A recent confidential e-mail from City Manager Frank Simpson to all city employees paints a dire picture of the city’s budget and warns of a moratorium on all travel and the unlikelihood of raises in 2010.
The e-mail, sent by Simpson last week, told employees that while the city is “faring much better” during the current economic climate, the city is starting to see greater negative impacts on the city’s budget then were projected last year.
According to Simpson, city revenues are lower than expected and expenditures are greater than anticipated. Simpson asked all employees to reduce any discretionary spending that does not affect city service. He said that all departments will soon undergo a review of “service delivery” to identify the core service provided by each department.
“No department should be making expenditures that is for something new or that we aren’t currently doing unless it can be demonstrated that it will save money for this year’s and next year’s budget,” wrote Simpson.
When asked by FortBendNow about the issue, Director of Finance Wes Vela painted a different picture regarding expenditures and sales tax revenue.
“Missouri City is recognized nationally for our prudent fiscal management and in this tough economic climate, although revenues are slightly lower than projected, expenditures are not a challenge at this time,” said Vela.
Although City Council earlier this month dropped a proposed Homestead Exemption from the upcoming May 8 Special Election ballot due to decreases in sales tax revenue, Vela told FortBendNow that “in the past 6 months there has been a gradual improvement in sales tax collections”
Earlier this month, City Manager Frank Simpson told council that the city saw a decrease of about $70,000 in sales tax revenue in January and February. The Homestead Exemption was dropped to fund an additional five to seven police officers – employees Simpson said earlier the city would not be able to afford should sales tax revenues keep dropping.
In the e-mail to employees, Simpson said no new travel requests will be approved until next year’s budget has been completed. Department heads were asked to review currently approved travel plans and possibly cancel them if lost registration fees amount to less than other costs that have not yet been incurred.
Trips that cost the city nothing other than the employee’s time will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
According to the e-mail, performance evaluations will be completed this March, but there are currently no plans to give any employees a raise.
“Being completely honest, I do not anticipate the current economy and thus the City’s financial capabilities to improve to a level that would allow the city to consider salary adjustments during 2010,” wrote Simpson. “I would be pleased to be wrong about this.”
Vela confirmed that the city is not considering raises for the current year.
“The city is not planning to make salary adjustments in 2010, but management is cognizant of the exemplary work done by staff and the needs of our citizens and as such is poised to be proactive on this issue in the event economic circumstances change,” said Vela.
Vote no against developer backed candidates Owen, Wyatt, and the new sidekick Nguyen
Too bad Frank Simpson’s email isnt confidential anymore. Frank the cat is out of the bag, tell Owen it’s damage control time. We know that your decisions have had a negative impact on the city’s budget, and we have not seen the worst yet.
Get rid of Owen and Wyatt, along with the new vendor backed guy Nguyen.
I hope whomever the source is can keep the real information coming out. I for one would like to know how much they have spent in the eminent domain abuse case defending current and former council members and what impact that has had on the budget. I would also like to know if they have spent any “bond money” for the suit. It sure seems like the city could have saved some money by just purchasing the club outright a few years ago when they had the opportunity, rather than take this protracted course of action through the courts and what ever happened to that HOA dues increase that was supposed to go to help with the purchase?
I found a couple of links for some of the challengers in these races
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=100000851766484&k=Z6E3Y565TYXA2J1JPJ56Q4YRQTIB42WBUREXG&r
http://kdtunstall.com/
http://www.ultimatefortbend.com/2010/03/lenton-gary-files-against-longtime-mayor-owen-missouri-city#comment-1704
I’m sure all this is just one big mistake in the budget and a simple disagreement that will be straightened out once Simpson calls Vela into his office and they meet with the mayor and his right hand communications director. Yes, once that happens everything released to the media will be on the same page. Very much pasteurized for public consumption as they say in the biz!
Frankly, some people get involved because they are busy bodies – they have nothing better to do and they don’t trust folks to make an informed decision:
‘You don’t know better than those elected officials. You don’t know as much as me, a political activist. You don’t know what is best for you and your family. You just don’t know, but thankfully I do.
