Topic: Property taxes

When is it time to replace an incumbent?

October 24, 2008 |

This is David Cutting’s fourth and final campaign statement. Cutting is a candidate for City Council in Ward 8. Candidates are allowed four issue-based statements prior to the Nov. 4 election.

For Ward 8 City Council candidate David Cutting, political campaigning is a family affair. Photo by Bill Larson.

Normally we look to experience as the reason for retaining an incumbent in our local government. However, we must exercise our right to review the accomplishments within his tenure.

In Clarksville City Council’s Ward 8, the incumbent fails to justify re-election.

He talks of his monthly town hall meetings. However, he holds them in a remote area of the ward, inconvenient to most residents. The local newspaper publicized the meetings, but he did not even attend the last two.

He talks of returning phone messages, but does not return e-mails, even ones with concerns about a subject as serious as absence of tornado sirens. As tornado activity increases in our area, most residents have no warning of impending catastrophe. «Read the rest of this article»

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Local government puts beauty before protection

By Scott Beasley | July 18, 2008 |

For several years now I have noticed the subpar pay that the Clarksville Police and Firefighters have received. In the past, I have done little more than shake my head and think, “that’s pathetic”. Recently the local leaders of Clarksville approved a budget that again, kept the city employees from getting a cost of living increase. That’s understandable in a “tight” budget year. The problem is they haven’t gotten a cost of living raise in 10 years. Even the study conducted by the city found the city employees were underpaid by $1.8 million to comparable markets. The study also found that CPD officers were underpaid by $5,000.

Of the $9.4 million budgeted for capital projects, $4.2 million were mandated by a lawsuit to bring the sidewalks into ADA compliance. That leaves $5.2 million being spent on projects such as the marina, fountain and river walk. All of these amenities are very nice and many people around the community desperately want them. That being said, there’s a huge difference between wants and needs. «Read the rest of this article»

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