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Post by tanouryjr on Oct 20, 2008 15:15:34 GMT -5
romesentinel.com/news?newsid=20081020-141254The surplus is there for a "rainy day," otherwise known as a "rainy day fund." In my humble opinion, this is a textbook example of a Rainy Day in Oneida County. We should be doing everything possible to lower the tax increase. I'm no budget expert, but it makes sense to me that we should be freezing all non-contract wages, cutting departmental budgets to the bare bones and using our surplus to get this increase down to AT LEAST 3-4%. Seriously, I want to see what your opinions are on using the surplus to lower taxes.
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Post by dgriffin on Oct 20, 2008 15:37:25 GMT -5
I know nothing about Oneida County. However, I don't think I've ever seen a county cut their tax increase in half (or more) and not be able to function well. A list needs to be made and publicized of those legislators who voted for such a decrease and those who didn't, with the proviso that those who didn't will be vilified.
If people won't give up "He may be a rat, but he's our rat" when voting for county legislators, then there is nothing that can be done. The people will get what they deserve.
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Post by snickers on Oct 20, 2008 21:24:49 GMT -5
Shit. It has been "raining" around this area for at LEAST 30 years ( I can only comment on the time I have been here). If there's a surplus, then it means the taxslaves have been robbed beyond reasonable belief and they are due a refund. Give those who have been paying in their money back.
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Post by Ralph on Oct 21, 2008 0:29:08 GMT -5
What a crock!!!!
Cut out the raises for non-contractual employees.
Freeze everything!
Cut to bare bones, learn to recycle what you can and to do without in areas that you can as well.
(If he needs help in figuring out how to do this tell him to call me)
Have all the non contractual employees take a minimum 3% pay cut.....including himself.
He can get an assistant/chief of staff to kiss his ass a lot cheaper than the one he has at present......I would be glad to do it for less than half the price.
I was appalled to read the comment he made that some of the DSS workers there could qualify for their own services........BULLSHIT, not unless they have 6-8 kids they won't.
If he wants to know what it is like to be working class poor, send him over here and I will show him where the bear did the buckwheat.
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Post by Swimmy on Oct 21, 2008 9:58:30 GMT -5
This is the kind of crap that pisses me off! We are in an economic recession! Jobs are scarce already and low paying already. And in the Governor's economic crisis declaration, the esteemed elected "representatives" of oneida county are considering not only raising taxes, but giving major salary increases! ?! When in the hell did public service go from putting for the service for less pay to being the best paid in the county?!
Seriously, all private businesses have been forced to freeze hiring and salaries because of the dire economic situation. But not oneida county, we're giving raises! BULLSHIT!
I'll write more when I'm less angry!
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Post by Clipper on Oct 21, 2008 14:11:45 GMT -5
Amen Swimmy! I agree. If anyone needs a raise it is the road patrol deputies. Anyone else that is wanting an increase can wait. If they are too discontented with the pay, they can quit, and we will be able to hire people at a lower grade and payscale to replace them. We went for years without any substantial raise when I worked for the Air Force. ALL civil service pay was frozen, and only emergency essential positions could be filled.
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Post by dgriffin on Oct 21, 2008 16:17:22 GMT -5
Seriously, all private businesses have been forced to freeze hiring and salaries because of the dire economic situation. But not oneida county, we're giving raises! BULLSHIT! Not only are they getting raises, but so are the teachers. I asked a young teacher how she could justify her paycheck on the backs of homeowners who were breaking their backs to pay their school taxes. Without batting eye she said, "The public has to learn that we don't come cheap." "Well," I responded, "your mother certainly did." By which I meant that her mother had worked for far less pay when she was a teacher. But the young lady took my comment the wrong way. I would have explained myself, but she walked away in a huff. Oh, well. Maybe she knew something about her mother that I didn't.  |
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Post by wcup102 on Oct 21, 2008 17:56:04 GMT -5
I agree with all that if the surplus is there, use it. If Picente wants to go from zero to hero, he should start his own grass roots stimulus package for taxpayers here. He should use it to cut the tax increase or start cutting checks to all of us.
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Post by Swimmy on Oct 21, 2008 19:02:46 GMT -5
Dave, you and I are going to have to agree to disagree about teachers. It is one of the only professions I'm aware of where you have to have a Master's and still only start out at 30k salary. I think it's an insult to the profession when someone with an associate's degree can make double that, starting out.
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Post by Clipper on Oct 21, 2008 19:10:14 GMT -5
Well, we can go back to the old argument that they only work 9 or 10 months out of the year, plus they have all the holidays off. My brother and sister are both teachers. They spend time at school during the kids breaks, but they don't have to teach. They are planning etc. The have the entire summer off from the third week of May until the first or second week in August here in Tennessee.
They may start at 30K, but when they are tenured, they make damn good money for the hours they work.
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Post by Swimmy on Oct 21, 2008 19:16:18 GMT -5
True, but it takes them a long time to reach those salaries. And in NYS, there is a push to entice the tenured teachers into early retirement. Also, during the summer, I know many teachers who use the summer to attend conferences and workshops to improve their skills. They also work second jobs to supplement their meager salaries.
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Post by snickers on Oct 21, 2008 20:32:01 GMT -5
Dave, you and I are going to have to agree to disagree about teachers. It is one of the only professions I'm aware of where you have to have a Master's and still only start out at 30k salary. I think it's an insult to the profession when someone with an associate's degree can make double that, starting out. Nope, sorry. I must disagree with you; you can teach with a BA or equivalent. And, if you homeschool, you don't even need THAT! It's time to stop equating some Piece of Paper with real Experience and Passion. Let the Teachers' Unions be as insulted as they like, it's the truth.....they are not the Be All And End All. |
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Post by snickers on Oct 21, 2008 20:36:22 GMT -5
True, but it takes them a long time to reach those salaries. And in NYS, there is a push to entice the tenured teachers into early retirement. Also, during the summer, I know many teachers who use the summer to attend conferences and workshops to improve their skills. They also work second jobs to supplement their meager salaries. They are well-compensated for attending these boondoggle workshops, I have no doubt. Besides, for this area, $30K plus bennies, every weekend and holiday guaranteed, plus snow days off is a damned good gig. |
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Post by Swimmy on Oct 21, 2008 20:44:25 GMT -5
Dave, you and I are going to have to agree to disagree about teachers. It is one of the only professions I'm aware of where you have to have a Master's and still only start out at 30k salary. I think it's an insult to the profession when someone with an associate's degree can make double that, starting out. Nope, sorry. I must disagree with you; you can teach with a BA or equivalent. And, if you homeschool, you don't even need THAT! It's time to stop equating some Piece of Paper with real Experience and Passion. Let the Teachers' Unions be as insulted as they like, it's the truth.....they are not the Be All And End All. You have to have a Master's degree within 5 years after accepting a teaching position. After that, you have to put in 127 in-service hours each year. Pretty weak argument to separate out that 5-yr grace period to earn your Master's. Many schools will only hire you if you have already completed your Master's work. |
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Post by Swimmy on Oct 21, 2008 20:46:04 GMT -5
True, but it takes them a long time to reach those salaries. And in NYS, there is a push to entice the tenured teachers into early retirement. Also, during the summer, I know many teachers who use the summer to attend conferences and workshops to improve their skills. They also work second jobs to supplement their meager salaries. They are well-compensated for attending these boondoggle workshops, I have no doubt. Besides, for this area, $30K plus bennies, every weekend and holiday guaranteed, plus snow days off is a damned good gig. Incorrect, again! My mother, a teacher, did not receive any compensation or reimbursement for the workshops, classes, and conferences she had to attend this summer. |
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