Deep Thoughts, Cheap Shots and Bonbons

 

Hanging out down the street

The same old thing, we did last week

Not a thing to do, but talk to you

Not a thing to do, out in the street

Oh yeah.

 

These are lyrics from: “That 70’s Show”

 

Streets and the repaving, closure, abandonment, funding, repair, and the inability to track spending were subjects of discussion at the Board meeting on May 19.

 

The Narrowing of Carson Street

Initially the strategy had been to close Carson Street from 5^th to Williams for 10 days to allow the entire street to be repaved. That strategy came to an abrupt end; now this will be done in shorter sections allowing access to businesses. This change will not have any additional costs to the project.

 

Old Clear Creek Road

This road, per the City, basically falls under the category of abandonment. Residents who live in this area pay property taxes and all other taxes including that infuriating “gas tax at the pump” which is the funding for street repair. However, not one penny of that tax will ever go towards Old Clear Creek Road repair or maintenance.

 

City Streets

In the 2016 City Budget the line item expenditure of $1,400,000.00 is for the salaries/wages of the 18 city employees that provide the following: crack filling; street repair; street sweeping; snow plowing; and maintenance of signs, signals, sidewalks, shoulders and striping.

 

Tracking how your $1,400.000.00 tax dollars are being spent in each of these categories staff basically said: it cannot be done because each of the 18 employees do more than one task.  Even with the probability an employee is performing multi tasks each working day, in all likelihood the hours worked can easily be tracked and should be. To adamantly oppose tracking how taxpayers’ money is being spent throws the very idea of being open and transparent in the trash can.

 

Citizens have been told repeatedly: there is not enough money to maintain our streets. If we have no idea how much money is being spent on street repair, how does one assume there isn’t money to repair the street?

 

From 2005 to 2015 the total amount of $14,774,183 has been allocated towards this same line item expenditure. Just how much has gone towards street repair remains a mystery.  As for how much street repair money is spent in each of the four wards, this too for some reason is untraceable.

 

 

 

  

Four years ago I came to ready and eager to take on the challenges facing this Great City. The highest priority for me: Being fiscal responsible to the taxpayers and operating within the parameters of a balanced budget. As your elected representative, I evaluate city expenditures with a strong fiscal position and awareness of the impact it has on you the taxpayer.

 

My voting recorded on the big issues:

1. The 1/8^th of a cent sales tax – I voted NO
2. Narrowing Carson Street – I voted NO
3. Increase Water and Sewer rates – I voted NO
4. Lowering your property taxes – I voted YES
    
   This November regardless of where you live in Carson City you can VOTE for Jim Shirk
    
    
   How You Can Help
    

1. Hold a meet and greet
2. Place a yard sign on your property
3. Make a donation to my campaign
   Jim Shirk c/o Re-Election
   #5 Arizona Circle
   Carson City, NV 89701
    
   ilovecarsoncity@yahoo.com / 720.5761
    
   Please forward this to family, friends and neighbors.