And I am here to tell you, inform you, give you the knowledge you are so sorely lacking. And once you ‘know’ what I tell you, then you can go submit ‘your’ vote but not a minute sooner! Because a voter who votes against how I would vote, a voter that votes against how we want you to vote – is a voter who is ruining the political system. The system isn’t meant for all Americans – just those ‘informed’ ones… like me.
Surely you agree?’
The decision to blog anonymous is freedom of choice in a Democratic society. And so therefore, on the subject of savvy, I question the savvy of anyone who tries to criticize those whose choice it is to remain anonoymous as somehow being untoward. Certainly, savvy individuals who understand the meaning of freedom of choice, democracy, and actions aligned to a democratic society would know that there is not anything savvy about throwing darts at the freedoms in our Democratic society which includes the freedom of choice to blog anonymously if one chooses to do so.
“Being completely honest…” wrote Simpson.
Well, that’s a first.
Good one mcty. Maybe they should have gotten approval before doing these interviews?
I’m involved because I know a lot of the background and current issues. I have also been asked to volunteer. My benefit?…Knowing I’m doing the right thing and helping a community I’m neighbors with and spend much time in myself and with my family. No, I can’t vote because I do not live within the city limits…but I can volunteer to help campaigns.
Okay, now, I’m on disconnect; I don’t get it. Is it just me? What benefits are there to anyone to become politically involved in a city that they do not live in or qualifies as a resident voter to vote for anything regarding the city?
Factually, you would have to ask the Houston developer business interests why they need access and workers to disrupt city elections and to keep their people feeding the bonds and tax dollars to their projects. I’m sure Ms. McClure can tell you all you need to know about the network she is campaigning for that has lead the city to the financial brink as is evident in the release above. They also use quite a few Houston marketing firms, paid political consultants and survey teams to hit local MC neighborhoods to carefully craft their message that they have no intention of providing to the local citizens once elected.
We’ve been fighting this economic fall for quite a few years now. Hopefully the mayor is on his last legs as many of his council ilk have jumped ship in recent years and several were defeated in outright elections. Hopefully that will be the case this time no matter who he teams up with. Most know his character and he is all about the 11-12 big Houston development companies that have maintained his eroding power base in the city over the last 10 years. Half of that ten being directly challenged by local citizens from within the borders.
Thanks for checking on all this though. Let us hope a new group can restore the cities financial health and keep it from ending up like the school district declaring a “financial emergency” after years of over-spending, excessive bond debt and now a declining economic situation that they ignored 2-3 years ago. Sometimes parties at our expense are hard to stop, just like bad habits.
It looks to me truthseeker like the city is headed for problems under the current leadership. From this letter, it becomes obvious they are hiding a great deal of financial problems much like the school district was right up until they declared their “financial emergency”. I wonder if MC is headed in the same direction?
Dropping the Homestead Exemption vote was irresponsible. Of course this only happened when Owen thought he didnt have an opponent. What does that really say about how Owen feels that the taxpayers cant even think for themselves and make up their own minds about their money.
This is the kind of mess that ticks me off. Double talking from the city manager. Which one is it Frank, Are we doing fine and staying afloat, or are we sinking the ship.
Allen Owen and his group has done a fine job of making empty promises and screwing this city out of many opportunities. It is long overdue for new fresh ideas, from fresh new individuals not backed by the developer groups.
I don’t live in Missouri City…but close enough. I have volunteered all my time politically and for the community and charities and have never worked for a developer.
Owen & Wyatt discussed the issue of presenting to the voters a referendum on the special election ballot in May 2010 regarding the granting of a homestead exemption for our residents in Missouri City. This would have authorized an exemption of 3% (not less than $5,000) of the appraised value of residence.
The city Manager Frank Simpson then suggested an overview on the City granting a homestead exemption vs. increasing the number of police officers. It was the city Manager Frank Simpson recommended holding off on the homestead exemption and instead to add 5 to 7 police officers. The council agreed to put the homestead exemption on hold. I believe that Mr. Simpson used this opportunity to play his game. whenever one present police & safety, everyone is concerned. This is exactly what happened here. nice trick.
