Merry Christmas Richmond Paycuts

[Kingfish_]

Connie Lawson mismanaged KLC funds.

Bill Strong awarded his family close to half a million in contracts.

City management (commissioners, managers, etc) bankrupted Richmond.

Representative Moberly was thrown out as appropriations chair of the House (the man who doles out state funds was voted out by his peers).

Ed is, well, Ed.

And now: the hard-working people of Richmond will take a pay cut. Merry Christmas. The real news will come after the holidays when the inevitable lay-offs come. You can't pay workers when you're in the red. Maybe Bill Strong can get inmates to do the work like they did for his son in law. He didn't have to pay them; the taxpayers did.

Here's a recent article:

http://www.richmondregister.com/localnews/loc...

[Seriously]

It's a shame that our officials have lived "high on the hog" off us, and now people are going to get layed off. Bill Strong's family won't go without this Christmas, that's for sure.

[DOSOMETHING]

They wont lay anbody off untill after the election. They will need every vote they can get. Wonder if they will take a paycut. In1988 the same position only paid about 6800 and now its 38000. Really the first thing these fucks need to do is be reasonable with there own saleries. Dear ed say good bye to ur piece of precious downtown because when someone with a back bone gets in there they will use eminite domain to take it back like they should of done to begin with u prick.

[Well]

Kingfish_ wrote:

And now: the hard-working people of Richmond will take a pay cut. Merry Christmas. The real news will come after the holidays when the inevitable lay-offs come. You can't pay workers when you're in the red. Maybe Bill Strong can get inmates to do the work like they did for his son in law. He didn't have to pay them; the taxpayers did.
Here's a recent article:
http://www.richmondregister.com/localnews/loc...

You must know someone. The Register just reported possible layoffs and worse.

http://www.richmondregister.com/localnews/loc...

[Employee]

This budget has to be "fixed" before Jan 31st. That said....look for big cuts in the city budget (including layoffs). I just wonder who gets to decide who the 30 people are. They have stated that they would give the persons 2 week notice, but you can bet the layoffs WILL be before Christmas time...I'd guess they will let the people know sooner rather than later and they will be out of a job by Thanksgiving.

You can bet the 30 will include low level employees and not those in higher positions that have special "connections" with those actually in charge.

[ohyeah]

Word unofficially around towns been there will be lay offs 1st in the clerks and court house Judges are safe of course. Then the othe rcity depts police and fire will take hits as will sewer and the rest of what the city owns or pays with the money they steal from taxpayers.

RPD already stated it would save current jobs and $ by not filling 3 open posistions for now. I ask do they really need 40patrol men and 70 total officers for a town that cam driven across in any direction in only 6-15minutes at the most during rush hour. We have way more cops than fire stations and we have alot of fire stations. But I guess its a self fullfilling prophecy. Fire dept doesnt make any money littlone enough from taxes so to justify bein able to save your neighbors house if yours catches on fire you must give up yoru freedom. Much like insurance companis now have it set up. Either you have insurance or ya not onlyt lose your stuff but ya go to jail for not being able to protect yourself IE dont have enough money for corrupt politicians for payoffs.

This has been my rant for the day dont expect it to all run perfectly but it will make more sense than any Palin speech and we all know how the inbreeders ate her BS up like Ham on Xmas.

[samiam]

ohyeah wrote:

Word unofficially around towns been there will be lay offs 1st in the clerks and court house Judges are safe of course. Then the othe rcity depts police and fire will take hits as will sewer and the rest of what the city owns or pays with the money they steal from taxpayers.
RPD already stated it would save current jobs and $ by not filling 3 open posistions for now. I ask do they really need 40patrol men and 70 total officers for a town that cam driven across in any direction in only 6-15minutes at the most during rush hour. We have way more cops than fire stations and we have alot of fire stations. But I guess its a self fullfilling prophecy. Fire dept doesnt make any money littlone enough from taxes so to justify bein able to save your neighbors house if yours catches on fire you must give up yoru freedom. Much like insurance companis now have it set up. Either you have insurance or ya not onlyt lose your stuff but ya go to jail for not being able to protect yourself IE dont have enough money for corrupt politicians for payoffs.
This has been my rant for the day dont expect it to all run perfectly but it will make more sense than any Palin speech and we all know how the inbreeders ate her BS up like Ham on Xmas.

Clerks and the Courts are STATE jobs, not city... don't know where you're hearing the "word around town" but you're wrong. Go take a civics class.

[didnt no dat]

samiam wrote:

<quoted text>
Clerks and the Courts are STATE jobs, not city... don't know where you're hearing the "word around town" but you're wrong. Go take a civics class.

City Hall clerks don't work for the city? I didn't know dat.

[Single Malt]

Has anyone on this thread visited the real world lately? The "powers that be" don't want lay offs anymore than you do. But basic economics has to win out in the ongoing arguments.

Maybe you folks have some ideas on how to make up lost income and continue with existing manpower. How about it?

[WakeUp]

Single Malt wrote:

Has anyone on this thread visited the real world lately? The "powers that be" don't want lay offs anymore than you do. But basic economics has to win out in the ongoing arguments.
Maybe you folks have some ideas on how to make up lost income and continue with existing manpower. How about it?

Of course they don't want layoffs. It's bad politically. No one is claiming they "want" layoffs. They've caused layoffs is the point.

Try practicing sound logic the next time you try to mouth off there ignoramous.

