Jefferson proposes pay hikes, new vehicles

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Jefferson proposes pay hikes, new vehicles

Wednesday, August 29. 2012

Vehicle purchases and raises for employees are among the budget items being considered by the Jefferson City Council. City manager John Ward presented a budget proposal to the council Monday night that includes several capital projects, as well as raises. He said these items could be budgeted without raising the current millage rate of 6.398 mills.
The cost of the recommended capital projects is $205,170. The recommended capital projects include one fire vehicle, three police vehicles, one recreation bus and one street department truck.
As for salary increases, Ward presented three options with the additional total cost to the city ranging from $165,000 to $220,000. The city’s current salary and benefits cost the town $3.82 million. With no salary adjustments, the city will spend $3.94 million to cover for insurance and worker’s comp increases this year.

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#1 RAISES!!! on 08/29/12 at 09:03 AM [Reply]

well that is just swell, hope i can pay my bills and in two years afford these pay increases for the city workers

#2 Don't Understand on 08/29/12 at 02:08 PM [Reply]

Let's think about this: the Rec Dept has 2 busses that are parked 90% of the time at the Rec Center. So let's buy another.

We have 2 engines, one ladder, one squad, and a few auxiliary fire vehicles...all in good shape. Do we really need another one also? (Mind you- the majority stay parked either at the station or Beefs).

Police vehicles: oh lordy! Use the fines to pay for them!!

Am I missing something???

#2.1 What are they supposed to do? on 08/29/12 at 02:16 PM [Reply]

I think if you understand most gov't officials feel they are doing their job when they spend taxpayers money, this all becomes easy to comprehend. What else are they supposed to do?

#2.2 morninginamerica on 08/29/12 at 02:41 PM [Reply]

Yep, you three folks are missing alot. Our city is on sound financial footing with very dedicated folks managing the services we take for granted. I'm confident the good folks who manage our city have thoroughly investigated the costs of these capital projects and raises to fit them within the city's current millage rate structure. The city has a healthy general fund balance and strong managers. Go find another blog to spew your cynicism, there is plenty to winge about on MSNBC's site.

#2.2.1 Don't Understand on 08/29/12 at 04:54 PM [Reply]

I have zero issue with the raises. In fact- I have YET to find ANY person within City of Jefferson who has not gone out of their way to make this a better place to live!! Many kudos to them, and I believe they are deserving of something a little extra!!

Busses: if the after school bussing is the reason they're wanting to buy a new bus, have the kiddos ride the yellow BOE ones to the center. Both are gov't programs- no conflict of interest in my eyes.

With the fire dept equipment: mutual aid is there for a reason. And what we have works. Adding another engine (or whatever) isn't going to make response times any faster- esp with a mostly volunteer force.

#2.2.1.1 one issue on 08/30/12 at 08:24 AM [Reply]

The City of Jefferson and the school system are TWO separate government intities. The Rec kids cannot ride the school bus-

#2.3 Boneclaws on 08/30/12 at 04:17 PM [Reply]

The rec buses are used quite frequently actually. They run routes every morning for about an hour from 7-8am dropping kids off at every city school as well as 3 county schools. They also run afternoon routes to all of those schools to pick 70+ kids up each day for the afterschool program. During the school year, they are on the road at least 2 to 3 hours a day. How long is your car on the road each day? Probably not as much as that, so does that mean that your car is not used enough and you are never justified in replacing it with a newer, more reliable model? The busses are used even more during the summer to transport over 100 kids to the pool every day as well as multiple field trips each week, traveling as far as Atlanta many times throughout the summer months. Try to do a little research before you make such a baseless statement about them sitting there 90% of the time.

#2.3.1 Don't Understand on 08/31/12 at 08:49 PM [Reply]

2.5 hours a day equals usage of 10.4% Monday-Friday, and none on the weekend. So I was wrong- they're sitting in the parking lot 94.6% of the time 9 months of the year. My apologies.

