The
Jefferson city council announced late last Wednesday that due to budget
constraints, its shuttlecraft program has been pushed back, at least a
year. An unprojected decrease in revenue will delay the initial launch
of Jefferson's first shuttlecraft, "Fiasco", pushing it into the next
fiscal year at the earliest. As you know, the multi-billion dollar
project was hoped to put Jefferson back on the map, and was pursued
enthusiastically by civic leaders despite rampant cost overruns. Initially, Jefferson's shuttle program was begun in the 80's amid outrage from some citizens concerned that they were required to pony up $35,000 of the initial cost. Government grants provided for the remaining $3,999,965,000. The program is now in its 25th year, and residents were hoping to finally achieve their first official launch this summer. Unfortunately, budget cuts have got in the way.
"We have done everything possible to keep the shuttle program on track," stated a city official who chose to remain anonymous. "First, we slashed spending on our streets and infrastructure. The following year and in each subsequent year we have drastically reduced the amount spent on education. Finally, reluctantly, we were forced to cut into the shuttle budget." He did stress that the program has merely been pushed back a year, and is certainly not being scrapped. The launch will be rescheduled for the spring of 2012, weather permitting.
As plans for the future launch dates are firmed up, Jefferson Iowa News will be publishing them. Jefferson residents are being told not to expect tax increases at this time. If the current federal funding is discontinued for any reason, however, local property taxes could spike by as much as 14,000%.
submitted by Rick Bland, city editor