Eric the Highway Superintendent turns down $25K

Today's New York Post as an article about Eric DiBartolo, a 47 year old highway superintendent from the Westchester County, NY town of Yorktown who turned down a $25,000 raise that he had earned by saving his town $1,000,000.00 because, "With things so tough, with people losing their jobs, I'm taking $25,000?". Three other employees of Yorktown followed suit and turned down 3% raises that had been previously negotiated.

Good for them and good for Yorktown. Let's hope that spirit of "public service" spreads throughout the region, even across the river to New Jersey.

With the news this week that New Jersey deficit in tax collections is now projected to be $1.2 billion for the current fiscal year, Governor Corzine said he is going to look to the state's vendors for concessions. In other words, he is going to ask the lowest bidders to take even less. Is that even legal?

Corzine also said he does not anticipate government layoffs or employee givebacks. Why not? Are there any Eric's working for that state of New Jersey?

I think the $1.2 billion deficit projections will prove to be pie in the sky optimistic. October tax collections were off some $211 million. That reflects income taxes from the quarter ended July 1-September 30 and sales tax for the month of September. Retail sales were down by record amounts in October and unemployment claims are at their highest point since just after September 11, 2001. Tax collections are going to get worse.

"When the economic tide goes out, you get to see who's been swimming naked." ~ Kevin M. Blakely

New Jersey's government has been swimming naked. Our Emperor Governor, who just issued $1.2 billion in new debt the voters didn't vote on has nice clothes, but his head is in a dark place.

If ever there was a time to illuminate excess government spending, now is that time.