Friday, July 23, 2010

Good luck on Newark's budget cuts

Fox reports:

It's part of Newark Mayor Cory Booker's belt-tightening plans that include reducing most city workers to a 4-day work week and shuttering city pools.  Booker estimates that the pool closures alone would save $250,000.  He also says that no gas will be purchased for municipal vehicles that are not deemed critically important.
Police officers, firefighters and sanitation workers would not be affected by the furlough plan. City workers were already bracing for furloughs starting in August. The number of unpaid days would increase from 11 to 19 with Booker's plan.

When we have a limited amount of money for government, and Pelosi steals it all then local government takes the hit.

Here is Mish talking about the Bell California issue (where elected officials ripped off the taxpayers for salaries as much as $750,000/year)

Can Anything Be Done?

This is all so outrageous it is hard to know exactly where to start. Yet, once again corrupt politicians and unwarranted public pension promises are right at the heart of the issue.

These people are supposed to be public servants but they have raped city taxpayers, and worse yet will continue to rape taxpayers for as long as they live unless and until a means is available to claw back pension benefits.

One way would be for the city to file bankruptcy, another way would be for the city or state to tax public pension benefits exceeding say $50,000 at an enormous, progressive rate topping at 100% for benefits in excess of $100,000.

So we can see why the unions are trying to outlaw municipal bankruptcies.  It is the only weapon that poor voters have.

No comments: