Craig Regan 14 said:
My pen is already outta ink
Just some quick notes
Our budget has grown 58% in 4 years (340m-540m) = 20k per new resident (+10k)
Debt service has grown 45%
Taxes have increased over + $1000 on the average home (360k) over that time frame
But I think my takeaways are this
1.) CIP and infrastructure costs are totally out of control.
$70m to drill 3 new wells which dropped out of the sky this year. No mention of them in previous years. 10% increase in water rates
The simple answer to this is truthfully most CASH shoved into CIP. Only way to avoid debt on something that is required
2.) our debt growth rate y over y is 4 times higher that staff salary costs. Increases over the past 4 years
3.) o&m is up but the GF got some additional heft to it because of land sales and other one time things. That money needs to be either invested or used for CIP (tax cut?)
4.) clear guidelines for future buying and building have to be laid down. There are no more free dollars to be thrown around on pet project and I do not see any property tax cuts coming
- city raised an additional $6m + on increased property values but that is a drop when you consider the budget increased by $48m
A lot more to go over but frankly COCS government balance sheet has exploded and with all the new REV it appears there is no end to the demand for taxes. Which in an economy like ours only spells more pain for homeowners and renters.
ReelAg6 said:Craig Regan 14 said:
My pen is already outta ink
Just some quick notes
Our budget has grown 58% in 4 years (340m-540m) = 20k per new resident (+10k)
Debt service has grown 45%
Taxes have increased over + $1000 on the average home (360k) over that time frame
But I think my takeaways are this
1.) CIP and infrastructure costs are totally out of control.
$70m to drill 3 new wells which dropped out of the sky this year. No mention of them in previous years. 10% increase in water rates
The simple answer to this is truthfully most CASH shoved into CIP. Only way to avoid debt on something that is required
2.) our debt growth rate y over y is 4 times higher that staff salary costs. Increases over the past 4 years
3.) o&m is up but the GF got some additional heft to it because of land sales and other one time things. That money needs to be either invested or used for CIP (tax cut?)
4.) clear guidelines for future buying and building have to be laid down. There are no more free dollars to be thrown around on pet project and I do not see any property tax cuts coming
- city raised an additional $6m + on increased property values but that is a drop when you consider the budget increased by $48m
A lot more to go over but frankly COCS government balance sheet has exploded and with all the new REV it appears there is no end to the demand for taxes. Which in an economy like ours only spells more pain for homeowners and renters.
And our commercial tenants that are already struggling. Make no mistake, property taxes are playing a role in all these restaurants and businesses closing.
There should be a cap on the annual increase in all property taxes including commercial properties.Craig Regan 14 said:
My pen is already outta ink
Just some quick notes
Our budget has grown 58% in 4 years (340m-540m) = 20k per new resident (+10k)
Debt service has grown 45%
Taxes have increased over + $1000 on the average home (360k) over that time frame
But I think my takeaways are this
1.) CIP and infrastructure costs are totally out of control.
$70m to drill 3 new wells which dropped out of the sky this year. No mention of them in previous years. 10% increase in water rates
The simple answer to this is truthfully most CASH shoved into CIP. Only way to avoid debt on something that is required
2.) our debt growth rate y over y is 4 times higher that staff salary costs. Increases over the past 4 years
3.) o&m is up but the GF got some additional heft to it because of land sales and other one time things. That money needs to be either invested or used for CIP (tax cut?)
4.) clear guidelines for future buying and building have to be laid down. There are no more free dollars to be thrown around on pet project and I do not see any property tax cuts coming
- city raised an additional $6m + on increased property values but that is a drop when you consider the budget increased by $48m
A lot more to go over but frankly COCS government balance sheet has exploded and with all the new REV it appears there is no end to the demand for taxes. Which in an economy like ours only spells more pain for homeowners and renters.
You are correct, however I don't know any businesses in College Station that has increased wages along with inflation. And Government should be the last to increase wages to match inflation simply due to the method it gets revenue.SAC4311 said:
I agree there are always multiple factors. Bryan/College Station seems to be a stepping stone area for many job markets.
That said, compensation is usually one of the primary motivators employment or changes in employment. Just to match inflation the city employees would have had to give a 10% increase in 2022, or 5% in both 21 and 22. Not matching inflation is like taking a pay decrease when goods, services, and rent continue to increase exponentially.
