2011 BUDGET

Taxation with False Representation! November 2010
In 1775 the revolution began when colonists started paying taxes that went directly to England. Americans were accustomed to being taxed by their own assemblies but not by a faraway Parliament where the people were not represented. If you think today your vote has representation think again!

Today our representatives are for special interest groups. The taxpayer is not considered. If the residents’ financial crisis was a concern, we would not be seeing a 4.4% tax rate increase in Carmel for the 2011 budget.

Tentative 2011 Budget

Almost 70%, ($11 million +) of the 2011 budget’s amount is for staff expenses (salaries, benefits, FICA etc.). Of this, 7% ($850,000+) of the employee expenses go towards overtime. Supervisor Schmitt stated in his budget message that “budget strategies include reducing or eliminating overtime”; however, the 2011 budget did not do this. In addition to continuing most overtime, an additional $18,000 is calculated in the budget for seminars, conferences and training. When the CSEA contract comes due January 1, 2011 “we the people” may be looking at even more increases.

“We the people” are supposed to be represented, but each time contract negotiations come due they are done “BEHIND CLOSED DOORS”. When negotiations are completed there are always salary increases, benefit increases and other increases – charged to the taxpayer. Any comments or complaints from the taxpayers are answered with “WE MUST HONOR THE NEGOTIATIONS” or “THESE ARE STATE MANDATED INCREASES”. Supervisor Schmitt noted in his budget message that he was going to request that the PBA and IBTA re-open their contracts in an effort to re-negotiate their current agreements. We can only hope that his request will be accepted and renegotiations will be considered. I only wish that “WE THE PEOPLE” HAD AN OPTION TO RE-NEGOTIATE OUR TAXES!
Speak now – November 3, 2010 on the budget!
Town Hall at 7:00PM
It is your only chance!