While perusing I see this.

Budget crisis sees Colorado Springs go dark


In Colorado Springs, every third streetlight is dark. Buses no longer run at night or on weekends. City pools will soon be dry, trash bins have disappeared and the verdant grass in the city's famed parks will soon grow long, turn brown and die.

The city no longer offers basic services that people expect from their local government.

A budget crisis caused by the recession left Colorado's second-largest city with a US$28-million shortfall in its US$212-million general budget. Residents -- largely conservative, anti-tax and suspicious of their elected leaders -- resoundingly voted against a proposal to triple property taxes and keep the city humming. Mayor Lionel Rivera said the city has no choice but to cut fundamental services.

Read more: www.nationalpost.com . . .
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www.nationalpost.com . . .

Well suffice to say, I am chanting "yes" to this mayor, I am a big fan of "don't have the money so fuck it rule". I like this Mayor, he has balls, rather than defecit spend, he does the right thing and puts the ball in the peoples court. Seperating the men from the pussies.

But that's not the big news to me, what shocked me and made me LOL, was this gem.

Local businessmen are convinced they can run the city's budget better than its politicians can. A privately funded group calling itself The City Committee is forming to perform a citizens' audit of sorts.

They are convinced entrepreneurs can find better ways of balancing the books - starting with staff salaries.

The committee includes Steve Bartolin, president and CEO of the world-renowned Broadmoor resort. Mr. Bartolin recently sent the Mayor an email questioning why Colorado Springs spends an average of US$89,000 on each employee, while his own staff cost an average of US$24,000 each.

ROFL, couple of points. I see 89000 and honestly, for a city employee, that's pretty lean when you factor in healthcare, benefits, workers comp, payroll taxes etc.

But in chimes this Conservative Retard with "I pay my toilet cleaners and towel changers 24000 and he expects to be taken seriously.

How can anyone raise a family let alone support themselves on 24000 a year!! Just your average family medical insurance down there is 10 to 15 thousand.

What kind of economy would that city have if the majority of it's working class earns 24000.

Perhaps this guy would like Colorado Springs and many other American towns to reflect oh say...... Mexico, where there is no middle class and save but a few guys (namely him) everyone makes shit money and is in perpetual servitude that crazy low wages brings.

24000 LOL, Tim Hortons Coffee Shop full time workers do better than that here, wow,

How about a little research before making your post?

Do you know what the average per capita income was in Colorado Springs in 2008? It is $28,674.
www.city-data.com . . .

So I think you can see why the general public is upset that their streetlights are getting cut off because their AVERAGE city employee is making an $89,000 in a city where the average rent is $782. Clearly, this is not a wealthy town.

I do a agree that the American middle class is shrinking, and it is a problem that needs to be addressed. But skyrocketing civil employee wages are not the answer. This is what has bankrupted California and my home town of San Diego. The wages/benefits/pensions civil workers get is obscene.

Don't sweat it. We'll just print more money so we can raise their wages.

(idiot. seriously.)

Don't sweat it. We'll just print more money so we can raise their wages.

(idiot. seriously.)

You're not to bright as usual are you.

Maybe you should read what I posted and you wouldn't look the perpetual tard you always do.

No one is saying to print more money, I am for cutting all services necessary.

The point of the post is that someone is stating that he is proud his employees get paid 24k a year. That's not enough money to raise a dog let alone a couple of kids.

Enjoy the Mexican economy you crave deuchebag.

ledzep wrote:



ROFL, couple of points. I see 89000 and honestly, for a city employee, that's pretty lean when you factor in healthcare, benefits, workers comp, payroll taxes etc.

are you fucking kidding?

89k is pretty fucking good for some city dumbshit who never went to college

these clowns shuffle paper around for 20 years and retire with a great benifit package at age 50

How about a little research before making your post?

LOL, what???? I posted a News Article, WTF do you want me to research?

Clearly, this is not a wealthy town.

