By Roy S. Ryniker and Bob Sundius

The Board of Trustees recently approved a $44.3 million tax levy to pay for Village operations. Residents who are concerned about the magnitude of taxes they pay should ask themselves -

* Can the services they require be delivered in a more cost effective manner?

* Do they want to maintain the level of services currently provided?

* Are there opportunities to lower the Village's operating expenses?

Many aspects of the Village's operations can be analyzed on a discrete basis, much as a small business might analyze its operations for unnecessary costs or cost saving opportunities.

The automobile fleet maintained by the Village is one example.

Garden City encompasses 5.3 square miles. The Village maintains a fleet of 25 automobiles for its staff, not including the 25 vehicles dedicated to the police department operations.

The Village provides 12 staff members with cars (fuel and insurance) for their sole use; they are authorized to use these vehicles to commute and during non working hours. The rationale is that these individuals may in an emergency need to come to work at any time. Clearly this is true for our four volunteer Fire Chiefs (to whom the Fire Captain reports).

The staff members who have been given automobiles are:

Village AdministratorPolice Commissioner

Recreation Chairman Police Inspector

Director of Public Works Fire Chiefs (4) Volunteers

Asst. Superintendent - Public Works

Fire Captain Superintendent - Building Dept

Providing full-time use of a vehicle to individuals in these positions has not always been the practice of the Village. For example, prior Fire Captains were not provided with a car.

In addition to these twelve cars, the Village fleet is composed of: the Department of Public Works (6); Building Department (3); Recreation Department (1); and the Water Department (3). And, as noted the Police Department with its staff of 50 sworn personnel are supported by 25 vehicles.

The private sector, as a cost control mechanism, typically reimburses employees on a per mileage basis for the actual use of their own cars in conducting their employer's business.

Given the Village is only 5.3 square miles how many miles could these cars actually be used on Village business? Are all of these vehicles a necessary cost of Village operations or are some merely a costly employee perk?

The four Property Owners Associations have authorized the Garden City Citizens Budget Review Committee (CBRC). Roy S. Ryniker is President of the Reorganization Alternatives Group, Ltd. and Chairman of the CBRC (Roy.Ryniker@ReAltGroup.com). Bob Sundius is a corporate executive and financial advisor for middle market companies and a member of the CBRC (rwsundius@interim-exec-mgmt.com).