Grmpy said:You are correct, however I don't know any businesses in College Station that has increased wages along with inflation. And Government should be the last to increase wages to match inflation simply due to the method it gets revenue.SAC4311 said:
I agree there are always multiple factors. Bryan/College Station seems to be a stepping stone area for many job markets.
That said, compensation is usually one of the primary motivators employment or changes in employment. Just to match inflation the city employees would have had to give a 10% increase in 2022, or 5% in both 21 and 22. Not matching inflation is like taking a pay decrease when goods, services, and rent continue to increase exponentially.
I'm seeing a lack of concern from College Station on managing this city conservatively. Instead, they want to spend other peoples money a little too freely for my taste.
SAC4311 said:
Inflation is up 20% since 2021 and the City Employees are getting a 3% adjustment this year. What have the last couple of years looked like for them on adjustments? This makes it look like we aren't keeping up with inflation alone.
I'm pretty much Dave Ramsey aligned when it comes to Debt. I personally don't find it to be beneficial for any organization. Everyone talks about leverage until the water recedes and we catch everyone not wearing swimming trunks... do paraphrase Buffet.Craig Regan 14 said:
We can have a conversation regarding staff and their salary's but let's make one thing perfectly clear
The above subject is NOTHING compared to our debt service and capital improvement budget.
Combined they are nearly $200m
That is the key to the whole thing. Getting a handle on those costs is KEY to any sort of stability in taxes/budget.
If that is correct, obviously the bulk of the 58% increase in the past four years has not gone to employee salaries and retention efforts.SAC4311 said:
Inflation is up 20% since 2021 and the City Employees are getting a 3% adjustment this year. What have the last couple of years looked like for them on adjustments? This makes it look like we aren't keeping up with inflation alone.
I seem to recall that there is a newly permitted player to the water availability in northern Brazos County and southern Robertson county that was approved for a VERY large amount of water to be pulled from that supply, which reduces the production capability for the existing wells, private and government-owned, in the area.woodiewood said:If that is correct, obviously the bulk of the 58% increase in the past four years has not gone to employee salaries and retention efforts.SAC4311 said:
Inflation is up 20% since 2021 and the City Employees are getting a 3% adjustment this year. What have the last couple of years looked like for them on adjustments? This makes it look like we aren't keeping up with inflation alone.
As far as the comment about wells being drilled, could not a little more planning made so that one well drilled a year or every two years so the cost would not have the impact on one year's expenditures?
Grmpy said:
Ambulances are private companies as well. These businesses don't have to perform with high efficiency as they don't have to survive off of performance. But your seeing my bias against government in general.
I would never say fair wages shouldn't occur; however if businesses are unable to keep wages in place due to taxes; it doesn't make since that government can do it without concern.
Quote:
10k over 5 years is not a HUGE number.
If the existing wells were sufficient to cover expected growth over time (with some savings to expand later, slowly), and a new entry comes in and takes enough of the water that emergency wells are needed, how is that the fault of COCS?Craig Regan 14 said:
I think the "now" vs "later" argument is fair only if you consider COCS didn't see this coming a mile away… which they should have.
Our population has not EXPLODED to the point where you just have to dig wells ASAP or else. It has been and will be a steadily increasing numbers.
10k over 5 years is not a HUGE number.
But if you rush now you are rushing into a material inflation market and prices will increase. Which goes to say that these should be built 1 at a time but those moneys used should have been piling up to pay for it. At least a part of it.
We are gonna have to borrow to build those wells - we do not have $70m laying around. But staff used the term "Immediately" several times when referencing said wells.
People have to understand this kind of tax and spending is not good for the local economy.
Wow, City Manager went from $198,276 in 2020 to $314,964 in 2023. Website you linked says he's currently paid 79% higher than the average City Manager position for the state of Texas. Drop in the bucket for the overall budget perhaps, but the number/increase is a bit shocking to me.2020 said:Grmpy said:You are correct, however I don't know any businesses in College Station that has increased wages along with inflation. And Government should be the last to increase wages to match inflation simply due to the method it gets revenue.SAC4311 said:
I agree there are always multiple factors. Bryan/College Station seems to be a stepping stone area for many job markets.
That said, compensation is usually one of the primary motivators employment or changes in employment. Just to match inflation the city employees would have had to give a 10% increase in 2022, or 5% in both 21 and 22. Not matching inflation is like taking a pay decrease when goods, services, and rent continue to increase exponentially.
I'm seeing a lack of concern from College Station on managing this city conservatively. Instead, they want to spend other peoples money a little too freely for my taste.
