Curmudgeon
August 26th, 2003, 09:19 AM
Shocking drivel from the Buffalo News.....
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Unions offer city way to cut millions
Three city unions will release a financial plan today that leaders claim could save Buffalo up to $15 million a year without layoffs, major employee concessions or raising property taxes.
The plan proposes more than a dozen strategies for increasing revenues and reducing costs. They include beefed-up enforcement of parking and trash laws, a new landlord licensing fee and returning the recycling program to the public sector.
Union leaders also want the city to give employees the option of accepting lower-cost medical insurance in return for receiving half of the savings. The money would be placed in personal care accounts that could be used by workers to pay higher co-payments and other family medical expenses.
Members of the city's white-collar, blue-collar and building inspectors' unions - groups that represent about 2,000 employees - are scheduled to meet this morning with some elected officials to review their plan. The document will also be filed with the state control board, which will play a pivotal role in trying to stabilize city finances.
Union leaders said they have devised the plan in hopes of convincing city officials and the control board that a "labor-management partnership" could help solve Buffalo's fiscal crisis.
"Consider this an invitation for the city to work with us," said William D. McGuire, president of the blue-collar union. "We want them to know that we're concerned about the future of the city. Nearly 100 percent of our members live in the city, and we want to work toward solutions."
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 35 President William Travis, who represents all three unions, said labor groups recognize the problems Buffalo faces and are eager to help solve them in a "cooperative" fashion.
"The question is: Will the control board listen?" he said. "Will they let go of the old stereotypes that labor is the enemy?"
Union representatives are afraid the control board might freeze wages and take other painful steps to balance the budget. They said their plan shows that deficits can be erased without "dismantling" departments or imposing layoffs. The report will state that Buffalo's non-uniformed work force has been cut by 60 percent since 1980 - about three times the size of the city's population loss during that period.
One proposal, which the union claims would account for up to $8 million in annual savings, calls on Erie County to guarantee the city tax roll, just as it does for towns and villages. The move, they say, would protect the city from delinquent and uncollectible accounts and reduce city borrowing costs.
Eva M. Hassett, Mayor Anthony M. Masiello's chief of staff, said the administration has yet to see the union's plan and cannot comment on specifics. The mayor must submit a four-year financial plan to the control board within a week.
Other recommendations that will be in the union's plan involve:
Targeting garbage user-fee deadbeats. Labor leaders said the city fails to collect $2 million in user-fee charges each year.
Allowing Buffalo to adjudicate traffic tickets that are written in the city. Advocates, including Delaware Council Member Marc A. Coppola and State Sen. Byron W. Brown, D-Buffalo, believe a major new revenue stream could be created by pleading violations down to parking tickets and other nonmoving violations, allowing the city to keep money now going to the state.
Returning recycling operations to the public sector. Last year, the city hired a private company to take over collections. The union claims it has a plan that will save more than $400,000 a year.
Upgrading city golf courses, then turning them into profit-makers for the city by increasing fees. They said that outside grants are available to help subsidize costs and that reduced fees could still be offered to seniors and youth.
"This is not meant to be a complete list of ideas," said Michael Drennen, president of the white-collar union. "In time, we'll talk about some other ways to save money and cut costs."
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Thanks for the recommendations....
That's just what we need - some "revenuers" to write tickets all day long to unsuspecting citizens so a "revenue stream" can be created to save jobs that aren't needed. That would really drive people to go downtown!!
<<<....calls on Erie County to guarantee the city tax roll....>>>
WARNING TO ERIE COUNTY! THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO STICK COUNTY TAXPAYERS WITH BACK-TAXES FOR ABANDONED PROPERTIES! If a property has been abandonded and no one takes title to it, then the market value of that proprty is ZERO DOLLARS. you can't give it away. Therefore the assessment on that property is $0.00. Look out Erie County. You'll see $20,000 assessments on empty lots in the ghetto that you'll have to pay taxes on!
<<<Union leaders said they have devised the plan in hopes of convincing city officials and the control board that a "labor-management partnership" could help solve Buffalo's fiscal crisis. >>>
Should have been partners for the last 20 years. That's why the city is in the shape it's in now. Too little too late...
<<<Consider this an invitation for the city to work with us>>>
Last I heard, you worked for the city. Hopefully in the near future, a lot less of you will be.
<<...a new landlord licensing fee...>>>
More taxes. Brilliant!!! let's have a "non-union employee" fee too.
<<<The document will also be filed with the state control board, which will play a pivotal role in trying to stabilize city finances. >>>
The state control board should hang this docment on a little roll in a bathroom stall. Thanks but no thanks.
