Indeed the residents of the city of Davis saw the dire warning signs on Thursday when the Davis Enterprise ran the startlingly truthful and bold headline:
“City lacks funds to keep up with needed street repairs.”
Below that is the ominous warning:
“But while streets, bike paths and sidewalks will stay in good condition for the immediate future, the city’s current proposed funding allows streets to deteriorate while the cost to repair them will climb exponentially.”
The unmet needs are not some kind of budgetary extra that require funding when we get the money–they are essential upkeep and repairs and upgrades that if we do not act on them now, will cost far more in the future.
City Manager Bill Emlen acknowledged the problem:
“There’s lots of concern about the sidewalks and the bike paths. Realistically, it’s going to be hard to address them.”
The Public Works Department report is rather dire. The bottom line:
“This backlog will continue to increase steadily if additional funding is not allocated. The higher maintenance backlog will result in increased future costs because expensive treatments will, unfortunately, be necessary if less expensive treatments aren’t utilized in a timely manner.
“The cost to maintain or repair roads exponentially increases as time goes on.”
As the Mayor Sue Greenwald pointed out this is part of the deficit. And if we do not meet these needs, the costs increase.
“Citizens consider sidewalk maintenance, roads and bikeways essential services, so we can’t just redefine it away and say we have a balanced budget. We call them unmet needs, but they’re really part of the deficit. I consider that semantic.”
Meanwhile, in Wednesday’s Davis Enterprise column, Rich Rifkin described in vivid details the trainwreck approaching if we do not contain costs.
Mr. Rifkin rightly sounds the warning:
“By drastically reducing spending on capital projects, the all funds budget appears to be in surplus.
And counting just ongoing expenses and income, the general fund is sort of balanced. The city expects general fund revenues of $39.7 million and plans to spend roughly that next year. However, that “balanced budget” is misleading.
The reality is the general fund will be in deficit for the third year in a row. Next year’s shortfall, made up of one-time expenditures, will be $436,286, almost $100,000 worse than was projected last year. Since 2006, the general fund reserve has declined by one-third, from $9 million to $6 million.
We are also short an additional $3 million in 2008-09 needed to pay for ongoing repairs to our streets and sidewalks. That is not a one-time deficit. We will be short this money every year for the foreseeable future, inevitably leading to brutal and unsafe road conditions in Davis.”
But all of this really gravy. The real problem lies in the unfunded debt of around $40 million for retiree benefit liability:
“As bad as that sounds, it doesn’t approach what is really wrong. The biggest problem is the rapidly growing retiree medical benefit liability. This unfunded debt stands at around $40 million, more than six times what we have left in the general fund.”
This was not a good news week for the some of the incumbents or the firefighters. The firefighters, pardon the pun, must be feeling the heat.
They felt the need to respond in the Davis Enterprise with a letter to the editor. Something that they have never done. But unfortunately, their response does not address the heart of the concerns.
“We, the Davis Professional Firefighters Local 3494, would like to thank the citizens of Davis for their ongoing support for the job we do. Performance surveys consistently show that the public is “very satisfied” with the service we provide. “
This is a typical sleight of hand. No one, has complained about the service that the fire fighters perform. No one. The complaint is strictly about the cost of that service to the taxpayers of Davis and the impact of that cost on the city budget.
Moreover, do not try to turn this into a public safety issue. If we do not have the funds to repair our roadways, bike lanes, and sidewalks, that is a safety hazard that far exceeds the hazard of paying the firefighters less in medical benefits when they retire, paying them less than the $150,000 they receive on average in pay and benefits, etc.
The firefighters go on to say:
“Contrary to recent reports, none of the candidates we are supporting this year was a member of the City Council when our retirement plan (the industry standard across the state) was approved in 2000. “
It is true that none of the current candidates they are supporting this year was a member of the City Council when their retirement plan was approved. It is also largely irrelevent.
“The statement in a recent letter to the editor that, “Saylor and Souza have already voted to sweeten our firefighters ‘ retirement to way beyond fair! Only our mayor, Sue Greenwald, had the courage to say no” is completely false.”
It is true that Saylor and Souza did not vote on the 3% at 50. But because of the way that formula works, they did in fact sweeten the firefighters’ retirement by drastically increasing their salary, so it is not “completely false.”
“The Davis City Council approved this plan on July 12, 2000, with a motion made by Susie Boyd and seconded by Sue Greenwald. With one member absent, the motion carried with Mayor Ken Wagstaff, Sheryl Freeman, Susie Boyd and Sue Greenwald voting yes.”
As Mike Syvanen, Sue Greenwald’s husband explains in a response letter in today’s Enterprise:
“Sue voted for this, along with the rest of the council, accepting the argument that it could be dangerous for firefighters to work in the extreme heat with heavy gear.”
However, when the firefighters’ contract came due again, Sue argued vociferously against the contract and did not vote for it.”
Why? Because total compensation had risen to nearly $147,000 per person before overtime. Captains receive $166,000 per year plus they averaged $29,000 in overtime last year.
The firefighters go on to discuss criticisms about overtime pay–again missing the point.
“Additionally, we are being questioned about overtime pay. The fire chief or a qualified representative must approve any overtime hours worked beyond our normal 56-hour workweek.”
Again this is a misdirection, the real question is not who approves the overtime, but the amount of overtime and the reason why captains receive overtime, and the reason why firefighters receive more in salary and benefits than the Fire Chief, Police Chief, and City Manager.
It is obvious that the firefighters are feeling the heat. But they have not addressed a number of the key complaints including the level of influence peddling that dwarfs any other campaign expenditure in this race.
In closing their letter they write:
“The safety of the citizens is our top priority.”
One must question that. We have this week the announcement about the inability to repair our streets. That is going to lead to safety problems for the citizens. The city is going to need to probably raise revenue to address these concerns, but at the same time, the firefighters are pushing for another tax to pay for a fourth fire station, a new truck, and more personnel. If we cannot keep our streets in good condition, that is a real safety problem for the citizens.
We question the IEs in the Assembly Race, but how about questioning an IE from an interest party in the Council Race. They have likely spent in excess of $25,000 to $30,000 in this race both in direct contributions and their IE. We also see the stakes–protecting their overtime pay, their $150,000 base salary and benefits, and their 3% at 50. All of which is going to lead to the citizens of Davis not to be more safe, but to be less safe because of deteriorating road conditions.
—Doug Paul Davis reporting
The budget for “transportation” in Public Works is $8.5 million. Perhaps the money needs to be reprioritized to where it is most needed. Excluding debt service and capital projects, the entire city budget is around $110 million (Fire, excluding full pension funding, is 9% of that total). Everything needs to be looked at. If this was being run as a business the money would be spent where needed. Some of the sacred cows would be slaughtered and eaten.
The budget for “transportation” in Public Works is $8.5 million. Perhaps the money needs to be reprioritized to where it is most needed. Excluding debt service and capital projects, the entire city budget is around $110 million (Fire, excluding full pension funding, is 9% of that total). Everything needs to be looked at. If this was being run as a business the money would be spent where needed. Some of the sacred cows would be slaughtered and eaten.
