Larry Yehle, originally from upstate New York during its very prosperous times, as Raleigh enjoys now, but many of those cities have declined significantly as a result of job loss and high taxes. He’s retired from IBM with experience in engineering, planning and line management of very cost sensitive business areas. In May 2024, Forbes magazine aptly published an article, “If Raleigh Budgeted More Like N.C., Taxpayers Would Save Millions.” The council and city management need to adopt more rigorous policies and practices. More citizens should challenge the city council to ensure affordable taxes, service fees and continuing prosperity. Larry spoke to City Council on January 20, 2026:
For (3) years, I’ve proposed one or more good faith work sessions to share business experience, discuss best practice expense management and budget opportunities not in city use. And repeatedly with no city interest.
Similar results two months ago with Christina’s new LEAD budget initiative. My emails were sent to LEAD HR contact Sharnell, then Ryan and finally city manager, all without even the courtesy of a reply.
An update to staffing vacancy presented last March (chart below) was requested and stats of hiring gains and retention losses, from and to, other public and private sectors. At least some data should be available, but none provided, even after my FOIA request.
The chart below is the basis for the recent 9-11% salary increases, $40+M dollars, that you approved and significantly overstated based on an exaggerated 95/5 weighting of Segal’s public and private sector data. Presented without explanation and certainly not consistent with actual data. Perhaps it’s 50/50 or a different split, but not the 95/5 driving a much higher and exaggerated salary adjustment. What’s done is done, but the council needs to question even now and expect answers….. showing the data supporting that calculation, or what actuals should have been used, as prep for FY27.
Remember this when the city manager requests another merit, (not TIG, TIS or WGI) , salary increase….emphasis on merit, despite all performance objectives and results being removed from department websites. And, inflation is forecast at only 2-3%.
The RPD staffing study done in 2020 was not implemented by 2025. 997 headcount recommended to reflect city growth, 920 currently approved. Why, when the need is obvious and the study update due last year is delayed into this year? The need is RPD Field Ops, not more overhead. But there is a need to significantly increase the mayor’s salary, absurdly low for the broad, full time work scope.
Your retreat should review all budget assumptions, calendar all functions, not just the few chosen by city manager. The prior 25% property tax increase should carry the city at least another year without increase. You, city council, are the only taxpayer advocate and fiscally responsible as a check and balance. City manager is smart and more than willing to do her job and yours, if you continue to concede it.
BTW, a different FOIA request for consolidated city utility costs is also unanswered, to include what is being done with energy conservation and cost management of those $Ms.
Unless I’m convinced differently and very quickly, I’m filing a complaint with the state to investigate the ignored FOIAs.
Thank you for your attention and expected action.
If you appreciate the kind of reporting we bring to you
|
Please donate $10 or $20, Thanks for supporting |
 |