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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Brown indicated recently that he needs to lay off as many as 100 employees. But where will he take them from. There have been additional cuts in some departments already, such as the Treasurer and hours are being reduced in several departmentss to accomadate these cuts.
The big question is where will these cuts come from? Brown has threatened both AFSME 1600 and the Police Officers unions. Word is cuts may come from both.
Lock recently said to the news media that Flint only had 126 officers. Governor Snyder has not been ablr to push his police plan through the legislature. With the high costs of coverage from the Sheriff department, the Sheriff could never provide adequate police protection and the State Police don't answer 911 calls.
Meanwhile, the last I heard was the land bank was still using city facilities at no cost, not even for utilities. This is despite a finding by the auditor for the Economic Development Corporation and Oak Park business Center that the Land Bank should pay for both. I drove by the former building on Hemphill used by the land Bank for their clean-up operations appeared to be used by a professional landscaper.
The city has more parks than they could maintain with a full crew, so if Brown cuts there and has fewer seasonal employees, will volunteers pick up the slack?
Look at the amount of revenue sharing coming from the state and it appears to be less than one-thirds of previous years. Much of the revenue sharing was part of an agreement with the cities to forgo certain business taxes and allow the state to collect that revenue. Now the state wants to cut even more taxes the city usually collects, such as the personal business tax. This general fund money was used to fund our police and fire.[/b] |
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Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:10 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Layoffs possible as Flint emergency manager hammers out budget
Published: Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 9:00 AM Updated: Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 10:38 AM
By Kristin Longley | klongley1@mlive.com
FLINT, MI -- Flint emergency manager Michael Brown said he's hoping to have a budget plan in place next week. Meanwhile, he's continuing to meet with employee representatives on possible contract concessions, he said.
The Flint police sergeants and the fire union are expected to vote on proposals this week, but no other employee groups had accepted tentative agreements as of Tuesday evening, Brown said.
"We're feeling positive about the discussions," he said.we feel it's been a productive process and that's why I didn't want to close it down with an arbitrary date."
Brown pushed back a self-imposed April 6 deadline for the budget in order to continue talks with city unions.
He declined to comment Tuesday on the details of the proposed concessions, or whether he expects to use his powers under Michigan's emergency manager law to impose new contracts for any of the city unions.
"It would be premature for me to say that," he said.
When asked about the possibility of layoffs, Brown said that they are "certainly" being considered as part of the budget process.
The city is dealing with a projected $25 million deficit and crushing legacy costs in the face of declining property values and tax revenue.
"You don't take care of a $25-million shortfall and not expect to have any layoffs," he said. "We are continuing our meeting and conferring sessions with the unions. I've wanted to give that a chance to work."
Kristin Longley can be reached at 810-429-5333. You can also follow her on Twitter @KristinLongley or subscribe on Facebook.
wasit4sure April 11, 2012 at 10:10AM
You also don't take care of $25 million problem with just layoffs and concessions. There needs to be a comprehensive approach taken with gradual improvement and recovery. The problems that caused the deficit didn't just happen overnight and it is unrealistic to expect them to be solved overnight. Everything needs to be considered, i.e revenue enhancements (raise the non-resident income tax rate .25%), look at floating additional bonds with a ten yr. payback, look at raising the trash millage to a realitsic and sustainable level matching the true cost for services, look to the current water plant for producing more water and buying less from Detroit, out-source where there is a proven savings without loss of service. When will the leaders step up and lead? Where is a list of solutions of shared sacrifice by all stake-holders in the problems and solutions? Any puppet can make draconian cuts, bur real leaders offer true vision.
rida April 11, 2012 at 10:31AM
Raising the non-resident income tax rate? Are you kidding me? it's bad enough to have taxation without representation, parking meters added, etc. Changes like these will drive business OUT of the City of Flint. One of the goals is to bring more here.
Kristin Longley | klongley1@mlive.com April 11, 2012 at 10:35AM
wasit4sure,
Good points. It will be interesting to see how the emergency manager attempts to balance Flint's budget. He hasn't released any comprehensive details yet, but we're hoping to be able to report them soon. We've also reported previously that Brown wants to ask the state to approve a fiscal stabilization bond of $20 million to be paid off over time. More on that here: http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/03/20_million_for_flint_state_say.html
The city received an $8 million bond last year, which also will be paid off over 20 years.
Thanks for reading,
Kristin Longley
The Flint Journal
doinit4me April 11, 2012 at 10:59AM
I agree with you "wasit4sure" but I'm not as willing to borrow money to pay down debt when there are areas in the budget besides Police, Fire and DPW that could be cut, or eliminated. How about the mayor's salary (a drop in the bucket I know but he is not doing anything now but politicing), the towing contract with Complete (lets see Mr. