Valdosta city officials advertised a budget hearing and no citizens spoke.
David Rodock wrote today in the VDT,
Valdosta’s 2012 budget reviewed by citizens and public officials
City officials and staff gathered Wednesday night to discuss and review
the fiscal year 2012 budget. Public participation was advertised, but
no citizens presented any concern at the meeting. This is the first
budget hearing, with the final adoption of the budget taking place at
the upcoming regular City Council meeting on June 23 at 5:30 p.m.
No citizens.
I don’t live in Valdosta, so I didn’t go.
Apparently no
Valdosta residents who have any economic concerns went, either.
That’s too bad, because among the items discussed was this:
-
Energy and fuel prices are a threat, since the private sector controls
the costs. Public Works, the Valdosta Fire Department and the Valdosta
Police Department use significant amounts of fuel.
And I bet the city spends significant funds air conditioning its buildings.
Costs that could be offset by investment in solar panels for those same
buildings.
Solar panels that would limit ongoing electrical expenditures,
and would also be a visible sign to residents and potential
investors that Valdosta means renewable and sustainable energy business.
According to Hanson, for every dollar spent by residents, $1.17 is spent
by non-residents.
And many of those non-residents would see those solar panels,
which would spread the green reputation of Valdosta back to whereever
they came from.
If Valdosta wants to be forward-looking,
Continue reading →
Lowndes County Planner Jason Davenport
to discuss my questions.
Some of my questions were answered to my satisfaction, some I still
had concerns about, and some are still unanswered because they were
not actually in his area of expertise.