Ummm, speaking of research, when you make that statement that it's not a wealthy town, are you speaking about the same "Colorado Springs" they are discussing in the article?

Yeah but at least they don't have to flee the country to get quality health care.

are you fucking kidding?

89k is pretty fucking good for some city dumbshit who never went to college

these clowns shuffle paper around for 20 years and retire with a great benifit package at age 50

That's all fine and good, valid point. But debased from reality.

See what would happen to your community if your largest employer paid 24 k a year. Imagine a community where most people have negative disposable income. Nice town. I bet you would get great service if everyone made 6 bucks an hour.

Shit, I made more money than that in my first year of my apprenticeship in 88.

public sector unions are like ticks on a dog

the just get more greedy every contract

just think about going into DMV and knowing that stupid bitch behind the counter and knowing she makes more money than you

nice

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"The city no longer offers basic services that people expect from their local government."???



WOW, the streets should have been lined with angry liberals like you ziphead, it's not like they would be missing work.

FYI, the No. 1 reason municipal budgets are so high is pension costs for police and fire.

ledzep wrote:

How about a little research before making your post?

LOL, what???? I posted a News Article, WTF do you want me to research?

Yes. It took me all of 5 seconds to Google stats for Colorado Springs. Knowing what the average salary is there is kind of essential to seeing why the business community thinks there is something out of whack with city employee wages.

Seriously, $89k AVERAGE employee in a rural town? That is insane! Most of these jobs are not highly skilled jobs I'll wager. You can't tell me they couldn't chop their average down to $40-$50k at least. Then, voila!, the street lights are back on!

ledzep wrote:



Shit, I made more money than that in my first year of my apprenticeship in 88.

maybe you did something usefull like construct a building and not sit on your ass filling out forms half the day and taking a smoke break the other half

how many vacation days does the average government worker get?

all of them? MLK day off?

when's the last time you heard of a government worker getting laid off?

fuck em

Yeah but at least they don't have to flee the country to get quality health care.

Neither do we, and at 24K, those Mexicans get no healthcare.

ledzep wrote:


Neither do we, and at 24K, those Mexicans get no healthcare.

yes they do, its called the Emergancy Room

One of the issues I see, is that these workers that earn 24,000 do far more work than the government clowns.

And if you weren't spending so much money on waste then the workers you are talking about would keep more of their wages and have more quality services they could enjoy.

Do remember that we also get taxed by the Feds, the State, and depending on where you live, the fucking local county. Along with property taxes and sales taxes.

Government workers have perks out of the ass, so asking for them to, maybe do a bit of work is not too much.

Also, 24k goes a long way in places were the cost of living isn't out your ass.

And how do you know the employer doesn't pay for a good sum of their health care through a generous group policy.

Before you spout off about the guy, then at least post some facts of his employer record.

Like you might want to find out the average age of his employees when factoring in your average wage.

One of the small companies I worked for for about four years back in the early 90's paid 100% of my blue cross and blue shield coverage along with a substantial salary.

Not a fucking dime did I spend on insurance.

Often you quote health care costs to the employee when the numbers that you clowns are quoting are not group policy numbers, they are individual coverage bought outside of the workplace.

You know those group coverage plans the feds, state and local clowns enjoy.

when's the last time you heard of a government worker getting laid off?

How many paper pushers do you have?

Here they are a minority, when you talk about city workers, like W&C said, the VAST majority of cost is Fire and Cops, then Garbagemen, Tradesmen, Lifeguards, Gardners, Street Sweepers etc etc....

Sure they have a cushy job, just the way it is, but they also spend alot of money, keeps business and capital flowing.

If you are upset that you make 24K, then apply for the Fire Dept. or be a Teacher instead of wanting to bring down your community to "Kenyan Levels of economy", bring yourself up.

ledzep wrote:

when's the last time you heard of a government worker getting laid off?

How many paper pushers do you have?

Here they are a minority, when you talk about city workers, like W&C said, the VAST majority of cost is Fire and Cops, then Garbagemen, Tradesmen, Lifeguards, Gardners, Street Sweepers etc etc....

Sure they have a cushy job, just the way it is, but they also spend alot of money, keeps business and capital flowing.

If you are upset that you make 24K, then apply for the Fire Dept. or be a Teacher instead of wanting to bring down your community to "Kenyan Levels of economy", bring yourself up.

Many of us have worked with Federal, State and Local workers, or had to "my god" have them do something for us.

We aren't kidding, the average one is a lazy incompetent fool.

There are some real Gems, but few and far between.

So please don't lecture us about our government workers the majority of them aren't worth a piss.

And I mean that because of the environment...it is almost like frawnce...where you can't get fucking fired for not doing your job and they have clowns above them, so why should they give a fuck.

For those of us that work in the private sector...it is a gulf that will never be bridged.

You wonder why we piss and moan about them so much? Ever think there is a legitimate reason?

Also, 24k goes a long way in places were the cost of living isn't out your ass.

Auto insurance premiums $2,194

Median home price $192,250

money.cnn.com . . .


Well, just those two items say's that a guy that makes 24K has to live in a 1 bedroom boarding house, have no kids and just eat beans.

Not a very appealing community I would ever live in.

A budget crisis caused by the recession left Colorado's second-largest city with a US$28-million shortfall in its US$212-million general budget. Residents -- largely conservative, anti-tax and suspicious of their elected leaders -- resoundingly voted against a proposal to triple property taxes and keep the city humming. Mayor Lionel Rivera said the city has no choice but to cut fundamental services.

Ledzep, first of all, it's good to hear from you again. Glad that the lunatics Worldnetdaily readers didn't push you away.

Now, onto your thread. I'm not sure if you know this or not but the State of Colorado has this piece of legislation known as TABOR or taxpayers bill of rights which limits the rate of growth of state revenue and spending to the sum of inflation and population growth.

www.denverpost.com . . .

Basically, this is a built-in watchdog for the politicians of both sides since Dems and Reps want to alter TABOR so they can spend more money under the guise of a crisis. BTW, 89K a year for a secretary or custodian is about twice the avg. salary for those positions and since these are govt. jobs, their healthcare costs only a few hundred per year. Many of these same govt. workers howl when they have a $20 co-pay.

Critics often incorrectly argue that TABOR forced the state to cut spending. But the reality is that from 1993 to 2007 real per capita state spending grew 28 percent, while per capita GDP grew 30 percent.

With an effective tax and spending limit in place, Colorado has been able to lower tax burdens, creating one of the best business tax climates in the country. Over the period since TABOR was passed, Colorado has experienced one of the highest rates of economic growth in the nation, while California has experienced retardation in economic growth.

Here's the problem w/ our federal, state & local, and I assume Ottawa and Regina? govt. as well. They hate, hate, hate to be told no, they can't spend anymore taxpayer money on whatever project brings them either votes or political clout.

So, instead of eliminating unnecessary positions, reducing hours for employees or outsourcing obvious functions the private sector can do cheaper/more efficently, they threaten to cut teachers, layoff/furlough or leave vacant firefighter, police, bus drivers and any other front-line city/town employee specifically to inflict maximum pain on the citizens they represent so they will give in to pass an increase in sales tax, property tax or a special levy that will only last a few years (until you taxpayer suckers forget and then we'll renew it under the guise of another "emergency")

Colo. Springs is a large city w/ many businesses, military installations & affluent tax base. There's no reason they should be $28 million in arrears except for the fact that they don't have not a revenue problem but a spending problem. I guarantee they have some stupid green global warming policy that costs God only knows how many millions for starters. Sure enough.

www.springsgov.com . . .
www.springsgov.com . . .

So, I hope that helps you understand the dynamics of Colorado Springs. BTW, is the National Post still printing or is it just online only like the Christian Science Monitor?

