Friday, January 09, 2009

OK, This is dramatic

The Asbury Park Press is reporting that the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders have asked the county employees unions to foresake a scheduled 3.75% pay raise or face layoffs.

The giveback would save the county $7 million. There is a $10-12 million revenue shortfall in the current budget, according the county administrator Robert Czech.

8 comments:

ambrosiajr said...

They will need to do more of this...but this is certainly a step in the right direction. And that would be a significant savings. I wonder if the union would do that. With so many other people out of work, this would be one way to keep their people employed, yet not have it hurt so much. It would be a smart move on everyone's part.

Not a bad start for the dems.

NFS said...

I wonder if this has to do with the economy or the reality of the upcoming governor's race. Afterall, the dems NEED something to run on. Now that NJ is in financial ruin, the dems are a little late. Hopefully the voters will recognize this.

Honest Abe said...

"The giveback would save the county $7 million."

Only if they pass that on to the taxpayers. If they use it to pay for an inspector general and his staff, or to refurbish the judges' chambers at the courthouse, then there's no savings.

Anonymous said...

Here's a new concept for ALL levels of gov't: how about CUTTING some of the "give-aways," and social programs,for once??.. what a thought: they NEVER speak about doing that, and never met a program they didn't continue to fund, working or not!.. not a word there, just make the people who provide all these services, and help make the county # 1 in so many areas, suffer, as our own taxes and expenses go up, like everybody else's!.. what a sham: here, you want $10-12 mil- fast?..shut down the way-overpriced YDC.. at least $2. mil. there.. sell the 2 nursing homes to private firms, to privatize them, probably at least another $ 5-7 mil. there!.. maybe cut the SCAT's thousands of trips a week to nowhere: stop driving well-off ladies from Rumson to the mall and to get their hair done for $2., when most of them can afford a cab!.. this is yet another PR stunt and sham, perpetrated on those who work hard and also pay taxes..and, it just smacks of the usual Dem "class-and- job envy and warfare", pitting one group against another, again!..we're sick of it.. speak up, write to the "rag," and to your local papers.. oh, and do show up at the upcoming "county budget roadshows", and ask a few of these questions!..

Anonymous said...

This is a smoke screen for something? they signed the contrats and bugeted the money for these contracts, so where did the money go? Look at the threat "the sections that do not take a wage freeze will face layoff's" so if the workers union take the freeze no layoff's but if the supervisor's unit refuse they will get laid off? civil service has proceedures and senior men have bumping rights so the last hired would go. 18,000-24,000 yr jobs no savings at all. they need to trim the 100,000 + positions which are appointments- these people have no show jobs-10-20 hrs a week for 40 hr pay. wake up already.

Anonymous said...

oh, really?.. prove that!

Anonymous said...

ps: most county workers work 35-hr. weeks, a few 37 1/2, some 40.. some overtime, but not much allowed at jail, etc., any more.. cut out the jealous drivel..sure, any org. of 3500 will include a few lackeys, but most county workers do a sincere and damn good job, for the demanding and grumpy public they serve..the plain fact is, all gov't spends too much on their special interests/voting blocks, to keep getting elected.. wake the heck up!..

Anonymous said...

to: oh, really?.. prove that!

I wish I could but the fact remains that the appointed dept heads sign the payroll and do not charge themselves for any time away from work. these people come and go as they please, and have people cover for them. they do not put 40 in thats for sure.