[What they need to do]

What they need to do.... cut back that part-time job salary of 30,000 that the commissioners are getting paid. Cut the city lunch time to 30 minutes unpaid instead of a hour paid. Now government employees who work 10 hour days only get a 30 minute lunch. There is things that can be done before laying people off or taking their bonuses. The mayor and commissioners live a good life with their investments, several jobs, businesses, etc. I can't see how it could even come out their mouth to take from employees that were only doing their jobs. They need to do the something the mayor did and take a paycut themselves.

[Single Malt]

WakeUp wrote:

<quoted text>
Of course they don't want layoffs. It's bad politically. No one is claiming they "want" layoffs. They've caused layoffs is the point.
Try practicing sound logic the next time you try to mouth off there ignoramous.

Oh, so you don't have any ideas either/

[WakeUp]

Single Malt wrote:

<quoted text>
Oh, so you don't have any ideas either/

Here's one: vote these fools out. Replace them with competent minds.

[Real life]

The Mayor can afford to take that paycut due to linning her pockets with our tax dollars. The city workers want to jump rita for being honest and taking the advice given to the council by the citys bean counter. With less tax money rolling in the door due to the lack of work there had to be layoffs. But maybe next year when they have a chance to vote they will all think back on that 9 million that was lost due to poor finacial decisions and vote for change. Probably not since them hard working crooks on the council decided to bankrupt our city to make sure they keep the votes in thier favor.

[Single Malt]

WakeUp wrote:

<quoted text>
Here's one: vote these fools out. Replace them with competent minds.

Great long term plan.. Any thoughts for the immediate future?

[Niether Friend Nor Foe]

They have 3 choices: increase the payroll taxe, borrow money to get them to next year, when they can increase property & payroll taxes, or lay off employees. Borrowing or lay offs are there two quickest short term solutions.

[Seriously]

Rita is the only person that has any business sense. The others are just trying to save their butts for election time. It is ashame that a new comer had to tell our wonderful seasoned members what was going on. Yes Rita voted to take the bonus this year....would people rather have a job or this bonus. The first mistake is that any one would COUNT on this every year. A true business person would understand and explain to their employees that this is a BONUS, not part of their salary. You should never depend on something that is not part of your salary. That should be just icing on the cake. A business that offers incentives are making tough decisions this year and that includes not being able to do certain bonus pay. If the city voters don't realize what needs to happen at election time they will have to live with this non sense for 2 more years. Keep Rita and Robert, but the other two must go....they are both the most self serving public officials that I have ever seen. Enough is enought. Can we please have a great couple of people run against them...this would be the year they could finally get voted out. And the mayor needs to just go with them....that is another story in its self...

[Punkin]

I agree that city employees should not consider a "bonus" as a given every year. The position I hold with the company I work for offers a yearly bonus also, but only if the company meets certain financial criteria. If the criteria is not met, then no bonuses are disbursed. I also had to take an unpaid 2 week furlough this year, but guess what, I still have a job and no one was laid off.
City employees need to quit whining about pay cuts and be glad they still have jobs. What's up with a "longevity bonus"? I say do away with it.
Increase taxes? Sure, the City Officials screwed everything up and now they want the taxpayers to pay for it? WAKE UP PEOPLE!! Elect a new mayor and
city commissioners, the "good ole boy's (and girls) have got to go!!

[city employee]

From what I gather, the longevity pay was put into play back when we didnt get paid as much. It was used to help keep employees from going elsewhere to lok for better paying jobs by paying them for time of service with the city. I agree, now that we have better pay, the Longevity pay really isnt justified. In saying that, Eliminating the Longevity would only save the city about 80 thousand dollars and we would still be looking at layoffs. U have got to understand that it is state law that says the city has to have a balanced budget by Jan. 30th. of every year. If they dont, they are breaking the law. It is sad that it has come to this and im not pointing blame at one certain person, From what I understand, this has been in the making for a few years. I don't want to see anyone layed off as it would effect not just them, but their families as well. If it means taking a pay cut and loosing my "bonus" to keep other city employees and possibly myself from loosing a job, I'm all for it.Even if it means keeping 3-5 employees from loosing their jobs. Im so thankful right now that I have a job. I could be in the unemployment line with a lot of other citizens of this city.

[Real life]

city employee wrote:

From what I gather, the longevity pay was put into play back when we didnt get paid as much. It was used to help keep employees from going elsewhere to lok for better paying jobs by paying them for time of service with the city. I agree, now that we have better pay, the Longevity pay really isnt justified. In saying that, Eliminating the Longevity would only save the city about 80 thousand dollars and we would still be looking at layoffs. U have got to understand that it is state law that says the city has to have a balanced budget by Jan. 30th. of every year. If they dont, they are breaking the law. It is sad that it has come to this and im not pointing blame at one certain person, From what I understand, this has been in the making for a few years. I don't want to see anyone layed off as it would effect not just them, but their families as well. If it means taking a pay cut and loosing my "bonus" to keep other city employees and possibly myself from loosing a job, I'm all for it.Even if it means keeping 3-5 employees from loosing their jobs. Im so thankful right now that I have a job. I could be in the unemployment line with a lot of other citizens of this city.

Mighty big of you and yesterday you was quick to jump rita for voting to take care of the budget problems. Fact is ppl will lose there job do to th fat cats wastful spending and poor finacial outlooks. Sorry but that is what happens when you are in a recesssion. The city cant collect tax dollars from ppl who have no jobs. They also are not allowed to bankrupt the city if they can avoid it by a few layoffs. Rember that the council voted against taking the longivity check from the employes. All except Rita. There will be drastic cuts and jobs will be lost like every other industry in america. Glad to see your starting to come around.