Florida Keys News
Monday, September 6, 2010
County looks for last-minute cuts
Proposed budget nearly ready for final approval
BY ANNE-MARGARET SWARY Citizen Staff

The Monroe County Commission will attempt to further reduce the county's $324 million budget when it meets Wednesday, but there may be few places left to make additional cuts.

"I suspect, without being specific, that we will find some things we can reduce, but I don't know how much more we can do," Commissioner George Neugent said, adding that any more cuts likely would not...

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There are plenty of places....

Submitted on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 5:28pm by Keysminded
...that the county could save money besides cuts, but they aren't willing to do it. The county administration operates like a bad Keystone Kops episode - all year they run around chasing everything that moves, every wheel that squeaks, and every pet project instead of focusing and doing what they promise and budget for. How about holding the county administration and employees to some work commitments and minimum expected performance, and if they can't focus and live up to it, get rid of them. The top people are paid way too much to be working like this. Set some strict commitments and timelines, and hold them to it. If the work that needs done was handled in a more professional and businesslike way, a lot of time and money would be saved and they wouldn't have to make cuts to OUR services.

In other Counties

Submitted on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 9:50pm by Don Steele
In other counties that have County Administrators you see said Administrators going out and bringing new businesses (jobs + tax revenue) to the County. Here in Monroe County the only thing the Administrator goes out to get are his friends for the few jobs we have available. When is this going to stop? When is the BOCC going to put a top to this? When is Monroe County going to get an Office of Economic Development like real Counties have?

Cutting benefits

Submitted on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 11:21am by dalton2kw
To the person who suggests cutting people to 30 hrs/wk. to eliminate their benefits. Surely you jest ? We should all strive to save money, especially the city government, who is supposed to work for the taxpayers ! However, your suggestion is reckless & mean spirited.

You don't understand. It isn't about being 'mean spirited'. It

Submitted on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 8:59pm by *.*
is about fiscal responsibility. CUT THEIR BENEFITS AND CUT THEIR HOURS!!!! If the people who pay the taxes, that pays the salaries, do not have 40 hr work weeks and do not have benefits, why exactly do you think it's ok for these fat government employees to have it? If the economy is down, they can do without like everyone else. Their privileged behavior is disgusting and the taxpayers are WAY over it. No one respects them. We have proof every day that they can even do their jobs. In comments on another article today (Tuesday) it appears that the city can't even hang on to the money that is sent to them. They LOSE IT. IDIOTS. And that's City. Then there are the county employees - just as bad. Walk into the tag office someday. See how many of Ms. Henriquez's employees are having a nice little gossip and snack session. FIRE THEM ALL!!!!! AND fire anyone who's elected, such as Ms. Henriquez or any other elected official who can't be personally responsible for their own finances, or those of their department.

You got what you elected.

Submitted on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 8:32am by Fairvalues
You wanted strict tree-huggers instead of commissioners that wanted to cut the budget. Live with it.

A simple solution would be a

Submitted on Mon, 09/06/2010 - 5:51pm by Ed
A simple solution would be a 10% pay cut for all positions. No exceptions unless there is a contract in place. This is the worse recession in our lifetime. Property taxes are going up 15%+ for homesteaded (full time) residents due to tanking property values. Our Government here does not get it!

simple solution

Submitted on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 9:22am by dirtguy
this makes sense to me. a total cut across the board, from the top on down. it seems like a fair and non-partial way to cut expenses.

fair and non-partial? Think a little harder about it...

Submitted on Thu, 09/09/2010 - 11:16pm by Keysminded
...and you'll realize that a 10% cut for a low-level person can mean they can't pay rent, probably groceries and gas too, for at least a month. Which also hurts the landlord and the stores where they would have spent their money (because lower income people don't spend the gas to drive to Miami to shop). However, 10% off the top level administrators means a lot more cash, and they will still have their homes and be able to eat and drive to work. I agree completely with getting rid of the lazy workers, and holding people to high standards (and getting rid of them if they don't live up to it), but causing a bunch of low-level people to lose their ability to eat, have a roof over their head, etc. isn't right. Take it from the fat cats who have it to spare and have had their hands in the cookie jar far too long -- THAT'S fair.

