Well, you've heard the impending increases rumoured for weeks. Now the papers have the hard copy that the Mayor intends to offer the Council. Makes a life threatening story for the people of this city.
Cutting Police Officers, accepting the early retirements of several Fire Fighters and shutting sown the programs in our Recreation department. You might think this is the end of the process, but it isn't. Now it's up to the Aldermen to slash what's left.
We are faced with property taxes up by nearly 10 percent and eliminating 28 full-time jobs. There will be plenty of overtime to cover those police shifts. I'm not sure this will be the end result after we get our hands on it.
The public wants to know what we are going to do with the Fire Department. That too is part of the continuing debate amongst the nine of us.
The Mayor was quoted: “This is obviously the most difficult budget that I have had to put together in my tenure as mayor." I would have to agree with him. This has been a perfect storm brewing for quite a while. We all watched as the pieces fell together since last fall. Now we are faced with the repercussions of a failed Federal and State economy, where neither the City of Kingston, nor any other towns in Ulster County can ignore serious course corrections.You'll notice that next years budget is lower than this year. That doesn't dismiss your tax increase. A little more than half of the budget is revenue based. Monies come in through fees, payments, property sales, mortgage & sales tax revenue. With a good portion coming from the State and Fed. When those income levels drop, the burden shifts to the property owners to make up the missing revenue.
You didn't need a budget lesson here. You need US to set a course that runs the city safely and efficiently, without taxing the citizens out of their homes. We've done this before and we'll do it again. Not to this extent of course, but you should expect no less from us on the Council.
The Mayor pointed out that the rising pension and medical insurance costs, along with declining sales and mortgage tax revenues, are to blame for much of the city’s weak financial condition. We know the pension loss is tied very closely to the stock market. The medical costs...well, just follow the national headlines and watch the Congress squander an opportunity to make that less expensive and the sale of housing in Kingston? An all time low. Fewer people are willing to part with their hard earned cash at the local market, never mind buy a new house.
All I can say is allow us the next few months to digest this document and make the changes we deem possible. Now that the budget process has been shifted to the Council, I will delve more into the process here online.
21 comments:
Sucks to be you on the Council during this financial collapse. There have been warning signs before this hit. Neither the City or other town officials felt the need to make the preparations before the inevitable. Now you and the rest of the flock have to deal with this mess. Some of which you could have avoided.
What I'd like to see is some of the candidates that are seeking the seats on the council offer some ideas to save the taxpayers. In 19 months, has anyone heard an idea from Ward Six?
Seriously. I expect you and the rest of the council to get to work and find what's cuttable. Make it happen.
No mention of the sewer fee is that increasing also? If so the increase is more than 10% then.
How much of the city budget is for social services? How much is being cut back from social services? Yes, it sucks, but if the working folks in this town have to draw back their day to day activities, wouldn't it be fair to ask the same of the people on SS? How about putting on residency restrictions on new applicants?
Everyone has to contribute and cut back, including the 9 of you...
If you vote for this budget you will fail in the next election, people are watching to see who is ready to fight for them and who is worried about being liked as a politian, use caution when voting!
This budget is a crock and if we had a business person with a clue looking it over, we could find better cuts than the police, but thats the easy way out!
Vote no Mike and make them work harder!
We are all watching
CHAPTER 9 BANKRUPTCY is the only way to get us out of these ridiculous contracts that Sottile negotiated. CSEA won't play ball - there is no other way. BRING IT ON!
Mike why does the commercial tax decline by 4%?
You are to be commended for a well-written article which is honest, direct, and informative. Thanks for the keeping us taxpayers in the loop.
If only the rest would follow your suit.
PM
Water and sewer are considered a fee for service. The rates are set by the council, but you control the usage. If you let the water run in the toilet and kitchen sink, you're a fool that will pay extra.
Time to be more resourceful. Water your plants from a rain barrel collecting from your roof and stop running the faucet. Unless you're a tenant and the landlord pays for water. Then what do you care?
4:49 CSEA will play ball. They want to see the Mayor and his cronies give up their take home vehicles. Let the Mayor lead by example and pay 10% for his medicle benefits. Also Finkle and Murphy and all the Department heads give up first. Then we will be on equal ground and ready to play.
6:50, I call B.S.
CSEA cannot be that childish, or can they?
Although I agree about getting rid of take home vehicles, you cannot be serious about not wanting to help out us taxpayers who pay your salary.
Why wait for someone else when you can be proactive. You stand to lose a great deal of taxpayers moving on elsewhere. Where will you be then? Dealing with even bigger tax increases and more layoffs which may even include YOU!
