Group 2
Moderators: Ellen Greenberg, Eddie Battle
Total points: 37

Group Description:
Group 2 had 16 members for most of the evening and dropped to15 towards the end of the session, as reflected in the percentages of votes. There were 10 women and 6 men, predominantly African-American. Ages ranged from mid 20s to late 60s.

After receiving the process overview and charge for the evening, participants were ready to work. Energy levels were high, all exchanges and points of contention were civil. Yes, there were natural leaders that emerged, the group
structure and moderators stopped anyone from dominating the group or anyone being “silenced”. No, the group didn’t make it through each of the buckets. Gut-Wrenchers were not addressed. No dissenting worksheets were filed.

Low-Hanging Fruit
Total points: 25
• # 20, EAGLES: 4 points (100 %).
• # 17, AMUSEMENT: 2 points (15/1=94%)
o Against increase-”Wants to make sure we’re thinking about how to keep people in the city.”
• # 21, PARKING: 2 points (100%)
o “Increase parking more.” A great deal of debate on this item. The choice was on hold for awhile then voted upon.
• # 18a, BPT: GROSS RECEIPTS: 2 points (14/16=88%)
o Members voiced concerns that raising the millage would hurt small businesses and independent contractors.
• # 19a, BPT: NET INCOME: 2 points (12/16=75%)
• # 22a REAL ESTATE: 5 points (12/16=75%)
o Raise in millage will…”decrease home owner’s margin for getting by.”
o “City is losing home owners”…”lost millions of people”…”moving out of city.”
o “Can’t have empty homes.”
o (Need) “for an age moratorium…say at age 60…you stop paying (tax).”
o (It’s only) “$4.00 per month on your mortgage, (I) think people leave the city because of poor services not high taxes.”
o “Would pay more if (I) knew the schools would be better and other services would be better.”
• # 16 VEHICLE FLEET: 6 points (15/16=94%)
o “They’ll (the city) make wise decisions about what to cut.”
• # 15b STREET: 2 points (75+ %)
o Levy fee for commercial collections- “Concerned about business.”
No Ways, No Hows
Total points:
• # 14 RECREATION: (14/16=88%)
• # 7a HOUSING: (14/15=93%)
• # 5a FIRE: (75+ %)
o “Already receive cuts.”
o “Matter of public safety.”
o “Response time cut (longer), we need fire dept.”
Shared Pain
Total points: 12
• # 24 SALES: 6 points (10/16=63%)
o Against increase-”States’ only 6%…people need to recognize that in the Commonwealth it’s only 6 %…making it not a positive thing (activity) to shop in the city.”
o For increase- “don’t have to pay taxes for food/clothing.”
o For increase- “It’s .1 %, It costs more in gas to go somewhere else.”
o Against increase- “It’s not OK to raise a regressive tax that applies to everyone.”
o Against increase- “Taxes should be based on income.”
• # 3 DROP PROGRAM: 4 points (50+ %)
o “Don’t understand what it is.”
o Don’t include elected officials.” This point was stressed by the group.
• # 13c PUBLIC HEALTH: 1 points (50+ %)
o “People can get over the counter drugs elsewhere.”
o “Co-pay would be sliding scale.”
• # 25a WAGE/RESIDENT: 1 points (50+ %)
•

Gut Wrenchers
Total points:
We didn’t get to this list of items
Big, Hairy, Ambitious Goals
We didn’t get to this list of items

Memorable Quotes
• “Why do you need a training program for a city official, they’re elected, unacceptable.” This point was also stressed by the group.
• # 12b PRISON
o “Would rather close 1 prison as opposed to making all the prisons crappier.”
o “Assume that there are a lot of non-violent offenders” (in prison).
o “$35.00 fee for prisoners upon entry” (into prison). “Wouldn’t want to see debt added” (to prisoners record).
o Not enough people supported making either a 10% or 20% cut and placement into a bucket.
• #15c STREETS - Trash Pick-up fee
o “How would you regulate?”
o “Doesn’t support a flat fee, would support a pay-as-you-go”
• One subgroup had detailed discussion on raising revenue as opposed to cutting services.