The budget for “transportation” in Public Works is $8.5 million. Perhaps the money needs to be reprioritized to where it is most needed. Excluding debt service and capital projects, the entire city budget is around $110 million (Fire, excluding full pension funding, is 9% of that total). Everything needs to be looked at. If this was being run as a business the money would be spent where needed. Some of the sacred cows would be slaughtered and eaten.
The budget for “transportation” in Public Works is $8.5 million. Perhaps the money needs to be reprioritized to where it is most needed. Excluding debt service and capital projects, the entire city budget is around $110 million (Fire, excluding full pension funding, is 9% of that total). Everything needs to be looked at. If this was being run as a business the money would be spent where needed. Some of the sacred cows would be slaughtered and eaten.
This quote in the firefighters’ letter, which you’ve reproduced, caught my attention: “Contrary to recent reports, none of the candidates we are supporting this year was a member of the City Council when our retirement plan (the industry standard across the state) was approved in 2000.”
Over the last 12 months, I’ve come to understand how the city’s unions negotiate their contracts. Everything is based on the industry standard.
Here is how the process works, the very process which has the City of Davis and so many other municipal governments in dire financial condition: the parties decide which nearby agencies or governments are roughly comparable. They then do a survey of what the wages and benefits are for those comps. For the City of Davis Fire Department (in the last contract), these were the comps:
City of Fairfield
City of Napa
City of Roseville
City of Sacramento
City of Vacaville
City of West Sacramento
City of Woodland
Sac. Co. Fire Protection Dist.
University of California at Davis
El Dorado Hills Protection District
That sounds reasonable, but it isn’t.
Why not? Because the way these negotiations go — ever since this system was adopted in the late 1980s — the new contract will at least match the highest comp agency in the area. That is how overnight 3%@50 became “the industry standard.”
Firefighters who retired in 1996 or before never had it. Then one city council somewhere — in all likelihood one with a majority of members who had been financed for office by the local firefighters union — decided 3%@50 was a good idea.
Then, when the nearby agencies’ contracts were up for negotiation, every one of them, using this system of matching the highest salaries and benefits system, matched that new standard. That is why, four years before the DFD won 3%@50 from our city council, no one had it and in an instant, once one agency broke down that door, almost every city and county in California adopted it. (And once firefighters got it, police agencies, including Davis, insisted they must have 3%@50 as well.)*
The same basic process secured 2.5%@55 for all classified employees in Davis. And it is that process which has driven up the salaries of the highest paid managers, department heads and of course firefighters to roughly triple what people in these same jobs were making 20-25 years ago after you adjust for inflation.
What has to be asked is whether it makes any sense to the taxpayers: Does it make sense for the people of Davis to pay a department head, whose last salary was $160,000 and who worked in Davis from age 25 to 55, $10,000/month plus cost of living adjustments for the rest of his life (or, because these benefits are transferable to a spouse, the rest of his wife’s life)? Such an employee will make far, far more money in retirement than he made actually working. In other words, his real wage is double what it appears on paper.
None of the money to finance that pension — which is worth about $2.5 million in present value or $4.2 million in actual payments — was paid for by the employee. Unlike Social Security or a 401K, this money (for classified employees in Davis) comes straight out of the general fund (to PERS).
Firefighters and cops, who retire extremely young — earlier than when they would not physically be able to do their jobs, in my opinion — get 90% of their last year’s salaries.** When those salaries are set as high as they are now — their wages were raised 36% in their last contract — it is equivalent to giving each and every one of them at least a couple of million present value dollars (more in some cases) to quit the force.
In the end, there is no defense for our “industry standard” negotiating practice. It has completely ignored fairness to the taxpayers and to those who depend on city services which have become too expensive to provide. Once we and many other cities declare bankruptcy, the process will have to change.
* To the best of my knowledge, the Davis Police Department has never financed candidates running for the Davis City Council. However, the DPD does have a PAC, and they seem to charge each member of their union $60/year to finance their political action committee…. It’s also notable that while the firefighters got a 36% raise in their last deal, the cops “only” got a 17% increase in wages.
** Anecdotally, I had heard the firefighters were gaming the system to pump up their pensions. I directly asked the city manager if firefighters were rotating into management positions for their last year of employment, so that they would get a much higher pension at retirement. He told me no, that is not occurring, and he was backed in this view by two other top level city employees at our meeting. I hope he is right.
This quote in the firefighters’ letter, which you’ve reproduced, caught my attention: “Contrary to recent reports, none of the candidates we are supporting this year was a member of the City Council when our retirement plan (the industry standard across the state) was approved in 2000.”
Over the last 12 months, I’ve come to understand how the city’s unions negotiate their contracts. Everything is based on the industry standard.
Here is how the process works, the very process which has the City of Davis and so many other municipal governments in dire financial condition: the parties decide which nearby agencies or governments are roughly comparable. They then do a survey of what the wages and benefits are for those comps. For the City of Davis Fire Department (in the last contract), these were the comps:
City of Fairfield
City of Napa
City of Roseville
City of Sacramento
City of Vacaville
City of West Sacramento
City of Woodland
Sac. Co. Fire Protection Dist.
University of California at Davis
El Dorado Hills Protection District
That sounds reasonable, but it isn’t.
Why not? Because the way these negotiations go — ever since this system was adopted in the late 1980s — the new contract will at least match the highest comp agency in the area. That is how overnight 3%@50 became “the industry standard.”
Firefighters who retired in 1996 or before never had it. Then one city council somewhere — in all likelihood one with a majority of members who had been financed for office by the local firefighters union — decided 3%@50 was a good idea.
Then, when the nearby agencies’ contracts were up for negotiation, every one of them, using this system of matching the highest salaries and benefits system, matched that new standard. That is why, four years before the DFD won 3%@50 from our city council, no one had it and in an instant, once one agency broke down that door, almost every city and county in California adopted it. (And once firefighters got it, police agencies, including Davis, insisted they must have 3%@50 as well.)*
The same basic process secured 2.5%@55 for all classified employees in Davis. And it is that process which has driven up the salaries of the highest paid managers, department heads and of course firefighters to roughly triple what people in these same jobs were making 20-25 years ago after you adjust for inflation.
What has to be asked is whether it makes any sense to the taxpayers: Does it make sense for the people of Davis to pay a department head, whose last salary was $160,000 and who worked in Davis from age 25 to 55, $10,000/month plus cost of living adjustments for the rest of his life (or, because these benefits are transferable to a spouse, the rest of his wife’s life)? Such an employee will make far, far more money in retirement than he made actually working. In other words, his real wage is double what it appears on paper.
None of the money to finance that pension — which is worth about $2.5 million in present value or $4.2 million in actual payments — was paid for by the employee. Unlike Social Security or a 401K, this money (for classified employees in Davis) comes straight out of the general fund (to PERS).
Firefighters and cops, who retire extremely young — earlier than when they would not physically be able to do their jobs, in my opinion — get 90% of their last year’s salaries.** When those salaries are set as high as they are now — their wages were raised 36% in their last contract — it is equivalent to giving each and every one of them at least a couple of million present value dollars (more in some cases) to quit the force.
In the end, there is no defense for our “industry standard” negotiating practice. It has completely ignored fairness to the taxpayers and to those who depend on city services which have become too expensive to provide. Once we and many other cities declare bankruptcy, the process will have to change.
