William G. Faust Jr. is a resident of Dover.
It appears that the powers-that-be will shoot down a proposal, sponsored by Councilmembers Dr. Roy Sudler and Brian Lewis, that attempts to address and correct our budget woes in the city of Dover.
The countdown to the Armageddon financial disaster has started! We can expect next year’s budget to have some type of cost increase that will be passed on to the citizens of Dover. If this does occur, it will be the fourth year in a row that some form of increase has been passed on to the citizens of Dover to balance the city budget.
It seems that our city officials can only raise taxes, raise utility costs and, of course, spend money like there is no tomorrow. How much more can our most vulnerable citizens take and absorb with their limited incomes? Spending without control will lead our city into bankruptcy. It is only a matter of time until this prediction comes true!
I give much credit to Councilmembers Sudler and Lewis in their attempts to make a positive difference for all constituents/taxpayers of Dover. If I recall correctly, they received some pushbacks from others on council when their proposal was brought out. One person on council referred to this good deed as a political gesture for the next election. It seems funny that others on council wanted to pull this proposal apart or state that it would be hard to put through. However, nobody stood up and submitted another proposal to consider. It is easy to pull something apart when you always sit on the sidelines, where it is safe. True fighters for the welfare of the citizens of Dover do not bend to the political machine nor give up when they skin their knuckles or knees. They keep pushing forward in an attempt to make Dover a safer and more affordable city to live in.
The clock to the Armageddon financial failure is ticking away. What will be the excuses that Council President Fred Neil and the mayor come up with for our next budget? How much of a deficit hole will we have to climb out of next year? We had a $7 million deficit this year. Putting needed projects on hold does not solve the problem but only increases the price tag when these projects are back on the table.
Some on council tout their years of experience or the number of years they have been in political office. Years of experience or the number of years in political office do not equal wisdom or indicate that the individual/individuals have any clues about what they are doing. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting a different outcome, when you make no positive changes.
Most of the council members have been on council for years, and they do not lack experience. So, what steps are they going to do to bring in the required revenue, so no more financial burden is passed on to the citizens? The council has had three years to address this issue and come up with a new plan to bring in revenue.
Council President Fred Neil and the mayor, this is your time to step forward and make bold and positive changes. The citizens of Dover await your words of wisdom that will lead the city to the promised land of financial security. It is time to defuse this Armageddon financial time bomb, once and for all. If I do not hear nor see another proposal coming out, there are two likely outcomes: The city is financially secure, and no increases will be passed on to the citizens for the next budget. Or they failed to read the magical tea leaves correctly and the citizens of Dover lose once again!
Dover is slowly dying because positive changes are not occurring under the current leadership. We cannot wait for 2030 and pray the Downtown Dover Partnership is the golden goose!
This letter is written by a very concerned citizen, who knows we can do better for all the citizens of Dover.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
