ChangeDecatur is not active in specific interests of any group relative to another or any one business versus another. However, individuals involved in ChangeDecatur do continue to care about local issues and speak out from time to time. Recently, several public remarks were made regarding the search for a new city manager and the needed resolution of the AFSCME contract dispute with the city. For more on these topics stay tuned.
Just Vote No
A research report refutes claims that the cost of either the Strong Mayor or Commission form of government is more expensive than the council manager form of government. The research studied 504 cities over 20 years (populations of over 50,000). The study found that there was no appreciable difference in the cost of operating a city under the alternative forms of government. Click on this link to see an abstract.
We occasionally neglect our history for the lessons in provides. In fact, our long standing constitution provides important law as it relates to our rights to a government of the people, by the people and for the people. As a reminder, three of the most cherished rights in the US constitution are the right to free speech, the right to petition our government and the right to vote. Under the Illinois constitution, we have the right to modify our city government when 10% of the votes cast for mayor submit a petition for referendum.
The Federalists Papers were written to promote the US Constitution's adoption in 1787 and 1788. Essay number 69 discusses the power of the President as Chief Executive versus the King of England as a Monarch. The historical contrasts are still relevant today. Consider the comparison of the President to the Strong Mayor; and, the King to the the City Manager. Should Decatur adopt a new constitution by voting NO to the Status Quo? We think a NO to Retain the Manager Form may be appropriate.
Continue reading "Civics Lesson; The Federalists Papers and a Strong Executive" »
Many have expressed a concern with the possible cost of better and more representative government proposed by ChangeDecatur. We believe the additional cost will be modest and worth the investment. The two primary possible sources of additional cost are the fees paid to the city council members and the full time mayor as head of city government. The payment levels to the council members and mayor will be set by the current city council according to statute.
Current Costs
The cost of all these services are currently just about $2.11 per citizen per year.
ChangeDecatur will not be responisble for setting the compensation of the mayor and council under a strong mayor form of city government. Illinois law places that responsibility on the current city council. We like other voters will only be able to offer our opinions on the compensation levels.
Possible Reasonable Costs of New Form of Government
These costs equate to just over $2.33 per citizen of Decatur. The increase is $.22 per citizen per year or approximately $17,000 per year.
Some have asked: "Won't we need assistants to help the Mayor run the city?" The answer is yes and we already have them.
The city currently has 4 assistant city managers and several additional department heads. By law, the mayor in a strong mayor form of city government is entitled to assistants whose qualifications are set by the city council and whose compensation is agreed to by the mayor and city council. Those familiar with the current city structure believe that there are enough professional managers in place to assist the mayor without additional costs.
Now that we have filed the petitions, it is time to move on to the education phase of the ChangeDecatur effort. We have speakers available to come to groups of any size to talk about the change in form of city government to a strong mayor/aldermanic system. We are also looking for volunteers to help with getting information out, mailings and organizing tasks to help with the education process. Please call either Brian Burcham or Steve Daniels at 233-3415, or email us at ChangeDecatur@gmail.com.
Some cities in the US have considered or enacted changes in their form of local government. It would not be accurate to say that many are changing their form of city government, but some do. One recent one was San Diego. One interesting element from San Diego is how they set up transition committees. Following below is information from the City of San Diego website:
On January 1, 2006, the City of San Diego's system of government changed from a City Manager form to a Strong Mayor form. The change, approved by city voters in November 2004, will exist on a five-year trial basis, after which voters will decide whether or not to make the shift permanent. Under the new system the Mayor is the City's chief executive officer, similar to the governor or the president. The Council is the legislative body, providing checks and balances to the Mayor's new authority.
Continue reading "San Diego Style; Changing to Strong Mayor City Government" »
To see thoughts on City Government and the need for a change to a strong mayor form of government go to:
VLOGCafe.Com to see Brian Burcham talk about City Government
That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God, and that government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth.
—Abraham Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863
When we talk to people in Decatur, we hear many of the same aspirations for Decatur. These aspirations include better schools, safer streets, lower taxes, and an ever improving quality of life. Many note that local measures of economic growth trail other Central Illinois communities. For example, just since the 2000 census, Decatur's population declined 10,000 as compared to the average of other Central Illinois major cities. Those that visit Sprinfield, Champaign and Bloomington see the effects of economic growth that are not prevalent in Decatur.
And are these issues being discussed regularly by our Mayor, City Manager or the City Council?
No.
The lack of focus on important issues is one of many reasons that ChangeDecatur is necessary.
We need a city government of the people, by the people and for the people.