Have a great week.

Shonuff

ledzep wrote:

when's the last time you heard of a government worker getting laid off?

How many paper pushers do you have?

Here they are a minority, when you talk about city workers, like W&C said, the VAST majority of cost is Fire and Cops, then Garbagemen, Tradesmen, Lifeguards, Gardners, Street Sweepers etc etc....

Sure they have a cushy job, just the way it is, but they also spend alot of money, keeps business and capital flowing.

If you are upset that you make 24K, then apply for the Fire Dept. or be a Teacher instead of wanting to bring down your community to "Kenyan Levels of economy", bring yourself up.

Here is a recent list of the highest paid of the top 1000 San Diego City employees. You tell me if this is reasonable. Mind you, this is just wages here, not overall compensation.

Top city compensation

BY THE NUMBERS

Among the 1,000 highest-paid city employees in 2006:

689: Fire and police personnel.

$205,251: Top pay.

$99,366: Lowest pay.

$72,531: Most earned in overtime.

47: Highest percentage of an employee's wages paid in overtime.

$117,000: Average compensation.

$13,327: Average overtime.

SOURCE: Union-Tribune analysis of San Diego's 2006 payroll report of the 1,000 highest-paid city employees.

sports.uniontrib.com . . .

ledzep wrote:

when's the last time you heard of a government worker getting laid off?

How many paper pushers do you have?

Here they are a minority, when you talk about city workers, like W&C said, the VAST majority of cost is Fire and Cops, then Garbagemen, Tradesmen, Lifeguards, Gardners, Street Sweepers etc etc....

if they retire at 45, they get a pension for another 30 fucking years

30 years getting paid to do nothing

where can you do that in the private sector?

Sure they have a cushy job, just the way it is, but they also spend alot of money, keeps business and capital flowing.

yes they do spend a lot of money, taxpayer money

If you are upset that you make 24K, then apply for the Fire Dept. or be a Teacher instead of wanting to bring down your community to "Kenyan Levels of economy", bring yourself up.

shit, me work for the goverment?

I would be taking a huge paycut, like in half

no thanks

Well, Gov't workers here are Union and have some levels of protection, but if you are a fuck up, you get fired regardless.

Sure some make very good money if they have been around long enough, but entry level admins don't make great money at first, just average money, if you do a good job, you get promoted and you make more money. I'm fine with that.

Nothing wrong with paying civil servants good money if you get good work out of them, and from what I can see here, the wheels are always greased and turning, so I'm fine with that.

Anyway, my surprise is that a guy would have the temerity to be proud that he pays a bunch of Mexicans 24K and act like he is a boon to his community, and in writing pronounce that the City should be more like him.

I would love to see how he would live on such shit ass poverty rate wages.

Well, just those two items say's that a guy that makes 24K has to live in a 1 bedroom boarding house, have no kids and just eat beans.

Not a very appealing community I would ever live in.

Go back and read your link and this time pay attention to what you are reading.

Try the number of schools, restaurants, the fact that that is the state average for car insurance.

Also the fact that over 86% have health coverage...the median family income you dolt is over 60k.

A 30 year mortgage on 192k isn't shit.

I could go on...what next...the number of cow mutilations?

ledzep wrote:

Also, 24k goes a long way in places were the cost of living isn't out your ass.

Auto insurance premiums $2,194

Median home price $192,250

money.cnn.com . . .


Well, just those two items say's that a guy that makes 24K has to live in a 1 bedroom boarding house, have no kids and just eat beans.

Not a very appealing community I would ever live in.

$2100 for car insurance?

get a cheaper car

nobody is going to buy a 192k house on 24k a year

just call it an incentive to improve yourself to get a better job


I used to hear liberals always whining about how a minimum wage job can't support a family of four

if a minimum wage job is the best you can do at the time, don't have a family

if you do have a family, tough shit

there's no cure for stupidity