* To the best of my knowledge, the Davis Police Department has never financed candidates running for the Davis City Council. However, the DPD does have a PAC, and they seem to charge each member of their union $60/year to finance their political action committee…. It’s also notable that while the firefighters got a 36% raise in their last deal, the cops “only” got a 17% increase in wages.
** Anecdotally, I had heard the firefighters were gaming the system to pump up their pensions. I directly asked the city manager if firefighters were rotating into management positions for their last year of employment, so that they would get a much higher pension at retirement. He told me no, that is not occurring, and he was backed in this view by two other top level city employees at our meeting. I hope he is right.
This quote in the firefighters’ letter, which you’ve reproduced, caught my attention: “Contrary to recent reports, none of the candidates we are supporting this year was a member of the City Council when our retirement plan (the industry standard across the state) was approved in 2000.”
Over the last 12 months, I’ve come to understand how the city’s unions negotiate their contracts. Everything is based on the industry standard.
Here is how the process works, the very process which has the City of Davis and so many other municipal governments in dire financial condition: the parties decide which nearby agencies or governments are roughly comparable. They then do a survey of what the wages and benefits are for those comps. For the City of Davis Fire Department (in the last contract), these were the comps:
City of Fairfield
City of Napa
City of Roseville
City of Sacramento
City of Vacaville
City of West Sacramento
City of Woodland
Sac. Co. Fire Protection Dist.
University of California at Davis
El Dorado Hills Protection District
That sounds reasonable, but it isn’t.
Why not? Because the way these negotiations go — ever since this system was adopted in the late 1980s — the new contract will at least match the highest comp agency in the area. That is how overnight 3%@50 became “the industry standard.”
Firefighters who retired in 1996 or before never had it. Then one city council somewhere — in all likelihood one with a majority of members who had been financed for office by the local firefighters union — decided 3%@50 was a good idea.
Then, when the nearby agencies’ contracts were up for negotiation, every one of them, using this system of matching the highest salaries and benefits system, matched that new standard. That is why, four years before the DFD won 3%@50 from our city council, no one had it and in an instant, once one agency broke down that door, almost every city and county in California adopted it. (And once firefighters got it, police agencies, including Davis, insisted they must have 3%@50 as well.)*
The same basic process secured 2.5%@55 for all classified employees in Davis. And it is that process which has driven up the salaries of the highest paid managers, department heads and of course firefighters to roughly triple what people in these same jobs were making 20-25 years ago after you adjust for inflation.
What has to be asked is whether it makes any sense to the taxpayers: Does it make sense for the people of Davis to pay a department head, whose last salary was $160,000 and who worked in Davis from age 25 to 55, $10,000/month plus cost of living adjustments for the rest of his life (or, because these benefits are transferable to a spouse, the rest of his wife’s life)? Such an employee will make far, far more money in retirement than he made actually working. In other words, his real wage is double what it appears on paper.
None of the money to finance that pension — which is worth about $2.5 million in present value or $4.2 million in actual payments — was paid for by the employee. Unlike Social Security or a 401K, this money (for classified employees in Davis) comes straight out of the general fund (to PERS).
Firefighters and cops, who retire extremely young — earlier than when they would not physically be able to do their jobs, in my opinion — get 90% of their last year’s salaries.** When those salaries are set as high as they are now — their wages were raised 36% in their last contract — it is equivalent to giving each and every one of them at least a couple of million present value dollars (more in some cases) to quit the force.
In the end, there is no defense for our “industry standard” negotiating practice. It has completely ignored fairness to the taxpayers and to those who depend on city services which have become too expensive to provide. Once we and many other cities declare bankruptcy, the process will have to change.
* To the best of my knowledge, the Davis Police Department has never financed candidates running for the Davis City Council. However, the DPD does have a PAC, and they seem to charge each member of their union $60/year to finance their political action committee…. It’s also notable that while the firefighters got a 36% raise in their last deal, the cops “only” got a 17% increase in wages.
** Anecdotally, I had heard the firefighters were gaming the system to pump up their pensions. I directly asked the city manager if firefighters were rotating into management positions for their last year of employment, so that they would get a much higher pension at retirement. He told me no, that is not occurring, and he was backed in this view by two other top level city employees at our meeting. I hope he is right.
This quote in the firefighters’ letter, which you’ve reproduced, caught my attention: “Contrary to recent reports, none of the candidates we are supporting this year was a member of the City Council when our retirement plan (the industry standard across the state) was approved in 2000.”
Over the last 12 months, I’ve come to understand how the city’s unions negotiate their contracts. Everything is based on the industry standard.
Here is how the process works, the very process which has the City of Davis and so many other municipal governments in dire financial condition: the parties decide which nearby agencies or governments are roughly comparable. They then do a survey of what the wages and benefits are for those comps. For the City of Davis Fire Department (in the last contract), these were the comps:
City of Fairfield
City of Napa
City of Roseville
City of Sacramento
City of Vacaville
City of West Sacramento
City of Woodland
Sac. Co. Fire Protection Dist.
University of California at Davis
El Dorado Hills Protection District
That sounds reasonable, but it isn’t.
Why not? Because the way these negotiations go — ever since this system was adopted in the late 1980s — the new contract will at least match the highest comp agency in the area. That is how overnight 3%@50 became “the industry standard.”
Firefighters who retired in 1996 or before never had it. Then one city council somewhere — in all likelihood one with a majority of members who had been financed for office by the local firefighters union — decided 3%@50 was a good idea.
Then, when the nearby agencies’ contracts were up for negotiation, every one of them, using this system of matching the highest salaries and benefits system, matched that new standard. That is why, four years before the DFD won 3%@50 from our city council, no one had it and in an instant, once one agency broke down that door, almost every city and county in California adopted it. (And once firefighters got it, police agencies, including Davis, insisted they must have 3%@50 as well.)*
The same basic process secured 2.5%@55 for all classified employees in Davis. And it is that process which has driven up the salaries of the highest paid managers, department heads and of course firefighters to roughly triple what people in these same jobs were making 20-25 years ago after you adjust for inflation.
What has to be asked is whether it makes any sense to the taxpayers: Does it make sense for the people of Davis to pay a department head, whose last salary was $160,000 and who worked in Davis from age 25 to 55, $10,000/month plus cost of living adjustments for the rest of his life (or, because these benefits are transferable to a spouse, the rest of his wife’s life)? Such an employee will make far, far more money in retirement than he made actually working. In other words, his real wage is double what it appears on paper.
None of the money to finance that pension — which is worth about $2.5 million in present value or $4.2 million in actual payments — was paid for by the employee. Unlike Social Security or a 401K, this money (for classified employees in Davis) comes straight out of the general fund (to PERS).
Firefighters and cops, who retire extremely young — earlier than when they would not physically be able to do their jobs, in my opinion — get 90% of their last year’s salaries.** When those salaries are set as high as they are now — their wages were raised 36% in their last contract — it is equivalent to giving each and every one of them at least a couple of million present value dollars (more in some cases) to quit the force.
In the end, there is no defense for our “industry standard” negotiating practice. It has completely ignored fairness to the taxpayers and to those who depend on city services which have become too expensive to provide. Once we and many other cities declare bankruptcy, the process will have to change.
* To the best of my knowledge, the Davis Police Department has never financed candidates running for the Davis City Council. However, the DPD does have a PAC, and they seem to charge each member of their union $60/year to finance their political action committee…. It’s also notable that while the firefighters got a 36% raise in their last deal, the cops “only” got a 17% increase in wages.
** Anecdotally, I had heard the firefighters were gaming the system to pump up their pensions. I directly asked the city manager if firefighters were rotating into management positions for their last year of employment, so that they would get a much higher pension at retirement. He told me no, that is not occurring, and he was backed in this view by two other top level city employees at our meeting. I hope he is right.
I think that Gov. Davis needed public safety support to oppose the recall, so he supported it for the CHP? I think that the statewide program is what spread it to local governments.
Also, there is a relationship between the 3% at 50, and the stock market, through Calpers. I dont remember the linkages, but Sue probably does.
Mike Harrington
I think that Gov. Davis needed public safety support to oppose the recall, so he supported it for the CHP? I think that the statewide program is what spread it to local governments.
Also, there is a relationship between the 3% at 50, and the stock market, through Calpers. I dont remember the linkages, but Sue probably does.
Mike Harrington
I think that Gov. Davis needed public safety support to oppose the recall, so he supported it for the CHP? I think that the statewide program is what spread it to local governments.
Also, there is a relationship between the 3% at 50, and the stock market, through Calpers. I dont remember the linkages, but Sue probably does.
Mike Harrington
I think that Gov. Davis needed public safety support to oppose the recall, so he supported it for the CHP? I think that the statewide program is what spread it to local governments.
Also, there is a relationship between the 3% at 50, and the stock market, through Calpers. I dont remember the linkages, but Sue probably does.
Mike Harrington
Mike Harrington voted for all of the firefighter raises. He did make a stab at bringing things under control by impulsively suggesting a 10% across the board reduction in salaries for department heads & managers (not to affect rank & file employees, including firefighters). This, of course, was shot down and earned him the animosity of all city department heads and managers. Since he has a history of voting for all of the firefighter contracts, it is a mystery why the firefighters hated him so much. Bobby Weiss, the union president who lives in Elk Grove, may be the only person who could answer that.
Mike Harrington voted for all of the firefighter raises. He did make a stab at bringing things under control by impulsively suggesting a 10% across the board reduction in salaries for department heads & managers (not to affect rank & file employees, including firefighters). This, of course, was shot down and earned him the animosity of all city department heads and managers. Since he has a history of voting for all of the firefighter contracts, it is a mystery why the firefighters hated him so much. Bobby Weiss, the union president who lives in Elk Grove, may be the only person who could answer that.
Mike Harrington voted for all of the firefighter raises. He did make a stab at bringing things under control by impulsively suggesting a 10% across the board reduction in salaries for department heads & managers (not to affect rank & file employees, including firefighters). This, of course, was shot down and earned him the animosity of all city department heads and managers. Since he has a history of voting for all of the firefighter contracts, it is a mystery why the firefighters hated him so much. Bobby Weiss, the union president who lives in Elk Grove, may be the only person who could answer that.
Mike Harrington voted for all of the firefighter raises. He did make a stab at bringing things under control by impulsively suggesting a 10% across the board reduction in salaries for department heads & managers (not to affect rank & file employees, including firefighters). This, of course, was shot down and earned him the animosity of all city department heads and managers. Since he has a history of voting for all of the firefighter contracts, it is a mystery why the firefighters hated him so much. Bobby Weiss, the union president who lives in Elk Grove, may be the only person who could answer that.
Let’s See,
The DPD has a PAC? That’s a funny one. They “SEEM” to charge $60 / year to it’s members to finance it? Which is it? They do, or “SEEM” to.
In this piece it also mentions Local 3494 for firefighters. That in and of itself defines the bleak financial future facing EVERYONE, UNIONS in the public employment sector.
The Davis Police dept. does not have a union. The members of the Davis Police dept. represent themselves in negotiations with the City.
FREEZE and REDUCE the pay to firefighters for a couple of years to help balance the budget. Also stop their overkill response to every minor situation in Davis. Concerned they will leave? Let em, because the grass is not greener on the other side of the pasture.
Let’s See,
The DPD has a PAC? That’s a funny one. They “SEEM” to charge $60 / year to it’s members to finance it? Which is it? They do, or “SEEM” to.
In this piece it also mentions Local 3494 for firefighters. That in and of itself defines the bleak financial future facing EVERYONE, UNIONS in the public employment sector.
The Davis Police dept. does not have a union. The members of the Davis Police dept. represent themselves in negotiations with the City.
FREEZE and REDUCE the pay to firefighters for a couple of years to help balance the budget. Also stop their overkill response to every minor situation in Davis. Concerned they will leave? Let em, because the grass is not greener on the other side of the pasture.
Let’s See,
The DPD has a PAC? That’s a funny one. They “SEEM” to charge $60 / year to it’s members to finance it? Which is it? They do, or “SEEM” to.
In this piece it also mentions Local 3494 for firefighters. That in and of itself defines the bleak financial future facing EVERYONE, UNIONS in the public employment sector.
The Davis Police dept. does not have a union. The members of the Davis Police dept. represent themselves in negotiations with the City.
FREEZE and REDUCE the pay to firefighters for a couple of years to help balance the budget. Also stop their overkill response to every minor situation in Davis. Concerned they will leave? Let em, because the grass is not greener on the other side of the pasture.
Let’s See,
The DPD has a PAC? That’s a funny one. They “SEEM” to charge $60 / year to it’s members to finance it? Which is it? They do, or “SEEM” to.
In this piece it also mentions Local 3494 for firefighters. That in and of itself defines the bleak financial future facing EVERYONE, UNIONS in the public employment sector.
The Davis Police dept. does not have a union. The members of the Davis Police dept. represent themselves in negotiations with the City.
FREEZE and REDUCE the pay to firefighters for a couple of years to help balance the budget. Also stop their overkill response to every minor situation in Davis. Concerned they will leave? Let em, because the grass is not greener on the other side of the pasture.
Well folks, expect the proposal of a new “public safety tax” already suggested from the dais by Steve Souza. The City Council’s solution to the fiscal crisis is to have Paul Navazio paint a rosy but false picture of an alleged “balanced budget” with creative bookkeeping – to keep the incumbents in office who can claim disingenously that they were fiscally responsible during their tenure, especially Saylor and Souza. If elected, the next step will be to balance the budget with a series of new taxes.
Thus looming on the horizon is a new parcel tax for schools, a new public saftey tax, a mammoth increase in water and sewer rates, etc. As long as John Q. Public allows it, the City Council will continue to balance the budget by raising taxes or creating new ones. At some point, there is going to be a taxpayer revolt, when many can no longer afford to pay the enormous new tax burden, home owner association fees, and their mortgage. Foreclosures here in Davis very well may be the result.
Well folks, expect the proposal of a new “public safety tax” already suggested from the dais by Steve Souza. The City Council’s solution to the fiscal crisis is to have Paul Navazio paint a rosy but false picture of an alleged “balanced budget” with creative bookkeeping – to keep the incumbents in office who can claim disingenously that they were fiscally responsible during their tenure, especially Saylor and Souza. If elected, the next step will be to balance the budget with a series of new taxes.
Thus looming on the horizon is a new parcel tax for schools, a new public saftey tax, a mammoth increase in water and sewer rates, etc. As long as John Q. Public allows it, the City Council will continue to balance the budget by raising taxes or creating new ones. At some point, there is going to be a taxpayer revolt, when many can no longer afford to pay the enormous new tax burden, home owner association fees, and their mortgage. Foreclosures here in Davis very well may be the result.
Well folks, expect the proposal of a new “public safety tax” already suggested from the dais by Steve Souza. The City Council’s solution to the fiscal crisis is to have Paul Navazio paint a rosy but false picture of an alleged “balanced budget” with creative bookkeeping – to keep the incumbents in office who can claim disingenously that they were fiscally responsible during their tenure, especially Saylor and Souza. If elected, the next step will be to balance the budget with a series of new taxes.
Thus looming on the horizon is a new parcel tax for schools, a new public saftey tax, a mammoth increase in water and sewer rates, etc. As long as John Q. Public allows it, the City Council will continue to balance the budget by raising taxes or creating new ones. At some point, there is going to be a taxpayer revolt, when many can no longer afford to pay the enormous new tax burden, home owner association fees, and their mortgage. Foreclosures here in Davis very well may be the result.
Well folks, expect the proposal of a new “public safety tax” already suggested from the dais by Steve Souza. The City Council’s solution to the fiscal crisis is to have Paul Navazio paint a rosy but false picture of an alleged “balanced budget” with creative bookkeeping – to keep the incumbents in office who can claim disingenously that they were fiscally responsible during their tenure, especially Saylor and Souza. If elected, the next step will be to balance the budget with a series of new taxes.
Thus looming on the horizon is a new parcel tax for schools, a new public saftey tax, a mammoth increase in water and sewer rates, etc. As long as John Q. Public allows it, the City Council will continue to balance the budget by raising taxes or creating new ones. At some point, there is going to be a taxpayer revolt, when many can no longer afford to pay the enormous new tax burden, home owner association fees, and their mortgage. Foreclosures here in Davis very well may be the result.
There are already more foreclosures in Davis then most people realize. The banks just can’t keep up with the paperwork.
Q3 2009 is going to be a real eyeopener for the city of Davis.
There are already more foreclosures in Davis then most people realize. The banks just can’t keep up with the paperwork.
Q3 2009 is going to be a real eyeopener for the city of Davis.
There are already more foreclosures in Davis then most people realize. The banks just can’t keep up with the paperwork.
Q3 2009 is going to be a real eyeopener for the city of Davis.
There are already more foreclosures in Davis then most people realize. The banks just can’t keep up with the paperwork.
Q3 2009 is going to be a real eyeopener for the city of Davis.
you forgot to mention that the reason we have a shortfall in road maintenance funds is because the cost to repair roads has more than tripled with the cost of oil.
so, while some elected officials may be to blame (Bush & Cheney et al), I don’t that its fair to accuse two one-term councilmen for creating a “dire financial condition”.
btw – why is Sue so excited about spending over a million dollars on a 2nd screen at the Varsity and on a bike museum if the city is so overextended?
you forgot to mention that the reason we have a shortfall in road maintenance funds is because the cost to repair roads has more than tripled with the cost of oil.
so, while some elected officials may be to blame (Bush & Cheney et al), I don’t that its fair to accuse two one-term councilmen for creating a “dire financial condition”.
btw – why is Sue so excited about spending over a million dollars on a 2nd screen at the Varsity and on a bike museum if the city is so overextended?
you forgot to mention that the reason we have a shortfall in road maintenance funds is because the cost to repair roads has more than tripled with the cost of oil.
so, while some elected officials may be to blame (Bush & Cheney et al), I don’t that its fair to accuse two one-term councilmen for creating a “dire financial condition”.
btw – why is Sue so excited about spending over a million dollars on a 2nd screen at the Varsity and on a bike museum if the city is so overextended?
you forgot to mention that the reason we have a shortfall in road maintenance funds is because the cost to repair roads has more than tripled with the cost of oil.
so, while some elected officials may be to blame (Bush & Cheney et al), I don’t that its fair to accuse two one-term councilmen for creating a “dire financial condition”.
btw – why is Sue so excited about spending over a million dollars on a 2nd screen at the Varsity and on a bike museum if the city is so overextended?
It seems that a lot of workers in the working USA have forgotten or never heard why a UNION was ever started in this country of ours ..
Take for instance ,
8 hour days
sick leave
vacation
workers comp
medical & dental retirement plans
being fired
laid off
not promoted
discriminated against
mental ,sexual ,physical attacks
making a fair wage
Please remember some of this list hopefully all, and the many people before you who took a stance and fought for the rights of all ,who work today and into the future ..
A parting question , do todays CEO’s, CFO’s , who make MILLIONS per year really want to take care of the American workers now and into the future ?
It seems that a lot of workers in the working USA have forgotten or never heard why a UNION was ever started in this country of ours ..
Take for instance ,
8 hour days
sick leave
vacation
workers comp
medical & dental retirement plans
being fired
laid off
not promoted
discriminated against
mental ,sexual ,physical attacks
making a fair wage
Please remember some of this list hopefully all, and the many people before you who took a stance and fought for the rights of all ,who work today and into the future ..
A parting question , do todays CEO’s, CFO’s , who make MILLIONS per year really want to take care of the American workers now and into the future ?
It seems that a lot of workers in the working USA have forgotten or never heard why a UNION was ever started in this country of ours ..
Take for instance ,
8 hour days
sick leave
vacation
workers comp
medical & dental retirement plans
being fired
laid off
not promoted
discriminated against
mental ,sexual ,physical attacks
making a fair wage
Please remember some of this list hopefully all, and the many people before you who took a stance and fought for the rights of all ,who work today and into the future ..
A parting question , do todays CEO’s, CFO’s , who make MILLIONS per year really want to take care of the American workers now and into the future ?
It seems that a lot of workers in the working USA have forgotten or never heard why a UNION was ever started in this country of ours ..
Take for instance ,
8 hour days
sick leave
vacation
workers comp
medical & dental retirement plans
being fired
laid off
not promoted
discriminated against
mental ,sexual ,physical attacks
making a fair wage
Please remember some of this list hopefully all, and the many people before you who took a stance and fought for the rights of all ,who work today and into the future ..
A parting question , do todays CEO’s, CFO’s , who make MILLIONS per year really want to take care of the American workers now and into the future ?
The core issue of the retiree medical benefit liability is the outrageous cost of healthcare in this country. You could argue that the retirees should pay their own costs, but at the rates for individual coverage I doubt many would, which would still leave the public for their emergency room costs and other costs associated with ill health. So we need to focus on the healthcare costs in this country, not just on providing those benefits to our retirees.
The core issue of the retiree medical benefit liability is the outrageous cost of healthcare in this country. You could argue that the retirees should pay their own costs, but at the rates for individual coverage I doubt many would, which would still leave the public for their emergency room costs and other costs associated with ill health. So we need to focus on the healthcare costs in this country, not just on providing those benefits to our retirees.
The core issue of the retiree medical benefit liability is the outrageous cost of healthcare in this country. You could argue that the retirees should pay their own costs, but at the rates for individual coverage I doubt many would, which would still leave the public for their emergency room costs and other costs associated with ill health. So we need to focus on the healthcare costs in this country, not just on providing those benefits to our retirees.
The core issue of the retiree medical benefit liability is the outrageous cost of healthcare in this country. You could argue that the retirees should pay their own costs, but at the rates for individual coverage I doubt many would, which would still leave the public for their emergency room costs and other costs associated with ill health. So we need to focus on the healthcare costs in this country, not just on providing those benefits to our retirees.
After watching the show SICKO , it sure seems like Europe knows how to do healthcare , so if your inbetween jobs like my son, who is to old to be on my insurance anymore ,and not making enough while not working to pay out of pocket for healthcare .What a stess free way to focus on future schooling,a career ,family, meaning infants, kids, teens,and what many adults are facing ,taking care of parents medically and financially..
After watching the show SICKO , it sure seems like Europe knows how to do healthcare , so if your inbetween jobs like my son, who is to old to be on my insurance anymore ,and not making enough while not working to pay out of pocket for healthcare .What a stess free way to focus on future schooling,a career ,family, meaning infants, kids, teens,and what many adults are facing ,taking care of parents medically and financially..
After watching the show SICKO , it sure seems like Europe knows how to do healthcare , so if your inbetween jobs like my son, who is to old to be on my insurance anymore ,and not making enough while not working to pay out of pocket for healthcare .What a stess free way to focus on future schooling,a career ,family, meaning infants, kids, teens,and what many adults are facing ,taking care of parents medically and financially..
After watching the show SICKO , it sure seems like Europe knows how to do healthcare , so if your inbetween jobs like my son, who is to old to be on my insurance anymore ,and not making enough while not working to pay out of pocket for healthcare .What a stess free way to focus on future schooling,a career ,family, meaning infants, kids, teens,and what many adults are facing ,taking care of parents medically and financially..
“The DPD has a PAC? That’s a funny one.”
Yes, it is called the Davis Police Officers Association Political Action Committee. It is registered with the City Clerk.
“They ‘SEEM’ to charge $60/year to it’s members to finance it? Which is it? They do, or ‘SEEM’ to.”
Every cop in the department gives $5/month to that PAC, every month. Whether that is compulsory or not I am not sure.
“The Davis Police dept. does not have a union. The members of the Davis Police dept. represent themselves in negotiations with the City.”
Untrue. The Davis POA represents all sworn police officers below the level of lieutenant in contract negotiations with the City of Davis. That is their union. Here is the language from the contract, recognizing the DPOA:
“… representatives of the Davis Police Officers Association, the recognized employee organization for the Police General Unit…”
However, there is a different contract for individual police lieutenants. It appears they are not represented by the DPOA. Their contract was signed by Dorothy Pearson, Darren Pytel and Colleen Turay. I don’t know if that contract covers others, as well.
“The DPD has a PAC? That’s a funny one.”
Yes, it is called the Davis Police Officers Association Political Action Committee. It is registered with the City Clerk.
“They ‘SEEM’ to charge $60/year to it’s members to finance it? Which is it? They do, or ‘SEEM’ to.”
Every cop in the department gives $5/month to that PAC, every month. Whether that is compulsory or not I am not sure.
“The Davis Police dept. does not have a union. The members of the Davis Police dept. represent themselves in negotiations with the City.”
Untrue. The Davis POA represents all sworn police officers below the level of lieutenant in contract negotiations with the City of Davis. That is their union. Here is the language from the contract, recognizing the DPOA:
“… representatives of the Davis Police Officers Association, the recognized employee organization for the Police General Unit…”
However, there is a different contract for individual police lieutenants. It appears they are not represented by the DPOA. Their contract was signed by Dorothy Pearson, Darren Pytel and Colleen Turay. I don’t know if that contract covers others, as well.
“The DPD has a PAC? That’s a funny one.”
Yes, it is called the Davis Police Officers Association Political Action Committee. It is registered with the City Clerk.
“They ‘SEEM’ to charge $60/year to it’s members to finance it? Which is it? They do, or ‘SEEM’ to.”
Every cop in the department gives $5/month to that PAC, every month. Whether that is compulsory or not I am not sure.
“The Davis Police dept. does not have a union. The members of the Davis Police dept. represent themselves in negotiations with the City.”
Untrue. The Davis POA represents all sworn police officers below the level of lieutenant in contract negotiations with the City of Davis. That is their union. Here is the language from the contract, recognizing the DPOA:
“… representatives of the Davis Police Officers Association, the recognized employee organization for the Police General Unit…”
However, there is a different contract for individual police lieutenants. It appears they are not represented by the DPOA. Their contract was signed by Dorothy Pearson, Darren Pytel and Colleen Turay. I don’t know if that contract covers others, as well.
“The DPD has a PAC? That’s a funny one.”
Yes, it is called the Davis Police Officers Association Political Action Committee. It is registered with the City Clerk.
“They ‘SEEM’ to charge $60/year to it’s members to finance it? Which is it? They do, or ‘SEEM’ to.”
Every cop in the department gives $5/month to that PAC, every month. Whether that is compulsory or not I am not sure.
“The Davis Police dept. does not have a union. The members of the Davis Police dept. represent themselves in negotiations with the City.”
Untrue. The Davis POA represents all sworn police officers below the level of lieutenant in contract negotiations with the City of Davis. That is their union. Here is the language from the contract, recognizing the DPOA:
“… representatives of the Davis Police Officers Association, the recognized employee organization for the Police General Unit…”
However, there is a different contract for individual police lieutenants. It appears they are not represented by the DPOA. Their contract was signed by Dorothy Pearson, Darren Pytel and Colleen Turay. I don’t know if that contract covers others, as well.
RE: The Varsity screen
My current understanding is that if we, as the redevelopment agency, build a second screen at the Varsity, the rent will be increased such that the loan will be paid off in about eleven years.
The City owns the building and the improvement, and the rate of return on the second screen will be greater than it would be if the funds were otherwise invested. In addition, citizens would be able to enjoy a greater variety of movies, and Davis would attract more visitors and their tax dollars.
If I am mistaken, please show me how.
RE: The Varsity screen
My current understanding is that if we, as the redevelopment agency, build a second screen at the Varsity, the rent will be increased such that the loan will be paid off in about eleven years.
The City owns the building and the improvement, and the rate of return on the second screen will be greater than it would be if the funds were otherwise invested. In addition, citizens would be able to enjoy a greater variety of movies, and Davis would attract more visitors and their tax dollars.
If I am mistaken, please show me how.
RE: The Varsity screen
My current understanding is that if we, as the redevelopment agency, build a second screen at the Varsity, the rent will be increased such that the loan will be paid off in about eleven years.
The City owns the building and the improvement, and the rate of return on the second screen will be greater than it would be if the funds were otherwise invested. In addition, citizens would be able to enjoy a greater variety of movies, and Davis would attract more visitors and their tax dollars.
If I am mistaken, please show me how.
RE: The Varsity screen
My current understanding is that if we, as the redevelopment agency, build a second screen at the Varsity, the rent will be increased such that the loan will be paid off in about eleven years.
The City owns the building and the improvement, and the rate of return on the second screen will be greater than it would be if the funds were otherwise invested. In addition, citizens would be able to enjoy a greater variety of movies, and Davis would attract more visitors and their tax dollars.
If I am mistaken, please show me how.
This situation with the firefighters and police being over-compensated and essentially bankrupting the communities in which they serve (e.g., Vallejo), demonstrates the problem with price-setting sans market forces. Were the firefighters and the police (to a lesser extent) required to negotiate their pay in competition with outsourced alternatives; we would likely not have this pending budget mess.
I’m not sure of the final outcome, but in early 2007 Half-Moon Bay voted to enter into a 3-year contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). The change would have saved the Half Moon Bay and Point Montara fire districts over $1m per year. All existing firefighters were guaranteed to keep their jobs, but their pay-rate would be frozen for 10 years and they would work 72-hour weekly shifts (3 days) instead of 56-hours (2-1/3 days). You would think the local firefighters would simply agree to accept these terms or at least offer a compromise. The last I heard the union was fighting the CDF outsourcing tooth and nail; preferring to bankrupt the community to maintain their unreasonable work schedules and compensation.
For a dose of reality, firefighters need to compare their employment situation with an emergency room doctor who is lucky to get 56 hours OFF every week and, figuring a firefighters total compensation including the value of benefits and overtime, make similar pay.
This situation with the firefighters and police being over-compensated and essentially bankrupting the communities in which they serve (e.g., Vallejo), demonstrates the problem with price-setting sans market forces. Were the firefighters and the police (to a lesser extent) required to negotiate their pay in competition with outsourced alternatives; we would likely not have this pending budget mess.
I’m not sure of the final outcome, but in early 2007 Half-Moon Bay voted to enter into a 3-year contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). The change would have saved the Half Moon Bay and Point Montara fire districts over $1m per year. All existing firefighters were guaranteed to keep their jobs, but their pay-rate would be frozen for 10 years and they would work 72-hour weekly shifts (3 days) instead of 56-hours (2-1/3 days). You would think the local firefighters would simply agree to accept these terms or at least offer a compromise. The last I heard the union was fighting the CDF outsourcing tooth and nail; preferring to bankrupt the community to maintain their unreasonable work schedules and compensation.
For a dose of reality, firefighters need to compare their employment situation with an emergency room doctor who is lucky to get 56 hours OFF every week and, figuring a firefighters total compensation including the value of benefits and overtime, make similar pay.
This situation with the firefighters and police being over-compensated and essentially bankrupting the communities in which they serve (e.g., Vallejo), demonstrates the problem with price-setting sans market forces. Were the firefighters and the police (to a lesser extent) required to negotiate their pay in competition with outsourced alternatives; we would likely not have this pending budget mess.
I’m not sure of the final outcome, but in early 2007 Half-Moon Bay voted to enter into a 3-year contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). The change would have saved the Half Moon Bay and Point Montara fire districts over $1m per year. All existing firefighters were guaranteed to keep their jobs, but their pay-rate would be frozen for 10 years and they would work 72-hour weekly shifts (3 days) instead of 56-hours (2-1/3 days). You would think the local firefighters would simply agree to accept these terms or at least offer a compromise. The last I heard the union was fighting the CDF outsourcing tooth and nail; preferring to bankrupt the community to maintain their unreasonable work schedules and compensation.
For a dose of reality, firefighters need to compare their employment situation with an emergency room doctor who is lucky to get 56 hours OFF every week and, figuring a firefighters total compensation including the value of benefits and overtime, make similar pay.
This situation with the firefighters and police being over-compensated and essentially bankrupting the communities in which they serve (e.g., Vallejo), demonstrates the problem with price-setting sans market forces. Were the firefighters and the police (to a lesser extent) required to negotiate their pay in competition with outsourced alternatives; we would likely not have this pending budget mess.
I’m not sure of the final outcome, but in early 2007 Half-Moon Bay voted to enter into a 3-year contract with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). The change would have saved the Half Moon Bay and Point Montara fire districts over $1m per year. All existing firefighters were guaranteed to keep their jobs, but their pay-rate would be frozen for 10 years and they would work 72-hour weekly shifts (3 days) instead of 56-hours (2-1/3 days). You would think the local firefighters would simply agree to accept these terms or at least offer a compromise. The last I heard the union was fighting the CDF outsourcing tooth and nail; preferring to bankrupt the community to maintain their unreasonable work schedules and compensation.
For a dose of reality, firefighters need to compare their employment situation with an emergency room doctor who is lucky to get 56 hours OFF every week and, figuring a firefighters total compensation including the value of benefits and overtime, make similar pay.
“Were the firefighters and the police (to a lesser extent) required to negotiate their pay in competition with outsourced alternatives; we would likely not have this pending budget mess.”
Or we could get rid of the fire department altogether and save a lot of money letting volunteers put out any fires we have. I’m completely serious.
I read in the paper that the city of Davis is going to spend $10 million next year on the fire department. If we have 5 fires a year (usually not that many) that means we are spending $2 million per house fire.
It’s more cost effective to let the houses burn to the ground and rebuild them. Even the biggest houses in Davis could be rebuilt for a half million dollars.
“Were the firefighters and the police (to a lesser extent) required to negotiate their pay in competition with outsourced alternatives; we would likely not have this pending budget mess.”
Or we could get rid of the fire department altogether and save a lot of money letting volunteers put out any fires we have. I’m completely serious.
I read in the paper that the city of Davis is going to spend $10 million next year on the fire department. If we have 5 fires a year (usually not that many) that means we are spending $2 million per house fire.
It’s more cost effective to let the houses burn to the ground and rebuild them. Even the biggest houses in Davis could be rebuilt for a half million dollars.
“Were the firefighters and the police (to a lesser extent) required to negotiate their pay in competition with outsourced alternatives; we would likely not have this pending budget mess.”
Or we could get rid of the fire department altogether and save a lot of money letting volunteers put out any fires we have. I’m completely serious.
I read in the paper that the city of Davis is going to spend $10 million next year on the fire department. If we have 5 fires a year (usually not that many) that means we are spending $2 million per house fire.
It’s more cost effective to let the houses burn to the ground and rebuild them. Even the biggest houses in Davis could be rebuilt for a half million dollars.
“Were the firefighters and the police (to a lesser extent) required to negotiate their pay in competition with outsourced alternatives; we would likely not have this pending budget mess.”
Or we could get rid of the fire department altogether and save a lot of money letting volunteers put out any fires we have. I’m completely serious.
I read in the paper that the city of Davis is going to spend $10 million next year on the fire department. If we have 5 fires a year (usually not that many) that means we are spending $2 million per house fire.
It’s more cost effective to let the houses burn to the ground and rebuild them. Even the biggest houses in Davis could be rebuilt for a half million dollars.
“you forgot to mention that the reason we have a shortfall in road maintenance funds is because the cost to repair roads has more than tripled with the cost of oil. so, while some elected officials may be to blame (Bush & Cheney et al), I don’t that its fair to accuse two one-term councilmen for creating a “dire financial condition”.”
Souza is the one suggesting instituting a new “public safety tax”. Saylor and Souza are the Councilmembers who keep insisting there is a balanced budget, with “unmet needs” not listed as a budget item the city is accountable for. The cost of road maintanence (about $8 million) doesn’t even come close to the cost of unmet needs of city employee health benefits and pensions (something like $45 million – someone correct me if these figures are off).
“After watching the show SICKO , it sure seems like Europe knows how to do healthcare”
First of all, this is off point. Second of all, universal health care has its problems, e.g. waiting six months for doctors appointments, no choice in physicians, resistence to implement medical procedures, etc. What we need is universal health insurance coverage – a system much like car insurance. Everyone must have it, but the gov’t only subsidizes those of low income. Such health insurance also needs to be better regulated in the workplace.
“There are already more foreclosures in Davis then most people realize. The banks just can’t keep up with the paperwork.
Q3 2009 is going to be a real eyeopener for the city of Davis.”
This is what scares me. Davisites waited too long to pay attention to what was going on in their school system – and look at what the results were. I don’t want to see the same thing happen to our city in general – that massive foreclosures finally get people to see that our City Council needs to wake up and pay attention to the excessive tax burden it is placing on its citizens. Taxing citizens is much easier than truly balancing a budget – which requires taking a hard look at how the money is being spent. The expenditures this city has in place right now are UNSUSTAINABLE.
“you forgot to mention that the reason we have a shortfall in road maintenance funds is because the cost to repair roads has more than tripled with the cost of oil. so, while some elected officials may be to blame (Bush & Cheney et al), I don’t that its fair to accuse two one-term councilmen for creating a “dire financial condition”.”
Souza is the one suggesting instituting a new “public safety tax”. Saylor and Souza are the Councilmembers who keep insisting there is a balanced budget, with “unmet needs” not listed as a budget item the city is accountable for. The cost of road maintanence (about $8 million) doesn’t even come close to the cost of unmet needs of city employee health benefits and pensions (something like $45 million – someone correct me if these figures are off).
“After watching the show SICKO , it sure seems like Europe knows how to do healthcare”
First of all, this is off point. Second of all, universal health care has its problems, e.g. waiting six months for doctors appointments, no choice in physicians, resistence to implement medical procedures, etc. What we need is universal health insurance coverage – a system much like car insurance. Everyone must have it, but the gov’t only subsidizes those of low income. Such health insurance also needs to be better regulated in the workplace.
“There are already more foreclosures in Davis then most people realize. The banks just can’t keep up with the paperwork.
Q3 2009 is going to be a real eyeopener for the city of Davis.”
This is what scares me. Davisites waited too long to pay attention to what was going on in their school system – and look at what the results were. I don’t want to see the same thing happen to our city in general – that massive foreclosures finally get people to see that our City Council needs to wake up and pay attention to the excessive tax burden it is placing on its citizens. Taxing citizens is much easier than truly balancing a budget – which requires taking a hard look at how the money is being spent. The expenditures this city has in place right now are UNSUSTAINABLE.
“you forgot to mention that the reason we have a shortfall in road maintenance funds is because the cost to repair roads has more than tripled with the cost of oil. so, while some elected officials may be to blame (Bush & Cheney et al), I don’t that its fair to accuse two one-term councilmen for creating a “dire financial condition”.”
Souza is the one suggesting instituting a new “public safety tax”. Saylor and Souza are the Councilmembers who keep insisting there is a balanced budget, with “unmet needs” not listed as a budget item the city is accountable for. The cost of road maintanence (about $8 million) doesn’t even come close to the cost of unmet needs of city employee health benefits and pensions (something like $45 million – someone correct me if these figures are off).
“After watching the show SICKO , it sure seems like Europe knows how to do healthcare”
First of all, this is off point. Second of all, universal health care has its problems, e.g. waiting six months for doctors appointments, no choice in physicians, resistence to implement medical procedures, etc. What we need is universal health insurance coverage – a system much like car insurance. Everyone must have it, but the gov’t only subsidizes those of low income. Such health insurance also needs to be better regulated in the workplace.
“There are already more foreclosures in Davis then most people realize. The banks just can’t keep up with the paperwork.
Q3 2009 is going to be a real eyeopener for the city of Davis.”
This is what scares me. Davisites waited too long to pay attention to what was going on in their school system – and look at what the results were. I don’t want to see the same thing happen to our city in general – that massive foreclosures finally get people to see that our City Council needs to wake up and pay attention to the excessive tax burden it is placing on its citizens. Taxing citizens is much easier than truly balancing a budget – which requires taking a hard look at how the money is being spent. The expenditures this city has in place right now are UNSUSTAINABLE.
“you forgot to mention that the reason we have a shortfall in road maintenance funds is because the cost to repair roads has more than tripled with the cost of oil. so, while some elected officials may be to blame (Bush & Cheney et al), I don’t that its fair to accuse two one-term councilmen for creating a “dire financial condition”.”
Souza is the one suggesting instituting a new “public safety tax”. Saylor and Souza are the Councilmembers who keep insisting there is a balanced budget, with “unmet needs” not listed as a budget item the city is accountable for. The cost of road maintanence (about $8 million) doesn’t even come close to the cost of unmet needs of city employee health benefits and pensions (something like $45 million – someone correct me if these figures are off).
“After watching the show SICKO , it sure seems like Europe knows how to do healthcare”
First of all, this is off point. Second of all, universal health care has its problems, e.g. waiting six months for doctors appointments, no choice in physicians, resistence to implement medical procedures, etc. What we need is universal health insurance coverage – a system much like car insurance. Everyone must have it, but the gov’t only subsidizes those of low income. Such health insurance also needs to be better regulated in the workplace.
“There are already more foreclosures in Davis then most people realize. The banks just can’t keep up with the paperwork.
Q3 2009 is going to be a real eyeopener for the city of Davis.”
This is what scares me. Davisites waited too long to pay attention to what was going on in their school system – and look at what the results were. I don’t want to see the same thing happen to our city in general – that massive foreclosures finally get people to see that our City Council needs to wake up and pay attention to the excessive tax burden it is placing on its citizens. Taxing citizens is much easier than truly balancing a budget – which requires taking a hard look at how the money is being spent. The expenditures this city has in place right now are UNSUSTAINABLE.
Rich Rifkin,
I just finished reading some of the “items” on this page. Thanks for clarifying the piece on the PACS and Unions with regard to the Police dept.
However I think the writer meant a real PAC and a real union, not the kind you’re referring to.
Rich Rifkin,
I just finished reading some of the “items” on this page. Thanks for clarifying the piece on the PACS and Unions with regard to the Police dept.
However I think the writer meant a real PAC and a real union, not the kind you’re referring to.
Rich Rifkin,
I just finished reading some of the “items” on this page. Thanks for clarifying the piece on the PACS and Unions with regard to the Police dept.
However I think the writer meant a real PAC and a real union, not the kind you’re referring to.
Rich Rifkin,
I just finished reading some of the “items” on this page. Thanks for clarifying the piece on the PACS and Unions with regard to the Police dept.
However I think the writer meant a real PAC and a real union, not the kind you’re referring to.