Allentown audit: $6 million debt

Allentown ended 2008 with a $5.9 million deficit, significantly larger than the $3.5 million shortfall Mayor Ed Pawlowski acknowledged in March, according to an independent audit.

[Inclusion]

''They can fight for the last seat on the Titanic, but, if you remember, the Titanic still went down,'' Donovan said.

Cute

[Porkulus]

Donavan continues to make these idiotic sound bites, and fail to acknowledge the lack of oversight he and others on Council exercised.....and fails to force the mayor to cut jobs the city never had before, like the defacto mayor (city manager).

[Black Hole Resident]

I'd be able to trust the Mayor's judgement better if he would lead by example and give back the $30,000 raise he lobbied for. Also, at least 5-10 of the white collar patronage jobs in City Hall should go. The bottom line: Spending in Cith Hall has increased to ridiculous levels under Pawlowski. Mayor: Set a positive example and give back the money, you appear greedy and selfish! Otherwise you are just like those greedy CEOs, laying off workers while you get a huge raise.

[Budget]

Inclusion wrote:

''They can fight for the last seat on the Titanic, but, if you remember, the Titanic still went down,'' Donovan said.

With the Titanic, the captain went down with the ship. Is that the Mayor? And is Council the ship's orchestra that plays while the water laps over the deck?

It's fun to play with metaphors but you'd had better accept more of a role than making speeches.

[LUMBER JACK GNE ORE]

READ WHERE ED WILL BE SELLING LUMBER TO BALANCE BUDGET NOT SELLING IN OREMIGHT HELP IF YOU THROW IN THE LEAVES

[Freedom Fighters]

They should get rid of that Kenneth Bennington, manager position he just duplicates wut the mayor does.

[Rick P from A-town]

Give the city union employees another raise !

[Surprise]

Porkulus wrote:

..and fails to force the mayor to cut jobs the city never had before, like the defacto mayor (city manager).

Know what your talking about! The council can do nothing about eliminating the 'city manager'. Their hands are tied by the city charter.

All this budget crunch is solely lies on the mayor's secretive shoulders. He hid the numbers. When you have a 'strong mayor' form of gov't as written in the city charter. And you get a mayor who won't work with council... you're mostly stuck with his decisions.

Council has to hold regular meetings and face the public.

The mayor on the other hand is required to do any stinking meetings!

[Surprise]

Oops typo..
The mayor on the other hand ISN'T required to do any stinking meetings

[David-1206]

Go though the budget
line by line
if it isn't ABSOLUTLEY ESSENTIAL
RED LINE IT OUT

Also each department except police takes a 10% reduction

Also see about privatizing Fire and most other departments

[Just me]

Cut! Go ahead and cut.

[LMFAO]

David-1206 wrote:

Go though the budget
line by line
if it isn't ABSOLUTLEY ESSENTIAL
RED LINE IT OUT
Also each department except police takes a 10% reduction
Also see about privatizing Fire and most other departments

Why would you privatize fire???

[David-1206]

LMFAO wrote:

<quoted text>Why would you privatize fire???

Many communities around the country have contracted fire and ambulance departments.

Also trash collection could be privatized.

[NoMoreCriminals]

Budget wrote:

<quoted text>
With the Titanic, the captain went down with the ship. Is that the Mayor? And is Council the ship's orchestra that plays while the water laps over the deck?
It's fun to play with metaphors but you'd had better accept more of a role than making speeches.

NAIL ON THE HEAD post.

[Will]

Inclusion wrote:

''They can fight for the last seat on the Titanic, but, if you remember, the Titanic still went down,'' Donovan said.
Cute

And just like the Titanic, Allentown sunk long ago..

[larry]

make them pay their own health insurance , like everyone else !!!

[NoMoreCriminals]

Freedom Fighters wrote:

They should get rid of that Kenneth Bennington, manager position he just duplicates wut the mayor does.

So you mean there are two people coming up with bad ideas to save Allentown?

[Sam]

Will wrote:

<quoted text>
And just like the Titanic, Allentown sunk long ago..

They're on the same path Coatesville, PA followed when I was young.

If they don't do something smart, the city will just be overrun with violence and crime.

Look at where crime is spreading to, and where it is coming from. Start arresting and convicting everyone you can in the epicenter.

Yes, that's profiling, but for a good reason -- You know who is driving crime in, so why deny it?

[Wrongo]

Surprise wrote:

<quoted text>
Know what your talking about! The council can do nothing about eliminating the 'city manager'. Their hands are tied by the city charter.

Actually, you should know what you're talking about. The Managing Director is not a charter position. It could be eliminated at any time.

[LMFAO]

David-1206 wrote:

<quoted text>
Many communities around the country have contracted fire and ambulance departments.
Also trash collection could be privatized.

What would that save? Also the city does not do trash collection. If you lived here you would know that. Keep your out of state comments to yourself.