I am not attacking NGUYEN/OWEN/WYATT but the truth Mary McClure.
Sugar Land – No election/no increase in tax.
Sugar Land – YES to Homestead Exemption/YES to Term Limits
another year for missouri city. this is the problem with the city > like Mary McClure wrote, “Nguyen,Owen,and Wyatt” so now its clear how this election is going turn up. it has been decided. no homestead exemption for the citizens and another tax increase for the residents next year. congratulations to all of the new candidates for stepping up to fight for our city. Mr.Nguyen could have come on his own but he needed Owens help. i guess somebody owe Mr.Nguyen and promised him a seat when Mr.Jimmersson vacated his seat. similar to Mr.Marshall in 2009. what is wrong with the residents in this city. don’t they see this. i guess now that city employees will pay the prize. this is sad at the age of Owen(65) and Wyatt(64) and after being in power for three decades, its not enough. this will never happen anywhere in america. someone please call anderson cooper 360 and larry king.
I’m urgeing voters to vote AGAINST Nguyen, Owen, and Wyatt with the “knowledge” that they are primarily responcible for our local economic crisis. Now, if they were responsible, I’d say let em fix what they messed up, but they are not, so getem outta there.
Dos centavos
how long can they sustain such loses?
‘It lost $450,000 last year and this year the expenses have doubled with the opening of El Dorado.’
No matter how many anonymous attacks may be hurled at Nguyen, Owen, and Wyatt via forums…I believe voters are savvy enough to question anonymous attacks…Especially in that when you have the truth on your side, there is never any reason to hide.
I’m volunteering to urge voters to vote for Nguyen, Owen, and Wyatt with pride, and feel no need to hide behind a pseudonym.
Are you a resident or voter in Missouri City Ms. McClure? Have you been a campaign worker for Mr. Owen or any of his developer buddies? Anyone wanting more information on this individual just needs to google the name and Allen Owen and you will find quite a bit.
I think the “confidential memo” hinted at a “tip of the iceberg situation” that exists with Missouri City finances. You’ll notice that the memo is requiring employees to cut travel. So, how big do you think the travel budget can be for a city the size of Missouri City? If they’re trying to save pennies there, you can imagine what other cuts have been made and will be made in the future. The bigger question that the City has with its finances is what to do with a Golf Course that is losing huge amounts of money. With the wet winter, bad economy, and the other inherent negatives that attach naturally to QVGC, what will the City staff do about the constant outflow of hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep the sinking ship afloat? It lost $450,000 last year and this year the expenses have doubled with the opening of El Dorado.
Wow, they should have settled that lawsuit along time ago implicating the mayor. I’m sure that is driving holes into the budget too.
I love this interview. It catches them talking out of both sides of their faces again!
“A recent confidential e-mail from City Manager Frank Simpson to all city employees paints a dire picture of the city’s budget and warns of a moratorium on all travel and the unlikelihood of raises in 2010.”
Nothing is confidential in an Open Public Record environment. I want my savings and homestead exemption is something I heard about 2 years ago and was very much anticipating its arrival but now it is gone.
If the MC has to tighten their belts then what are they thinking the average citizen is doing? Relief should be for all and not the selected few.
“The e-mail, sent by Simpson last week, told employees that while the city is “faring much better” during the current economic climate, the city is starting to see greater negative impacts on the city’s budget then were projected last year.”
We’ve long suspected this but you will never see the city making these admissions especially during this heated campaign season running the incumbent mayor and Wyatt’s tax borrow and spend boys with their side-kick Danny (and wanna bee councilmen) against fiscal conservatives in Gary (who voted against 2 of the last 3 rate increases), Tunstall and Maroulis. Keep your eye on the special interest backed “bond-developer boys (Wyatt, Danny Nguyen, Owen) and watch the budget continue to spiral. It’s time to do the wash MC! Clean house this time, you may not have another chance.