| Author |
 Topic  |
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 10:31:30 AM
|
| justme, Mr. DeCoste did mention the override. |
 |
|
|
Middle-Man 1
Senior Member
188 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 10:37:28 AM
|
| This was predictable. You can't raise a city budget 20% in two years. Not in this economy or any other for that matter. Increases should at least track the rate of inflation within a reasonable margin. This is a sad turn of events in this city in under two years. What can be done about it now though? I do not envy Joe McGonagle if he is the successor to the mayors position. Making the cuts needed to restore stability here is going to be a difficult task indeed. Hopefully he is up to the task of making some tough decisions. |
|
|
|
tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 10:55:08 AM
|
| I think that Rosa DiFlorio deserves some kudos for her line of questioning that opened up the whole Proposition 2 1/2 can of worms. I think that it is disgrace that Mr. Honesty & Integrity could present this budget to the BOA & CC without one mention of the possibility/need for an override. Vetrano's answer of not knowing all the details until recently on the expense side is a JOKE!!! How can contracts be effectively negotiated if you don't know what you can afford to pay? |
|
|
|
Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 10:57:14 AM
|
DeCoste mentioned the override only when asked by Rosa DiFlorio, although given his candor in general, I do believe he would have brought it up on his own.
This budget really needs to be cut to the bare bones. 6% pay increases?! Are they kidding me? Now . . . last year they claimed they needed those sizeable increases because people hadn't received raises in several years. Okay . . . what's their excuse this year. Working in the private sector, you're lucky if you get a 3% increase annually. 6% is considered a bonus for "above and beyond" kind of work. It's certainly isn't the norm in terms of annual raises in the "real world."
Seriously, that's quite a little parallel universe the mayor has built for himself and his minions. |
|
|
|
massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 11:08:17 AM
|
| If an override of Prop 21/2 ever goes on the ballot, I for one will vote against it. |
|
|
|
justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
 Posted - 06/09/2007 : 11:09:28 AM
|
massdee, I heard Mr DeCoste respond to Rosa's question about an override. Was it mentioned prior to that? (These old ears aren't quite what they used to be!)
Either way, what I meant was that the need for an override should have been mentioned at the time the budget was presented. I don't think that particular bomb should have been hidden from us. Anyone not watching the hearings would be left in the dark until they read it in the paper, or hear it from a friend. That's not information that should be hidden from taxpayers.
I didn't grow up here. Has Everett previously had a one term mayor or will Hanlon be the first? |
|
|
|
Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 11:19:37 AM
|
I believe the last one term mayor was Mayor Plunkitt, back in the mid-late sixties -- and if I recall correctly, it was for similar reasons -- a good man who surrounded himself with either incompetent or corrupt people and let them run amuck.
|
|
|
|
justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 11:28:26 AM
|
I remember hearing something about Plunkitt selling city property, leaving office, and speculation that the money from the sale went with him because no one could ever find it. I didn't realize he was also a one term mayor.
They say history repeats itself.......... |
|
|
|
Middle-Man 1
Senior Member
188 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 11:49:31 AM
|
| You won't be the only one voting against it massdee. I think it has zero chance of passing if it comes before the voters and rightfully so. I can't imagine any senario in which it could get more than 50% of the vote. Most of the layoffs will be people who never should have been hired in the first place. It's tough to lose a job no doubt, but they should have known this was a possibility when they accepted the position. Most clear thinking people quickly saw the mismanagement and could have predicted we would find ourselves in this position. |
|
|
|
justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 12:21:30 PM
|
| Maybe I'm naive (that's not a term anyone who knows me would ever imagine in the same sentence), but I really don't see an override being put to a vote. Everyone of our elected officials knows it wouldn't pass and if they don't see to it that the cuts are made, there's going to be hell to pay. |
|
|
|
tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 12:31:03 PM
|
Justme,
I'd like to think everyone of them would know it but I'm not sure about Hanlon. The man is just clueless.
|
|
|
|
justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 12:55:00 PM
|
| tetris, I wasn't even considering Hanlon .............. He's an idiot! I was referring specifically to the CC & BOA. |
|
|
|
Middle-Man 1
Senior Member
188 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 1:39:44 PM
|
| I hope you're right justme. We sholud'nt have to crush an override at the polls. I just don't share your faith in the CC & BOA. There are some members of those bodies that "get it", but many, just as the mayor who do not. |
|
|
|
tetris
Moderator
2040 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 1:57:27 PM
|
| I think, at this point, the BOA & CC "get it" but the real question is how many of them are willing to be the bad guy? I think that part of the reason that the budget was referred back to the adminstration was to make them present a responsible budget but also so that the council wouldn't get blamed for job cuts. In the end, I'm willing to bet that the budget that comes back Tuesday night won't have nearly enough cut out of it and the never ending game of "chicken" continues on in some fashion. It's sad but it will be fascinating to see how this all plays out. |
|
|
|
Middle-Man 1
Senior Member
188 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2007 : 2:50:22 PM
|
quote:
Originally posted by justme
tetris, I wasn't even considering Hanlon .............. He's an idiot! I was referring specifically to the CC & BOA.
Tails, would this post be the "idiot" post you were referring to? It was not posted by massdee. Massdee was appointed moderator after having proved to be a responsible member of this board for a long period of time. The word idiot is not the worst descriptive term one could use to descibe someone who they perceieve to be doing foolish things. Justme was just expressing the frustration felt by many in this city with the current administration. I don't think most here would have a problem with it. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Budget
