Bills that would cut spending all over the state government map and eliminate some political hires were among proposals continuing to stream in as lawmakers remained divided over how to solve the state's worst budget crunch since the 1980s.The fact is we find ourselves in a crisis. It's a crisis created by uncontrolled spending during a time of relative plenty. Like the Roaring 20's, there were abundant indications that the largess of economic prosperity would not last forever. But like their early 20th century counterparts, they partied like it was 1999 (Sorry, couldn't help the Prince reference) and spent as if there would always be plentiful sources of tax revenue - there wasn't and there isn't.
Some Democratic members, so far overruled by senior leaders, are pushing consideration of tax increases or repeal of tax cuts as ways to raise revenue and avoid cuts to education and health care programs. Educator unions strongly back the tax hike moves, wanting to avert any reductions in school spending.
Most governmental agencies have been forced to recognize the fact that it's imperative that they get a handle on their spending. Apparently, the Bernalillo County Commission didn't get the memo. A little over a week ago at their October 13th meeting, the Bernalillo County Commission was presented with a plan to freeze hiring.
In an effort to proactively deal with declining revenues while avoiding more drastic measures such as layoffs, mandatory furloughs or reduced work hours for its employees, Bernalillo County is proposing a strategic freeze on hiring non public safety related personnel.The resolution was defeated 3-2 with Commissioners Armijo, De La Cruz, and Hart-Stebbins voting to party like it's 1999 - while Commissioners Wiener and Brasher voted to institute the hiring freeze.
Along with a freeze in hiring of new employees, Bernalillo County will focus on reducing nonessential expenditures and careful monitoring of expenditures. Finance Division staff will carefully monitor economic trends and notify the County Manager when revenues appear to be stabilizing and the hiring freeze may be re-evaluated.
Not to make this a partisan issue but just guess which party the 3 nay votes belonged to. If you said Democrat, you'd be spot on.
It's not like Republicans haven't been guilty of spending like a collective group of drunken sailors - they have. But in case you haven't been paying attention, Democrats on the national level have spent more in the first six months of this year than all of the preceding U.S. governments combined. In fact, Democrats on the national level have made their Republican predecessors
look like Congressional Scrooges when it comes to spending.
New Mexico has been under single party rule for over 70 years. They've dominated almost every elected body, every state department at almost every level for almost all of those 70 plus years. The Bernalillo County Commission is no exception.
When presented with a resolution to freeze spending at a time where tax revenues are on the decline, what do the Democrats on the commission do? They vote to continue to hire non-public safety personnel as if there were no tax revenue problems.
Yeah... It's delusional and totally ignored by the local press. Every level of government should be working to find ways to reduce its spending. The County Commission - at least 3 of the 5 members - clearly haven't figured it out and clearly don't get it. They're partying like it's 1999 and can print money in the basement. Unfortunately, we're the ones who will have to clean up their mess and pay the tab.
10 comments:
Why doesn't the Journal report on Commission meetings and votes - even the Alibi doesn't? Most people probably can't even name his/her Commissioner! Mine is Alan Armijo, and in the last 6 years my husband and I have NEVER had any communication from him whatsoever. We need to elect better commissioners in 2010!
We elected them, until we vote them out we are to blame.
A recent Rio Grande Foundation study revealed that 25% of all jobs in NM are with state and local government compared with a national average of 16%. In other words, we have 50% more state and local government employees than the national average. We are TEEMING with public sector employees.
Any meaningful budgetary reform in NM would have to address this issue. Don't hold your breath.
I'm a senior citizen - always worked in the private sector. Can any of you tell me if the huge raises given out by Lame Duck Mayor Marty to his favorites means they can retire at a higher pension based on the most recent pay scale? I think that is disgusting if true. I get NO raise in my $655 per month SS check, but these clowns get 25-80% raises in the last weeks on their poltical patronage jobs? It makes me wonder what the Mayor is leaving with. Better count the silver in City Hall before Dec 1.
If Marty's huge raise for these folks stands, it will help their pension somewhat. Pensions are figured at an average of their high 3 years.
Where this will really help the employee that got these raises is when they leave the city and cash out their sick, vacation and comp time. Normally, they will get paid all unused time hour for hour. So a huge raise like this can mean tens of thousands of more tax dollars, given to the leaving worker. Example, if you were making $40,000 per year ($20 an hour) and you quit, got fired or retired and you had 2000 hours on the books you would be handed a parting gift from the city of $40,000 ($20 X 2000 hours = $40,000). Now if that same person got a raise to $80,000 per year ($40 per hour) then the same 2000 hour cash out becomes $80,000!
Marty is such a nice guy with our money. And Ed Adams is so full of crap.
There needs to be a huge out cry and Marty needs to roll these raises back. With 10% unemployment you should be happy to just have a job.
I wondered why Marty was lying low since his DEFEAT. He sneaks payoffs to his toadies, sends Ed Adams out to face the public's wrath, and stays hunkered down in his 'undisclosed location'. Hey, Marty! Come out! You've got some 'splainin' to do.
Berry said he is a businessman lets see if he takes the new salaries away Dec 1. I do several jobs, I have to prosecute my cases in court so I am double duty as an ADA. Can I get more $$$$
I don't think you can cash out SL only VC, is that right?
That was sneaky and down right corrupt! How can Martin Chavez look himself in the mirror after doing that to taxpayers? That is just what Martin needed to do to attempt to shut some mouths! Martin Chavez lied, lied, lied, lied and lied some more! Actually, this latest corrupt act will backfire on Martin Chavez. RJ Berry can fire those that accepted that kind of bribe and let their mouths start talking!
By doing that, RJ Berry can solidify Martin Chavez's atttempt to run for Mayor again in four years!
The Mayor's rhetoric pre-election had been something like, "Well, you know that there will be a run-off and if so, then I will win." Martin Chavez and his administration has unfolded and his hand his holding not even a pair!
The above poster, your right, Berry you better start thinking ahead cuz the low life Chavez is and all his boys will try to get a position with your new admit. Get rid of them all. SID needs to be the first to be cleaned out, sorry to the rest of APD, but I am selfish.
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