***************************
Unions offer city way to cut millions
Three city unions will release a financial plan today that leaders claim could save Buffalo up to $15 million a year without layoffs, major employee concessions or raising property taxes.
The plan proposes more than a dozen strategies for increasing revenues and reducing costs. They include beefed-up enforcement of parking and trash laws, a new landlord licensing fee and returning the recycling program to the public sector.
Union leaders also want the city to give employees the option of accepting lower-cost medical insurance in return for receiving half of the savings. The money would be placed in personal care accounts that could be used by workers to pay higher co-payments and other family medical expenses.
Members of the city's white-collar, blue-collar and building inspectors' unions - groups that represent about 2,000 employees - are scheduled to meet this morning with some elected officials to review their plan. The document will also be filed with the state control board, which will play a pivotal role in trying to stabilize city finances.
Union leaders said they have devised the plan in hopes of convincing city officials and the control board that a "labor-management partnership" could help solve Buffalo's fiscal crisis.
"Consider this an invitation for the city to work with us," said William D. McGuire, president of the blue-collar union. "We want them to know that we're concerned about the future of the city. Nearly 100 percent of our members live in the city, and we want to work toward solutions."
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 35 President William Travis, who represents all three unions, said labor groups recognize the problems Buffalo faces and are eager to help solve them in a "cooperative" fashion.
"The question is: Will the control board listen?" he said. "Will they let go of the old stereotypes that labor is the enemy?"
Union representatives are afraid the control board might freeze wages and take other painful steps to balance the budget. They said their plan shows that deficits can be erased without "dismantling" departments or imposing layoffs. The report will state that Buffalo's non-uniformed work force has been cut by 60 percent since 1980 - about three times the size of the city's population loss during that period.
One proposal, which the union claims would account for up to $8 million in annual savings, calls on Erie County to guarantee the city tax roll, just as it does for towns and villages. The move, they say, would protect the city from delinquent and uncollectible accounts and reduce city borrowing costs.
Eva M. Hassett, Mayor Anthony M. Masiello's chief of staff, said the administration has yet to see the union's plan and cannot comment on specifics. The mayor must submit a four-year financial plan to the control board within a week.
Other recommendations that will be in the union's plan involve:
Targeting garbage user-fee deadbeats. Labor leaders said the city fails to collect $2 million in user-fee charges each year.
Allowing Buffalo to adjudicate traffic tickets that are written in the city. Advocates, including Delaware Council Member Marc A. Coppola and State Sen. Byron W. Brown, D-Buffalo, believe a major new revenue stream could be created by pleading violations down to parking tickets and other nonmoving violations, allowing the city to keep money now going to the state.
Returning recycling operations to the public sector. Last year, the city hired a private company to take over collections. The union claims it has a plan that will save more than $400,000 a year.
Upgrading city golf courses, then turning them into profit-makers for the city by increasing fees. They said that outside grants are available to help subsidize costs and that reduced fees could still be offered to seniors and youth.
"This is not meant to be a complete list of ideas," said Michael Drennen, president of the white-collar union. "In time, we'll talk about some other ways to save money and cut costs."
*********************************
Thanks for the recommendations....
That's just what we need - some "revenuers" to write tickets all day long to unsuspecting citizens so a "revenue stream" can be created to save jobs that aren't needed. That would really drive people to go downtown!!
<<<....calls on Erie County to guarantee the city tax roll....>>>
WARNING TO ERIE COUNTY! THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO STICK COUNTY TAXPAYERS WITH BACK-TAXES FOR ABANDONED PROPERTIES! If a property has been abandonded and no one takes title to it, then the market value of that proprty is ZERO DOLLARS. you can't give it away. Therefore the assessment on that property is $0.00. Look out Erie County. You'll see $20,000 assessments on empty lots in the ghetto that you'll have to pay taxes on!
<<<Union leaders said they have devised the plan in hopes of convincing city officials and the control board that a "labor-management partnership" could help solve Buffalo's fiscal crisis. >>>
Should have been partners for the last 20 years. That's why the city is in the shape it's in now. Too little too late...
<<<Consider this an invitation for the city to work with us>>>
Last I heard, you worked for the city. Hopefully in the near future, a lot less of you will be.
<<...a new landlord licensing fee...>>>
More taxes. Brilliant!!! let's have a "non-union employee" fee too.
<<<The document will also be filed with the state control board, which will play a pivotal role in trying to stabilize city finances. >>>
The state control board should hang this docment on a little roll in a bathroom stall. Thanks but no thanks.