We are still working to bring ChangeDecatur back into the public dialogue. Decatur needs change more than ever. Many missed opportunities still escape the consciousness of elected leaders. Better transparency and accountability would lead to better government and more citizen participation.
What do you think? Tell us your thoughts.
Should Decatur elect it's city council by district or at large (the current system)?
Should Decatur retain the city manager system or elect a mayor that has real authority to improve the city.
Drop a comment here or email us.
Do you think
Ok.. thats overwith.
ChangeDecatur is back. The election is now finished and we can get back to business of Changing Decatur. With a mere 6500 votes cast for Mayor, it will take 650 signatures on petitions to get ChangeDecatur on the ballot.
We are looking for volunteers, speaking opportunities and petition circulators. If you are interested, please email us at info@ChangeDecatur.com.
Watch this site for more information.
The recent Decatur City Council meeting was entertaining if you like a good laugh and being teased. Recall that Mayor O called for two...count em...two tax cuts last fall. One might note how quiet he has been since December 18, 2006 about tax cuts. Why December 18? Well... that was the final day that someone could file petitions announcing their intent to oppose him in the Mayoral election.
Last fall, the Mayor wanted dialogue about cutting property taxes and utility taxes. Lets talk about each for just a moment. When the CEO Garman supported the Mayor's call for utility taxes, apparently, the Mayor was embarrassed by his lack of basic understanding of taxes. What most of us knew, (too bad Garman and Mayor didn't know) was that electricity utility taxes are based on Kilowatt hours and not price of electricity. So... when the Mayor was quoted in his and other papers saying "the city will have a windfall when electricity rates go up..", that was simply untrue. No worries... the idea of cutting utility taxes died on December 18, 2006.
The Mayor and CEO Garman also said they supported reducing the City's property tax levy from $1.27 per $100 of assessed valuation to $1.24 of assessed valuation. APPLAUSE! They did lower the rate. But did they lower property taxes?? DOT!!!! The game that Garman plays with voters is that he knew that the assessed valuation was going up on many homes and businesses in Decatur. In fact, it is going up nearly 5% this year. Guess what. More money will be taken out of the community this year in property taxes than last year. The City just gave itself another 4.5% raise. Is Garman on incentive pay where the more taxes he confiscates, the more he gets paid? Perhaps.
But here is the fun part. Councilman Caulkins called for tax relief last Monday night (4/2/2007) as part of the City's annual budget (for fiscal year starting May 1, 2007). He was almost run out of the Council Chambers by the Mayor, Councilman Laegeler and CEO Garman. The CEO said that the only way to cut taxes is "with draconian cuts in city services". Laegeler said that it isn't the right time to even talk about taxes with a mere 29 days to finalize the budget. If you listened carefully...the Mayor was really saying "everyone wants to cut taxes"... just none of us are ever going to do it.
WE AGREE. This is not the time to talk about it.
THE TIME TO CUT TAXES WAS ONE OR TWO YEARS AGO.
Garman and the Council enacted millions of tax increases in 2003 under the guise that they are "temporary".
Wake up call. There is nothing temporary about 4 years of tax increases with no end in sight.
Another reason that now is the time to change. It is time to "CHANGEDECATUR"
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
"Someone doing it often interrupts the person saying it cannot be done." - Author Unknown
"For us, there is only the trying. The rest is not our business." - T.S. Eliot
A recent comment on this site questioned whether a Mayor/Alderman form of Decatur city government could or would have any effect on Decatur Public Schools. A few key facts are important:
The supporters of ChangeDecatur believe that City Government can and should be a strong partner and supporter of Decatur Public Schools. Effective leadership within City Government would lead to being an ongoing partner in facing education challenges. For example, a few years ago, Decatur put together a property exchange that lead to a new school. In the village of Forsyth, a village initiative may raise taxes to build a new school. Mayor Daley in Chicago is calling a conference of Illinois MAYORS to discuss school funding and taxes. In fact, many large city mayors have asked that public education accountability be placed within City government to achieve meaningful change for the better (i.e. New York, Los Angeles & Chicago.)
To suggest that the city government has no role in public education is the kind of thinking that would change with a new form of government. When aldermen and the Mayor are more accountable to the voters in Decatur, they will take a more active interest in helping District 61. And they should.
The current City Manager and Council are actively considering the largest public works project in the history of Decatur that is intended to develop a new residential lake community outside the Public School District. This is wrong headed public policy. Spending $70 million in City taxpayer funds outside the boundaries of the community with the effect of undermining the financial integrity of the school district would never be considered by an accountable City government.
Its time to ChangeDecatur. Sign petitions to place a new form of government on the ballot. Make a difference. For our City and its schools.
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