#3 money comes from where on 08/29/12 at 02:55 PM [Reply]

Why is it that when a City is doing well and decides to give raises (very small at that) everyone gets in an uproar, but when other businesses give raises it deserved/expected, etc. Where do you think the money comes from for those raises? Someone pays for it somewhere- either by raising the cost of the product sold, passing cost on to customers etc- If you don't like the taxes you are paying here- MOVE somewhere else- where you will probably pay more taxes than you pay here AND bigger raises will be given.
As for the police cars - this is run through lease deals- when one car has too many miles on it, it is traded for another. Fire trucks- yes they sit until they are needed- but ask anyone who's needed them and see if they care how often that truck sat before it answered a call. Rec dept- buses were old to begin with- they were someone elses "junk" sold at a good price- I think if my children were on a bus at the rec I would want it to be dependable and a bit newer. Its great that we have a rec dept, police dept, and fire dept that runs so smoothly- It's also a good thing we have a city that minds it's money as well as it does. If you will read above- there won't be tax increases.

#4 outoftouch on 08/29/12 at 03:51 PM [Reply]

Talk about being out of touch? Many of us have gotten multiple pay cuts. Some were 25% each. Not to mention bonuses are gone, insurance and RX's went up, the list of cuts go on and on.

#5 tax, tax, tax on 08/30/12 at 12:27 PM [Reply]

novel idea!! let the parents of the kids that ride the rec bus pay for them . I should not have to pay to haul your child around town.

#5.1 morninginamerica on 08/30/12 at 12:54 PM [Reply]

...and then come the NIMBY's and the CAVEmen (Citizens Against Virtually Everything)

Be grateful and thankful our city has a well staffed and professional Rec dept where our kids can learn the value of sportsmanship and provide a place to safely play.

#6 Chris Bailey on 08/30/12 at 07:46 PM [Reply]

As with most private sector businesses they are not giving raises and are looking to cut costs. Last i checked we are not out of the recession. I am not against replacing vehicles that costs to repair exceeds value of vehicle but with unemployment over 8% (and has shown no signs of real progress) i think the raises need a real hard look.

#6.1 Raises-just a suggestion on 08/31/12 at 10:44 AM [Reply]

Have you not ever looked at proposed budget verus actual approved budget. Just because the raises are proposed doesn't mean they get approved. Every year the raises have been asked for- they have been denied. Except for once about 3 years ago I think. Contrary to popular belief, the city officials are capable of deciding what is actually a must have to run the city more efficiently and what would be "nice to have". Give them a break- you wouldn't even know the raises were asked for if the paper didn't print it.

#6.1.1 Chris Bailey on 09/01/12 at 07:08 PM [Reply]

Thats exactly the point. considering the state of the current economy why should the proposed budget even have "nice to have". Lets just get through the recession together.
I gather from your comment that you are saying that pay raises are a "nice to have" ?

#6.2 please on 09/02/12 at 05:09 PM [Reply]

"most private sector businesses they are not giving raises and are looking to cut costs"

Except we are not talking about the privite sector in any way shape or form are we?

The continued comparsions are not apples to apples so why make them ?

One example :

At one time Atlanta had the brillent idea of "privatizing" water services. It failed so bad they are millions in the hole with no way out. Why ?

Because it's not about making a profit it's about providing safe drinking water to the public. Because it's not about making a profit it's about providing safe drinking water to the public. All the "extra goes in capitol expendures like new water lines and replacement vehicles etc.

It's not about profit in government because they need to take $ and put it back into infrastructure and to keep everything running smooth.(profits are a no no )

As for the "raise" issue. Do you want to pay competent people a decent wage to get the job done or do we want Barney Fife in the police car ?

It's really very simple if you want your local municipality and or county run correctly and professionally you pay those who are worth it what they are worth.

I urge the Jefferson city council to put in merit only pay raises. Pay your hard works extra.Those who do/did nothing get nothing. Simple

#6.2.1 Chris Bailey on 09/02/12 at 08:52 PM [Reply]

You have obviously missed the point.

#7 fashion bags artcile on 08/30/12 at 09:05 PM [Reply]

No matter what others say, I think it is still interesting and useful maybe necessary to improve some minor things

#8 it might on 09/02/12 at 07:42 PM [Reply]

be nice to see the police job done by county instead, stop having Jefferson have one at all, seems to be working well where other local police depts have been done away with.....

#9 the point on 09/03/12 at 03:07 AM [Reply]

is that even though they are in the black we need to do more with less not spend spend spend making sure that every dime is gone and later when budgets based on future expected revenues fail to meet hte projections there is big trouble leaving the tax paers to foot the bill.... do more with less, get same or less pay and benifits for same job done in private sector......... now expect more because you took a Govt job....

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