the end the total amount of money saved by council and the city manager would not solve the budget crisis. However, if it would keep just one person employed, keep just one service available or do nothing more than show that we understand, I feel it would be well worth the effort.
I would encourage any citizen that feels the same to express their thoughts at our next scheduled meeting. Thank you.
Aaron Kouhoupt
Caribou
