York Mayor John Brenner's budget hearings continue this week. Wednesday's hearing was on elected and appointed officials and the business administration department.
(I was late to the hearing and had to leave early because of other assignments, but here are some of the highlights.)
White Rose Community Television:
City officials discussed the possibility of finding other entities to help pay for White Rose Community Television.
Brenner asked what the city could do to increase the amount expected for sponsorships, $2,500.
Business Administrator Michael O'Rourke said there had been a lot of discussion about that, particularly trying to get other groups such as the county to contribute.
"If we do not generate other revenue ... it's going to disappear," he said.
He pointed out that state legislators have spots on the station and the county and some school boards have their meetings televised. But none of them contribute.
"The city council and the mayor are the only ones paying for their share," he said. "We have to find a way to emphasize to users, this is going to go away. The city can't afford to keep paying for it on its own."
Brenner pointed out that in Reading, which recently entered Act 47 distressed municipality status, community television was the first thing to be cut.
City Council President Joe Musso said that the reason for hiring a second person at the station was so that director Steve Busch would be free to work on creating partnerships.
O'Rourke said the second position has been vacant more often than filled, and that even when there are two people, both are needed to run the station. Busch has developed a lot of partnerships in terms of programming, he said.
Sources supporting WRCT are cable TV franchise fees, a state grant and public/private contributions, according to the budget.
Read on the jump for info about parking tickets and towing.
(I was late to the hearing and had to leave early because of other assignments, but here are some of the highlights.)
White Rose Community Television:
City officials discussed the possibility of finding other entities to help pay for White Rose Community Television.
Brenner asked what the city could do to increase the amount expected for sponsorships, $2,500.
Business Administrator Michael O'Rourke said there had been a lot of discussion about that, particularly trying to get other groups such as the county to contribute.
"If we do not generate other revenue ... it's going to disappear," he said.
He pointed out that state legislators have spots on the station and the county and some school boards have their meetings televised. But none of them contribute.
"The city council and the mayor are the only ones paying for their share," he said. "We have to find a way to emphasize to users, this is going to go away. The city can't afford to keep paying for it on its own."
Brenner pointed out that in Reading, which recently entered Act 47 distressed municipality status, community television was the first thing to be cut.
City Council President Joe Musso said that the reason for hiring a second person at the station was so that director Steve Busch would be free to work on creating partnerships.
O'Rourke said the second position has been vacant more often than filled, and that even when there are two people, both are needed to run the station. Busch has developed a lot of partnerships in terms of programming, he said.
Sources supporting WRCT are cable TV franchise fees, a state grant and public/private contributions, according to the budget.
Read on the jump for info about parking tickets and towing.
Parking tickets:
Carol Brown, who works in the finance department, said revenue from parking ticket fines is coming in over budget for 2009. The projected revenue for 2009 is about $75,000 more than what was budgeted ($780,000).
The ticket fine was increased this year, she said, but they knew that when they budgeted. The city also added one parking enforcement officer this year.
Meanwhile ticket notice fees -- which are sent when someone doesn't pay a ticket and the fine goes up -- decreased, which means people are paying them before they become delinquent, she said.
Ticket and tow:
Revenue from towing is budgeted at about $75,000 for 2010, the same as 2009.
When a towing company tows a car for the city's "ticket and tow" program, the city gets $35 of that fee, according to Brown. O'Rourke said the towing company keeps the other $100.
That means about 2,142 cars are being towed each year.
Musso estimated that the towing companies are making about $250,000 a year from that towing. He asked Brenner if the program was worth that.
Brenner said the program has kept the streets clean and protected the city's waterways and drainage system. No one likes to be towed, he said, but other cities do the same.
"Could it be reviewed? ... Of course," he said. "Is it making a difference? ... I think it is."
O'Rourke said he argued against the ticket and tow program, but he thinks city residents are now moving their cars for streetsweeping.
"I'm still ambivalent about it because it's like having your horse taken away," he said.
Brown and O'Rourke said car towing appears to be the most "hated" thing for city residents.
Carol Brown, who works in the finance department, said revenue from parking ticket fines is coming in over budget for 2009. The projected revenue for 2009 is about $75,000 more than what was budgeted ($780,000).
The ticket fine was increased this year, she said, but they knew that when they budgeted. The city also added one parking enforcement officer this year.
Meanwhile ticket notice fees -- which are sent when someone doesn't pay a ticket and the fine goes up -- decreased, which means people are paying them before they become delinquent, she said.
Ticket and tow:
Revenue from towing is budgeted at about $75,000 for 2010, the same as 2009.
When a towing company tows a car for the city's "ticket and tow" program, the city gets $35 of that fee, according to Brown. O'Rourke said the towing company keeps the other $100.
That means about 2,142 cars are being towed each year.
Musso estimated that the towing companies are making about $250,000 a year from that towing. He asked Brenner if the program was worth that.
Brenner said the program has kept the streets clean and protected the city's waterways and drainage system. No one likes to be towed, he said, but other cities do the same.
"Could it be reviewed? ... Of course," he said. "Is it making a difference? ... I think it is."
O'Rourke said he argued against the ticket and tow program, but he thinks city residents are now moving their cars for streetsweeping.
"I'm still ambivalent about it because it's like having your horse taken away," he said.
Brown and O'Rourke said car towing appears to be the most "hated" thing for city residents.
Hi angie,
would you please read my comment
http://www.yorkblog.com/yorkcitylimits/2009/01/message-on-a-wall.html
And do what you have to do to respect author's copyright
thx