| Subject: |
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The Case for Consolidation |
| Name: |
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Lewis Baggett |
| Date Posted: |
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Nov 2, 05 - 10:17 PM |
| Email: |
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Editor@clarksvillejournal.com |
| Message: |
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The discussions about consolidation of the city and county governments are now underway again. As these discussions go forward it is imperative that we include the central demand into the equation. Any consolidation of government functions must have the protections for all citizens and especially those living outside the city current limits.
Tax payer's bill of rights - Referendum on tax issues by demand. Taxpayers have the final say on tax matters.
Upon Passage of consolidation- immediate hiring freeze to prevent the bloat that some will attempt in effort to study everything to death.
Different Service Districts in which Citizens pay taxes only for the services that are received.
Restrictions to preclude the expansion of a service district without first providing the service to the areas (or at least within the first year). Failure to provide such service would represent a failure to perform in accordance with contract and monetary penalties would be applied.
Campaign Finance restrictions - Candidates restricted to only take donations for those people that live in the Ward/District. City/County wide candidates restricted to only taking donations from individuals whose primary residence is within the City/county.
Public employees prohibited from taking active part in campaigns. (Especially Public Safety Employees.). (Little Hatch Act to protect the integrity of the organization and get and keep Council/City Politics out of Law Enforcement.)
Organize and consolidate the departments in accordance with the Constitutional offices, so that each department will have an elected leader, Accountable established directly to the people.
21 member Council - elected by wards. The Mayor elected by city/county at large. Vice Mayor elected by majority vote of the Council to be the Chairperson of the Council. Mayor has veto but no vote or standing in the council. The Mayor executes the mayoral executive functions and the submission of the budgets and recommended plans of action.
Vice Mayor is the Chairperson of the "Budget and Finance Committee", as well as the Chairperson of the "Committee of the Whole". He chairs no other committees.
The Sheriff and six council members elected by the council established as the "Police and Safety Committee".
As many services as can should be established on a "Fee for service " basis, and those services that can be privatized should be privatized |
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