Here's what Republican city Councilor David Mills had to say about the budget situation following yesterday's meeting with department heads at City Hall:
It was a very sobering meeting today, but nothing unexpected. I really believe that the unfunded or partially funded mandates need to be publicized. They are continually being referred to, yet very few know or understand what they are.
The mandate outlined today by Dr. Streiffer concerning professional development of staff that could cost upward of $400-$500,000 for our community is ridiculous. It is another example of our legislators being totally out of touch with their constituents.If 30-40% of his budget is mandated by the State, then any costs have to be deducted from the remaining 60% which is very limiting. Translating this into dollars means 30-40 million dollars are set in our local budget by the State, and this is only for education.
Unfortunately, most of the burden to reduce budgets fall on the municipal employees.We should look at all possibilities before staff reductions are considered.Contracts have been negotiated in good faith, and when salaries were not increased substantially in the past, employees were offered more attractive working conditions or increased benefits in lieu of additional monies.
These benefits are now very expensive, and make up a large portion of our budget. They are also subject to negotiations which puts the burden on our Mayor and Personal director as well as the Union negotiators.It is not a pleasant position to be in, but I am confident that everyone is up to the task.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
46 comments:
Everyone but the Mayor and his union buddies.
"The mandate outlined today by Dr. Streiffer concerning professional development of staff that could cost upward of $400-$500,000 for our community is ridiculous."
What's so wrong with the teachers improving themselves professionally? Doesn't seem ridiculous at all. In fact, it seems to be money well spent!
Dave is pandering to the community without putting much thought into what he is criticizing. Bad move.
Although I agree with Mills here, I believe it's the Mayor's job to whine to the state (rightfully) about unfunded mandates. It's the Council-person's job to see that the city itself controls spending and conducts it's own business properly as well as representing his/her constituents.
Representing the people of Bristol in Hartford is the job of our Legislative delegation. Are they doing that? Perhaps this year the voters will judge them more closely than before?
December 22, 2009 11:02 AM:
Well there smart guy, it's because the "community" can't afford it. Do you even understand what Mills is doing? He is supporting the Superintendent as well as the taxpayers. You sound like a smart-ass just trying to...well..sound smart. Guess what? You sound stupid to me.
The thing that gets me is that Mills sounds like he's representing the school system. The superindendent and the Legislative delegation should be spearheading this. I guess our Legislative delegation isn't too interested?
Positively Right.
You just again proved you don't have a clue
Read the charter to see what the duties are. You might learn someting.
Dave sure has learned fast.
Said absoluely nothing.
Atta boy Dave.
By the way, where would you stand on cutting athletics???
December 22, 2009 11:02 AM - this has nothing to do with teachers. This has to do with hard working people having to dig deep into their pockets to pay for stuff they can not even understand!
Dave, do YOU understand the 8 million dollar difference?
If so, please explain it to us.
This is all Frank Nicastro's fault for being completely out of touch with the reality of the average persons life. He has been living high on the hog on the public dole for years now. We need representatives that live like the rest of us in Bristol. Throw Nicastro out as he is spending us broke.
Already Mills knows how to talk the party line: he sounds just like Ward.
Has Dave reverted back to being a democrat?
Dave take a step back theres so much that that human eye doesn't see.
Mr. Mills you are wrong - the mayor and the personnel director are NOT up to the job. If I were you, I would start looking a little closer at the costs coming out of the Personnel office. The mayor put them in charge or looking where to cut? That's a big red flag for a bunch of people.
You asked a bunch of people their opinion durng the campaign. Now I want to see who you go to and who you listen to. So far, it looks to me that it may not be the right people.
These guys dont realize they should look out for the tax payers most have city jobs so they protect the union.
"What's so wrong with the teachers improving themselves professionally? Doesn't seem ridiculous at all. In fact, it seems to be money well spent!"
But not this year or during these economic times....by the way, what grade do you teach??
I would like to know why we are paying our Superintendent of Schools in Bristol 50-60 thousand dollars a year more than New Britian pays thiers. I called them
just to check for the 2009-2010 school year and was told that thier Superintendent will be paid about 150,000 for the 2009-2010 school year.
How is this possible with our city smaller , median income less and they have a bigger chool system. There is something wrong here and the city finance and city council should look into this quickly. Test score are not even that great and why are we paying the second highest school lunch prices int the state behind Greenwich is this right. NO it is not
December 22, 2009 4:40 PM:
First of all your punctuation error tells me you're an ignorant person.
Second, instead of stating that I "don't have a clue" (which is false), why don't you back up your convoluted point with a fact or a recitation of the "charter" you claim to have knowledge of and claim is contrary to my point. I'm not sure you have the aptitude to understand my point to begin with anyway.
I don't know why I bother responding to people like "December 22, 2009 4:40 PM" but here I go...again.
Please tell me where in the "charter" it states that council members have any power regarding unfunded state mandates. Obviously it doesn't or wouldn't and even if it did, it would be like the State Charter giving the Governor power over the US Navy.