Even the 'low level' people you mention make more than those

Submitted on Fri, 09/10/2010 - 2:12pm by *.*
in private sector, and they also have benefits. There was a whiney Citizens Voice post today that truly shows the entitlement attitude of these workers:

"Get your facts straight: County employees' health insurance is far from free. We DO have co-pays and deductibles and yearly out of pocket requirements that we have to pay.",

Well, Waaaaaaaaaaa...let's call this person a Waaaambulance. Does anyone else find this person disgusting? This person has paid health care. This person feels put out that she/he has a little old co-pay and deductible and a yearly out-of-pocket requirement. This person doesn't seem to understand what the rest of us have to pay for insurance in the form of what we silly private sector employees call PREMIUMS.

It's comments like that one that enrage the taxpayers. Nothing is ever enough for these whiners, and it's time to fire any who whine and complain, and replace them with hard working people who will appreciate what they have.

A Confederacy of Dunces

Submitted on Mon, 09/06/2010 - 5:15pm by conchy
Our County Commission is a Confederacy of Dunces. Their failure to cut this budget in these economic times is an outrage and all about protecting political jobs/appointees who work in their campaigns, are rewarded with a secure job with full benefits, and don't work again until the next election... they just show up. Any administrator knows that the solution is simple. Each department head is given an ultimatum to cut their budget by 25%... no ifs, and, or buts!! The biggest line item in any budget is personnel. Get rid of the dead weight... and bring on term limits while you're at it!

A tanker? Really?

Submitted on Mon, 09/06/2010 - 11:23am by Don Steele
Do we really need a tanker? How many thousand of acres of forest do we have? Wake up folks! Show up for the meeting and give Mr. Gastesi a dose of reality.

Moron

Submitted on Mon, 09/06/2010 - 8:04pm by Guy
Your an idiot. If you possesed the ability to comprehend what you read, then you would realize that the tanker was cut from the budget. And by the way, YES. You really do need a tanker. Big Pine, Cudjoe, and Sugarloaf have several forested and wooded areas. Houses also take water to put out their fires. These tankers are very helpful when it's more than a mile to any type of water source.

Question for Guy

Submitted on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 10:24pm by Don Steele
When was the last major fire where a tanker could had been used? For my tax dollars if Big Pine, Cudjoe and Sugarloaf are on fire then you better get out your tanker because the county aint buying one any time soon. The bottom line here is that Callahan and the residents want to have their toys on display but don't want to make the sacrifices to pay for them.

Citizens Revolt

Submitted on Mon, 09/06/2010 - 11:20am by Tina
We are very close to seeing a citizens revolt here in Monroe County. We all work too doggone hard, for too little money and then we see administrators who don't know the meaning of operating within a budget. I hope everyone remembers in the next election, that Peryham continues to spend-spend-spend and give raises while the taxpayers continue to cut back and take cuts - and pay higher taxes to boot. AND did I read correctly, that there are county employees working more than 40 hrs a week? Are they hourly? If so, cut out ALL time-and-a-half overtime and double-time overtime and hire base-rate employees to work those extra hours. Who is it that decided it's ok to pay overtime? It's time we stopped this outrage. If the County employees feel they can't make it on their salaries, then perhaps it's time they seek other employment. Then we will see what their skills are actually worth on the open market. And cut the benefits too. Cut out all but the bare minimum paid public holidays. If they want the day off, they can take it without pay. It's time to get serious about this mess. It's time that government employees and administrators feel the wrath of the people who are supporting their luxurious lifestyles.

