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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
 Posted - 01/23/2009 : 12:04:30 PM
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I heard that Everett will have a 10% reduction, and there will not be any reduction to education. It will be interesting to see where the 10% gets cut.
BOSTON -- Gov. Deval Patrick said he will have to cut state aid to cities and towns by $128 million next week to help close an additional $1 billion deficit in the state budget.
Patrick made the announced Friday in a speech to the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
He noted he had been able to avoid a local aid cut when he closed a $1.4 billion budget deficit in October. He said he has to do so now as a last resort.
The governor also said he will seek a 1 cent increase in the state meals tax, which would generate $150 million that he would distribute to cities and towns.
"blatantly, gone are the days"
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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2009 : 05:39:07 AM
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The budget cuts are a reality and, as we understand it, they're going to be deeper for fiscal 2010. Carlo said he's looking for some help from the unions and I agree that's a good area to look. However, I also think he should be looking toward his department heads and appointees.
The last time a governor made cuts like this, our mayor "requested" that all department heads and appointees take a week off, unpaid. If you think about the salaries many of these people are receiving (sorry, I just couldn't use the word earning), the savings could be decent.
It won't make a major dent but it will certainly show that everyone is willing to do what they can to keep the budget under control and layoffs to a minimum.............. |
Edited by - justme on 01/28/2009 6:47:49 PM |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2009 : 6:51:56 PM
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Do you feel that if no one takes a pay increase this year, and no overtime, that will help at all?
If I was in this situation, I would gladly not take a pay raise and be grateful I had a job.
"blatantly, gone are the days" |
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ALL WRONG
Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2009 : 7:17:15 PM
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This 10% cut in local is most likely just the beginning. The next fiscal year beginning in July will surely bring deep reductions in Fire and Police personnel. We really can't afford that at this point in time. We should all be very concerned
It's all nonsense to me |
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Tails
Administrator
2682 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2009 : 8:20:13 PM
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| Yes, we should be very concerned, I know I am. No one wants to cut fire and police. They are vital to the community. The Mayor better look in his back yard and I also feel we may have been in a little better situation if he didn't go and spend 11.5 million in free cash. He spent it all for his own agenda. He better look to his own office and lawyers office FIRST and department heads before even considering public safety. |
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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 07:58:00 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Tails
Do you feel that if no one takes a pay increase this year, and no overtime, that will help at all?
If I was in this situation, I would gladly not take a pay raise and be grateful I had a job.
"blatantly, gone are the days"
No pay increases would help (Where I work, we were told months ago there would be no increases this year.) but it should be everyone, not just the non-union people. It's time for the unions to start looking at the big picture and realize the rest of us also have bills to pay and families to support.
No overtime gets tricky. The fire department has mandatory manning (The police may have too since it's a safety issue but I don't know for sure.) which means they can't avoid paying overtime. The problem is the abuse. There are numerous occasions that people call out sick when they have something else they want to do and they also swap time off which sounds fine except the person they swap with is being paid OT because they've already put in their hours.
It's time for everyone to step up and look at the big picture. The question is, how many will say I feel bad for someone who loses their job BUT.......... That BUT is what separates the men from the boys. IMHO, this city (actually the whole damn country) has too many boys who only worry about themselves.
We’re all facing some tough times and even tougher decisions. I hope our elected officials (local, state, & federal) are up to the task.
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 10:47:04 AM
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MA hospital group
announces job cuts
Last Edited: Wednesday, 28 Jan 2009, 10:49 PM EST
Created On: Wednesday, 28 Jan 2009, 9:05 PM EST
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - A Cambridge-based hospital group wants to cut services and about 300 jobs as it deals with a multi-million dollar budget deficit.
The Cambridge Health Alliance proposal released Wednesday requires state approval.
The group runs hospitals in Everett, Somerville and Cambridge and provides 199 beds for substance abuse and mental health services.
After spending and hiring freezes in fiscal year 2008, the alliance adopted a 2009 budget with a $22.5 million deficit, believing it could reduce costs and balance the budget by 2010.
That plan was derailed by the economic crisis and a drop in state funding.
The job cuts are about 8 percent of its work force. Other steps include merging six primary care locations into other health centers and closing the inpatient pediatric unit at The Cambridge Hospital. |
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ALL WRONG
Member
2 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 11:05:57 AM
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I don't see how the city can avoid laying off public safety officials. They make the most money. I wonder if the criminals are waiting for the announcements to hit the public and then go out and commit a ton of crime.....who's going to stop them? I read somewhere that the crime of shoplifting is up 45% across the country and robberies are also up.
It's all nonsense to me |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2009 : 12:39:37 PM
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In my opinion, public safety should be the absolute last place to look for cuts. Let's start at city hall. Then move on to the new hires over the past three years. Let's ask our elected officials who have jobs other than with the city to use those health benefits instead of the city's. Let's put in place a wage freeze for all city employees, union and non union. Let the administration stop asking for raises for employees. Let's try level funding for the next fiscal year. Let's start saying no to some of these transfer of funds. Let the administration stick to the budget they presented to the city council. They made it, they can live with it.
We are all cutting back in our personal lives. The city needs to take care of our tax dollars much better than they have in the past. The financial crisis is only going to be getting worse. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 01/30/2009 : 9:03:36 PM
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I have heard that two new ladies have been hired in code enforcement. Did two people leave and the mayor is filling their positions?
Let me add, I heard this second hand so I have not confirmed it. |
Edited by - massdee on 01/30/2009 9:09:40 PM |
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Cam
Member
82 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2009 : 09:24:46 AM
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| While other areas are cutting back and trying to save tax dollars Everett is hiring and looking for raises? That makes no sense. What is wrong with the mayor. |
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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 02/01/2009 : 5:46:48 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Cam
While other areas are cutting back and trying to save tax dollars Everett is hiring and looking for raises? That makes no sense. What is wrong with the mayor.
Aside from the fact that he's got his head up his butt? My guess is because he's financially secure, he can't really relate to those people who live from paycheck to paycheck. For him, if you can't afford it, you don't buy it............ That works when you can buy a new Chevy instead of a Cadillac. It doesn't work so well when what you can't afford is the mortgage, gas bill, or new shoes for the kids! |
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scamore
Senior Member
105 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2009 : 2:39:09 PM
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| mayor demaira chief of staff is gone she left last week |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2009 : 3:03:35 PM
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| I had heard that about Erin Deveney on Friday but could not confirm it. |
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justme
Advanced Member
1428 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2009 : 6:08:36 PM
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| I also heard that she resigned but I've been unable to confirm the information. Where's justwondering when we need him? He's got the inside track and could clear this up............. |
Edited by - justme on 02/02/2009 6:09:15 PM |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2009 : 6:41:11 PM
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| I just had it confirmed. Ms Deveney is leaving for a position with the state. |
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Local aid cuts