Again, I said I agree with Mills. But what I'm concerned with is that he's spending too much time listening to the Superintendent and not enough time worrying about issues under his power. Sure he's free to speak up against these draconian mandates, but I'd rather that he dealt with issues within his realm of influence. The Superintendent needs to go directly to our State Senator and Representatives and make them answer for this.
Again the Legislative delegation needs to speak up about this to the leaders in the State House and Senate. They are the ones with the power of the vote, not Mills. But anyone with any common sense can see that with our state in the red for $300 Million, I doubt it'll do much good.
2:25
Tell that to Mayor Ward, see what kind of response you get.
Read Section 16: Mayor, and Section 21 City council.
Or have someone read it to you.
Positively Whatever
Show me in the charter where the council manages the employees.
December 24, 2009 7:00 AM A.K.A. December 24, 2009 7:29 AM:
What does that have to do with what I wrote? I assume you're referencing the section of the City Charter that states the roles and duties of council-people. I assume you can read it yourself but can you comprehend it?
I don't have access to the Charter right now but it's ridiculous to claim (as you seem to be) that City Council-people have any control over state mandates. It's also ridiculous to write that I stated City Councilors "managed city employees".
Yeah Dave, good thing your union took all the raises and left the benefits (retiree health care) on the table. You get to keep all your salary related bumps in your teacher's pension, everyone that took benefits are expected to give back. Also, you get your full social security benefit as opposed to most other younger teachers, cops and firefighters who get much less. Add to that this nice little $10,000 part time job as councilman and yo are sitting pretty.
Dave had a big mouth during the election and now he cant provide. HES TRYING TO IMPRESS HIS WIFE. But even she has figured him out. Hes just another union boy sticking up the tax payers Ass. LETS WATCH HIM FALL ON HIS FACE QUICK.
Yes just another union boy trying to protect his pension thats how stupid the voters in bristol are.You all deserve to have your taxes go up. This guy thinks that people will fallall over him especialy the women. Your not tiger woods or bill clinton.
December 24, 2009 1:13 PM:
I like your train of thought.
Is the Superintendent concerned with the "mandate" he's pushed for; the $150 million school construction project that is arguably not needed? How about his gold-plated (speckled with diamonds and rubies) pension?
I'll state again and again, Mills brings up a good point. But after merely a few months into his term, he's talking for the education industry. Is that who elected him? Maybe so?
Mills you made us promisses you cant keep. I think your trying to impress your wife for some reason. Your not impressing us . Your another union guy running your mouth off with a bunch of words going nowhere.
Merging the Board of Education business office with the city's would eliminate redunant functions like payroll, account payable, facilities and human resources and save the taxpayers a lot of money this coming year.
Dave what happen to the snow clean up you were going to do. Or was that just to here your self talk. Just more empty words from a bristol politican.
Dave best thing for you to do is keep your mouth shut. You have no idea what you talk about and no one ive talk to understands what your doing.
Dave work on cutting out some spending with the school board. Make your self usefull.
Thanks dave for blowing smoke . You and the rest of the school board are the ones screwing this city. So talk to some one other then bristol tax PAYERS.. We dont beleive you .
at the last democratic town committee meeting, the mayor complained about unfunded mandates to the state officials and they threw it back to him and asked him if he was ready to give up binding arbitration which is the biggest unfunded mandate. The mayor DID NOT RESPOND. He looked like he was throwing up in his mouth. So buddy, what's it going to be - all talk no action so your're union boys don't get mad?
Dave, thats what you get for getting in bed with Mocabee, Schaffrick and the like.
Dave is so over his head its sad.
Dave couldnt find you shoveling snow for the elderly what went wrong. Your all talk.
7:05 - Why didn'y you follow up and ask him if you were there? Afraid that his answer wouldn't be as you are projecting it to be? Could you be part of the "woe is me, mommy" crowd who can't stand up on their own two feet and are only happy spreading untruths and any type of crap that creates chaos?
Are you one of the spineless wimps who basks in back stabbing anyone who doesn't pick up your dribble - grow up fool, your cover is blown - and not the cover that you use as a security blanket - mommy will hold that for you.
Dave, your mayoral campaign is off to a very bad start!
7:05 - repeat after me - mommy, mommy, he's picking on me - mommy, mommy
7:05:
Good point!
It's called being dumbfounded. With the emphasis on "dumb".
And please ignore "wimp", as if you already were not.
Brutal. Why would anyone want to be on the council?
4:48
EGO EGO EGO
Lets see: it probably will boil down to Mills or Cockayne, or Alford or Johnson.
Looks like we will be stuck with Artie again.
Dave we have a storm coming can you tell us were to reach you to shovel are walks please couldnt reach you the last storm your phone must have been off the hook.
Too bad that he Republicans don't talk with and listen to the former mayor, who really knew the budget.
I work in city hall and saw first hand how the comptroller was afraid of him when it came to the cits finances
Guess Stortz wasn't so bad after all.
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