hannah- Thank you!!!Your efforts are greatly appreciated! Keep up the good work!

The school expansion was voted in in 2006. Years ? Ok, technically deserves to be plural. So was continuing with this expansion in spite of a foreseeable shift in demographic a responsible action. Being a product of the Janesville Public School system, I'm not that bright but I feel that anonymous comment may be just what is needed at times. Given the petty, spiteful things that can happen in a small town. Well, I better stop here or someone will be calling me an idiot. :)

The list of taxes looks like a Jim Doyle Christmas list.

No hannah, I was not writing about you.

the public has the right to know. that is all i have to say

Not only should public comments be on the agenda, but from my own personal experience with TOWN OF FULTON and EDGERTON FIRE COMMISSION, the WI STATE LAW needs to REQUIRE/MANDATE them!!!!

What we really need is a public that understand how local government works. I won't name names, but a previous post was made by someone who does not have a clue. We have a representational form of government, which means we need informed and knowledgeable elected leaders. The cost to operate the legislative branch of any form of government is miniscule in comparison to its total budget. Our City Council members do not get paid, so downsizing does save any money. Debt is not used by any local governments to pay for the operating cost of their boards or councils. I can take a few spelling mistakes, but I do not suffer fools well.

If I go to a meeting, I expect that I can have a say on the subject being discussed.

During the E. Milwaukee St. tunnel debate, I e-mailed the city council. The majority of them got back to me, one did not. Three council members expressed that they were following the bloggers comment on this website. I do believe that our council members (most of them, anyway) do care about our views, and do listen. I think that too often, reading these threads becomes a waste of time because there are so many insults, misinformation, etc. I'm not saying that I'm not guilty of this myself, just that it's an issue.
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I definitely support the public begin able to comment during meetings. I feel that we'd see a lot less idiocy if people didn't have the protection of being anonymous. When you go to a city council meeting to comment on an issue, you say your name and address.
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Oh, and the referendum on improving the schools was passed years ago. Before enrollment was shrinking.

How about we lower the saleries of all our governmental officials. They keep talking about all this crazy spending. Do we really need every senator or every alderman. That should take a big chunk out of the debt. What would all these government bodies that we are paying their saleries say to that. I always thought you had to answer to thase who pay your salary.

Money for a tunnel under E. Milwaukee st. Money to expand the local high schools. (Even though the local student population is shrinking.)
Money to update the local Ice Arena. ( This is insanity. )
$18,000 to mow park grass more often.
Let's go as far back as diverting $10,000,000 from a building fund to give all janesville teachers personal computers, despite the fact that voters had rejected a referendum for this expenditure.
Our city is quite literally going to die before our eyes and I have not seen ONE plan to deal with this.
Elected officials want only one thing, your money, not your comments.

Dkush21: LOVE YOUR POST!!!! OH SO TRUE!!!! And people wonder why I "complain so much! spark did you read this?

Here's a little poem someone sent to me, feel free to pass it on. This is our politicians at work for us, starting at local governments all the way to the top!

The Tax Poem

Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts Anyway!

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers,
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till He's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.

Put these words Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me to my doom...

When he's gone, Do not relax,
Its time to apply The inheritance tax.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
FederalUnemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting LicenseTax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties
(tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
PropertyTax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road UsageTax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State IncomeTax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal ExciseTax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage SurchargeTax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone Stateand Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
VehicleLicense Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?

Not one of these taxes existed 100years ago,
and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We hadAbsolutely no national debt,
had the largest middleclass in the world,
and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the hell happened? Can you spell politicians?
And I still have to press 1for English!?
I hope this goes around THE USA atleast 100 times!!!!!
YOU can help it get there!!!!

GOAHEAD - - - BE AN AMERICAN!!!!!!

Just in case someone needs to be told because they haven't caught on yet, "We The People", is no longer relevant to politicians. Its about getting into office with any lie they have to tell, do as much damage possible before getting thrown out, or voted out, & pocket as much cold hard cash as you can. (not necessarily in that order, but close).

I'm sorry to be the one to break that news, but until more people start to understand our voices are drowned out by special interest (that includes local government).

Bottom line, "money talks, & gets listened to".. you don't have it.. your wasting your breath..

There is a fine line between public comment, and arguing. Give people a set amount of time, give them one shot. Otherwise the control is gone and everyone is talking and nothing really gets accomplished. Say your piece, sit down, listen, and if nothing happens within that meeting or for the next month, show up again. Boards and committees need to keep control over meetings and demand all attendees respect and attention. If you cannot control the crowd, you will make little headway on the issues on the agenda. It is a respect issue, both ways.

Leave B'moon out of this!!!

i wish our city reps would read ALL the comments after the stories relevant to them. people are getting angry at the wasteful reckless spending by the powers that be. they have always been angry, it is now boiling over. they see the pattern in the federal government and must figure it is ok for them. just tax, tax, tax. part of the reason california is bankrupt is the money they throw at the school system. sound familiar.