Get a Grip Tina Girl

Submitted on Mon, 09/06/2010 - 9:57pm by Don Steele
You will never see a citizen's revolt in Monroe County, because the citizens have no cojones. Yes, it is time to get serious and give those hard working government employees a big fat raise, so that we can pay our rent and utilities.

This is true. It amazes me

Submitted on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 9:01am by Ed
This is true. It amazes me how people will take to the streets and organize opposition over Wisteria Island, a place most have never been to and will never go to, but the fact that homesteaded property taxes are going up 15%+ seems to draw a yawn and a couple comments in the voice. Tina, will you be at the budget meetings or will you disrupt tonight Commission Meeting with dozens of people? Posting here accomplishes nothing.

The way to make changes is to write commissioners, and

Submitted on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 11:45am by *.*
vote. The problem though, is that you can't vote NOW to get rid of someone. These politicians who approve the outrageous spending have a few years to sweep it all under the rug, until their re-election. Protests often just make the people look like out-of-control fools. Just because someone posts here, it doesn't mean they do not do other things to make their voices heard.

The Writing is on the Wall

Submitted on Mon, 09/06/2010 - 7:11pm by Merit
If you want to see a civilian revolt, just look what the folks in Bell, CA are doing. They FIRED all of their government administrators. I don't think the Key are far behind in an outright revolt about the outrageous salaries and level of government corruption. Think about it... use the voting booth... and show up at meetings. That is the only way we are going to get government to remember that it's the people that they represent, and not their own special interests!

Can the people read?

Submitted on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 10:17pm by Don Steele
The writing may be on the wall, but most folks here can't read it or don't want to read it. They rather complain about it and let the other guy do something about it. The only revolt we will see here is the revolt to the bar on Duval, or a Fantasy Fest float called Civilian Revolt. People just don't care.

I agree, Merit. Time to take over. I think the people are sick

Submitted on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 8:53pm by *.*
and tired of the mess in our government. Other counties and municipalities have done it. We can too. Our government employees are far from 'beloved', they are on the take, they complain and whine all the time, wanting more and more. At the same time, the taxpayers who pay their salaries are doing with less and less. They just don't get it, do they? They've been so 'privileged' for so long, that they have no link to reality.

Here's an idea - if you have hourly employees working more

Submitted on Mon, 09/06/2010 - 8:52am by *.*
than 40 hrs per week, cut back on their hours and hire a part-timer. Why are you paying time and a half for those overtime hours, when you could pay straight time for another employee? OR better yet, cut them all to 30 hrs a week, then you can eliminate their benefits because now they're part-time employees. If they can do better in the private sector, let them go for heavens sake. Stop letting these complainers run our government!!!

And Peryham? If he can't get his officers to work for what they're making, then maybe it's time for new officers. Times are tough all over the country and in all sectors, so why should his officers be the 'elite who get raises'? I can tell you the people of Monroe County are losing respect for these whiners every single day. Why can't they all 'man up' and do what the rest of us are doing, by cutting back and economizing?

bars and booze

Submitted on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 12:27am by Mr B
The bars should be taxed at a different rate so they can contribute a more reasonable share for the police work needed to protect the public from drunks and stupidity. For all the festivals downtown, it is the bars and restaurants that get the benefit. let them pay more taxes

Great idea. Add a 25 cent

Submitted on Wed, 09/08/2010 - 8:58am by Ed
Great idea. Add a 25 cent tax per drink served. Pass it on to the tourists if the owners want to, or absorb it themselves. I bet at $8.00 for a mixed drink they can afford it.

Um, what does that have to do with the post you're responding

Submitted on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 8:51pm by *.*
to? Makes no sense to me. We're talking COUNTY, not city.

Here's $110,000...

Submitted on Mon, 09/06/2010 - 5:18am by Captain Keysey

Isn't that Hutton's salary? Remove this selfish ignorance from our view.

Cut out these outragous salaries the administrators

Submitted on Tue, 09/07/2010 - 1:31pm by trapper
are making. And get RID of Gasseti
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