Not this again

Just read the Miami Herald story on the ongoing budget issues. Doesn't look good for us. Salerno is gonna want more money or he's gonna really cut police jobs. Don't think marching with the 38's on Lejeune and The Mile is gonna get it done this time (nice effort FOP). What are we gonna give now, 8%, 9%, or dare I say 10%???? I hope you guys on the bottom have plans to get new jobs. Hope it doesn't happen, but probably will. This place was the best department in the County, what happened? Bad management.

I think it's going to finally happen. The city is going to lay off cops this time. I can't see the cops giving up any more money.

our last 5% went to all the new traffic circles, what does the city need now? The new guys who will be layed off can work in the museum.

Coral Gables deficit estimated at between $3.7M and $9.9M
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BY CARLI TEPROFF
cteproff@MiamiHerald.com
Coral Gables finance director Don Nelson said the city could face anywhere from a $3.7 million to a $9.9 million deficit next year, depending on how property values and pension costs fared.

Nelson outlined the grim forecast Wednesday at a budget update session with the city manager and city commissioners. He projected four different budgetary scenarios -- each with a deficit.

In the worst-case estimate, property values would drop 10 percent, costing the city about $7 million in tax revenues. In the same case, pension costs would increase by 15 percent, costing the city about $3 million. The two variables -- the declining property values and the rising pension costs -- would lead to a $9.9 million deficit, Nelson estimated.

City Manager Patrick Salerno told commissioners it is too early to tell what kind of deficit -- if any -- the city would face.

``The city would completely have to go to sleep and do nothing for that to happen,'' said Salerno after the meeting. ``We are not going to do that.''

Nonetheless, Nelson's projections indicate the city will have a tough challenge in balancing its budget in the coming year.

The budget analysis calculated that property values would stay flat or decrease by either 5 percent, 7.5 percent or 10 percent. Last year, the city's property values declined by 7.5 percent or $4.2 million.

The lower property revenues contributed to a more than $8 million deficit last year. To balance the budget, the city added new fees and laid off approximately 70 of its nearly 900 employees.

``The recession is taking its toll on individuals, families and businesses,'' Salerno read from a prepared speech. ``City government has been impacted too, not only with reduced resources, having recently eliminated 67 positions . . . but also with increased demand for services.''

Salerno said while the city has already cut more than $8 million from its $130.8-million operating budget, he is still looking at pension reform, staff and other city programs to further reduce spending.

``We cannot afford to not look at everything,'' he said. ``There is nothing off the table.''

One goal of Salerno's is to focus on pension reform. At nearly $22 million this year, pension costs are the third-largest expense for the city behind labor costs and operating expenses.

Last September, the city negotiated with employees from all three unions -- general, fire and police -- to make contributions to the pension funds, which are balloning.

During last year's budget sessions, city staff told of a Coral Gables police sergeant who made $81,000-a-year until his last year with the city. During his last year, his accumulated comp time and annual leave resulted in a salary of $164,000. The pension formula calculated that into his payout, giving the officer a lifelong annual pension benefit of $125,000 -- a 54 percent increase over his $81,000 salary.

In Nelson's scenarios, pension costs rise anywhere from 10 to 15 percent.

``It is unrealistic for any city to assume that pension costs are not rising by at least 10 percent, given the state of the economy,'' Salerno said.

Representatives from the city's three unions came to hear the financial progress of the city. Coral Gables Fraternal Order of Police President John P. Baublitz said while it helps to get a sense of the city status, he noted that these are only projections.

``There wasn't a whole lot of meat to take away,'' he said.

He noted that FOP members have been and will continue to work with the city.

``I truly believe our membership is doing whatever they can to help out the situation,'' he said, saying members contribute 5 percent to the pension costs.

The meeting came as a result of Commissioner Ralph Cabrera asking for a session to discuss future plans for the city. While he appreciates the update, he said he wants the commission to have a planning session to come up with specific goals.

``I don't want it to end here,'' he said.



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/12/1 ... z0iMvwyK2h (http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/12/1526355/coral-gables-deficit-estimated.html#ixzz0iMvwyK2h)

This place is amazing!! $350K for another Xmas and I hope we don't do fireworks again. What about fire? Somebody needs to wake them up and tell them Salerno wants more.. They couldn't give more cause they slept through the last meeting.. :devil:

Is bringing in a new chief really going to change things that much? Salerno is going to bring in an extension of himself. A new Chief isn't going to solve the budget issues brought on by mismanagement of city funds and the same supervisors will be supervising.

Don't hold your breath and be ready for at least 2 more years of no movement within the dept.

So bring on whom ever you want, but nothing is going to change. Get ready to continue to pay for the mistakes of the regime by giving a higher percentage in October to your pension or guys will be let go.

P.S. Look next door, Fire is getting richer.