Stop pointing your finger at CSEA all the time. What about the department heads and the 90 dollar pen, girlfriend and riding around with our gas? Not one alderman made him accountable for anything. Overtime and no paper work! Lets remember that, who else is doing things and nothing being said. Yea hire someone for 5,000 dollar raise and all the perks. Then tell us we have to pay more. Start at the head and work your way down. You got rid of the code enforcer who brought in money. Then you want us to pay more! Vote them all out and lets start over. What about the fire department how many of them are loosing there job? We need more DPW workers and less in other area's! Vote them out! The Mayor is the one that went over the contracts now you want Bankruptcy how nuts is that. Yea easy way out! keep coving up for this mayor who put us here
In the private sector business/efficiency consultants are brought in to observe the daily flow of a business to find ways to streamline operations. Has this ever been done at City Hall and other depts in government? Perhaps we need to take this step before we randomly layoff personnel. Go thru personal records and see who has been a contributing member to the team or who has been trouble. Are there any employees making big salaries in city government? If so, offer them a reduction in salary or be laid off. I can guarantee in this economy they will opt for a reduction in pay to keep their benefits and be gainfully employed. I know I would. And lastly, get rid of trucks/cars to certain individuals. Give them vouchers or a mileage rate for reimbursements. If you live outside city limits, you get no reimbursments for travel coming to and from home. If after you arrive at the office and you are needed about the city, than take a city car/truck.
Us taxpayers can no longer foot the bill for personal whims in city government. Hey, I have a great idea... why not use the bus for city business like a lot of us citizens do. Especially like the residents who have lost jobs.
8:05 I stand firmly behind my union and if I get laid off so be it. As I have been down this road before. Only difference this time is I have CSEA and a contract. The bosses friends and family go first then me. I CAN LIVE WITH THAT
6:06
But why we it all can fixed with some truth and reasoning?
Jim has no clue on how to run a city, we have less people than ever and more debt?
Why?
There ARE no ideas from ward 6 because I was shut out of politics long ago by the tutor of Ms. Provenzano, a woman that would have made Adolph Hitler run for his life.
(And if you think I'm making this UP--I LAUGH at YOU).
But of course there are, the logical cuts as everyone knows are in the overbloated fire dept. DPW cuts are going to be ok the year after the ice storm that left city streets with ice 10 days after that storm?? Bogus reorganization of DPW as a substitute for a real one which is long overdue to find out matters there for personal retributions are acceptable eh. Oh yes. This Mayor doesn't want to keep this city in any semblence of civilization--he prefers the answer is to circle the wagons and as long as he can hold out until January 2012 when he wakes up and finds he hasn't been given the axe. Ahahahaha what a ridiculous little fat drink-throwing passive-agressive cretin this bogus leader is....and just L@@K at this council--didn't do the job last year, will it rise to the challange this year? The gauntlet has again been thrown, maybe councilmembers need training in return drink-throwing skills(?!)
how do you spell CSEA (greed) and lack of respect for the tax payer lets lay off them all and then see how they feel when the perks are gone get real csea and help out not suck everyone dry care for your fellow workers dont let them get hung out because you need a few dollars more shame on csea
Everyone says they pay the CSEA workers salaries,but remember people CSEA workers are home owners also and ARE NOT TAX EXEMPT so they pay their salary through their taxes just like you and they pay through their pay checks also, that means they pay twice for their benifits!!! So give that YOU THE TAX PAYER A BREAK.
"Give us a few months to ..."
Say WHAT??
To that I say "go back to Kindergarten, then when you graduate we'll be happy to let you make a decision.
PISS on that!!
Time for this council to do its JOB. Didn't do its job last year, probably won't do it this year either, probably will avoid the hard decisions once again.
It's called total void of LEADERSHIP from the top on down. No WONDER Kingston keeps deteriorating--nowhere to go but down under such conditions.
If DPW is losing 13 laborers why is there still a line item for labor foreman?
Charlie Thomas is retiring in January. Why keep that position?
Layoffs are occuring all over the country, so why are we shocked that they are occurring here at home? It is unfortunate but layoffs are a common occurrence during a messed up economy and our city is in trouble financially. The cuts from Dpw make some sense, but the firemen should also be subjected to the hits like the other depts. Also, the dept. heads, including the mayor need to sacrifice as well. Leaders lead by example,dont they?
If the average income is $33,000.00 and the taxpayer is the employer, why are we paying our employees more money then we make? I don't think anyone should make more than $60,000.00, which is a very good salary for the Kingston area. The mayor makes $103,000.00 with benefits, that's more than a lot of mayors make in far larger cities. It is time to cut his pay and perhaps invest in our decrepit sewer system or save the parks which are falling into shambles.
Post a Comment