Except on themselves…..somehow when discussing wages not keeping up a major point often gets left out. City management and department directors all have annual increases that outpace inflation by a wide margin. Meanwhile, the boots on the ground get fractions of those same percentages.
Source: https://govsalaries.com/salaries/TX/city-of-college-station
Since covid, the pay jumps for management have skyrocketed. "Do what we say, not what we do."
The only way to control the increase in government spending year in and year out is to have strict and legal limits on expenditures and not rely on their good judgement which many don't have.Craig Regan 14 said:
The mantra should always be "we are in this together"
Because WE ARE. And always WILL BE
It is councils role to lead and in order to lead you have bring the city together around common goals.
1) how do we keep our economy in the hands of citizens rather than GOV
2) how do create the most virtuous cycle between what is required (CIP - infrastructure - public safety)
3) Make sure councils/citizen that follow us have the best circumstances to fulfill the above outlined goals
The only way to do this is lay down clear milestones and markers that show we are on that track.
Only clear, orderly and policy based choices will get us there.
You telling us that you didn't get a 58% raise over those three years?jwhitlock3 said:Wow, City Manager went from $198,276 in 2020 to $314,964 in 2023. Website you linked says he's currently paid 79% higher than the average City Manager position for the state of Texas. Drop in the bucket for the overall budget perhaps, but the number/increase is a bit shocking to me.2020 said:Grmpy said:You are correct, however I don't know any businesses in College Station that has increased wages along with inflation. And Government should be the last to increase wages to match inflation simply due to the method it gets revenue.SAC4311 said:
I agree there are always multiple factors. Bryan/College Station seems to be a stepping stone area for many job markets.
That said, compensation is usually one of the primary motivators employment or changes in employment. Just to match inflation the city employees would have had to give a 10% increase in 2022, or 5% in both 21 and 22. Not matching inflation is like taking a pay decrease when goods, services, and rent continue to increase exponentially.
I'm seeing a lack of concern from College Station on managing this city conservatively. Instead, they want to spend other peoples money a little too freely for my taste.
Except on themselves…..somehow when discussing wages not keeping up a major point often gets left out. City management and department directors all have annual increases that outpace inflation by a wide margin. Meanwhile, the boots on the ground get fractions of those same percentages.
Source: https://govsalaries.com/salaries/TX/city-of-college-station
Since covid, the pay jumps for management have skyrocketed. "Do what we say, not what we do."
Quote:
Wow, City Manager went from $198,276 in 2020 to $314,964 in 2023. Website you linked says he's currently paid 79% higher than the average City Manager position for the state of Texas. Drop in the bucket for the overall budget perhaps, but the number/increase is a bit shocking to me.
woodiewood said:You telling us that you didn't get a 58% raise over those three years?jwhitlock3 said:Wow, City Manager went from $198,276 in 2020 to $314,964 in 2023. Website you linked says he's currently paid 79% higher than the average City Manager position for the state of Texas. Drop in the bucket for the overall budget perhaps, but the number/increase is a bit shocking to me.2020 said:Grmpy said:You are correct, however I don't know any businesses in College Station that has increased wages along with inflation. And Government should be the last to increase wages to match inflation simply due to the method it gets revenue.SAC4311 said:
I agree there are always multiple factors. Bryan/College Station seems to be a stepping stone area for many job markets.
That said, compensation is usually one of the primary motivators employment or changes in employment. Just to match inflation the city employees would have had to give a 10% increase in 2022, or 5% in both 21 and 22. Not matching inflation is like taking a pay decrease when goods, services, and rent continue to increase exponentially.
I'm seeing a lack of concern from College Station on managing this city conservatively. Instead, they want to spend other peoples money a little too freely for my taste.
Except on themselves…..somehow when discussing wages not keeping up a major point often gets left out. City management and department directors all have annual increases that outpace inflation by a wide margin. Meanwhile, the boots on the ground get fractions of those same percentages.
Source: https://govsalaries.com/salaries/TX/city-of-college-station
Since covid, the pay jumps for management have skyrocketed. "Do what we say, not what we do."
According to the Existing Condition Report done related to the new city Housing Action Plan, 69% of the people who work in the College Station city limits don't live in the CS city limits.Bunk Moreland said:Quote:
10k over 5 years is not a HUGE number.
If you think the CS population has only increased 10k over 5 years I have a bridge to sell you.
And then add the influx of people who live outside the city limits yet utilize CS in virtually every similar way us residents do, and we've got a growth explosion.
