20 April 2000

Editorial

By Jon A. Brake

The Manhattan City Commission has put the public on notice that they plan to raise taxes this year. They used
cuts in State funds as the reason. Sorry, but in a $55 million budget a $100,000 cut is nothing. The Commissioners
are skirting the issues.

Two years ago, the City Administration decided the Customer Service staff needed to look more professional.
They contracted with Fashion Star to provide nine sets of uniforms. Cost to the City of Manhattan: $8,173.34.
The City does not need a tax increase; it needs to have the Commission do a better job of overseeing the budget
process.

After the clothing of Customer Service other Departments started ordering shirts and uniforms for their
Departments. The City has paid out another $26,083.00 to local sportswear companies for shirts with the City
logo. Twenty Six Thousand in only two years! In all more than $34,000 has been paid out, without a bid or a vote
by the Commission.

In the short life of the Manhattan Free Press (1991-2000) the City Budget has gone from $26 million to $55
million. The City needs leadership not new taxes.

Six years ago the City Administration order new telephone and computer wiring for City Hall. Cost to the City:
More than $100,000. The next year the City Commission took the advice of the Administration and remodeled
City Hall. What happened to the new wiring? Trashed!

Five years ago, the Administration ordered more than $1 million in Gateway Computers. They did not go out for
bids, they did not take the expenditure before the City Commission. The City does not need a tax increase; it
needs to have the Commission do a better job of overseeing the budget process.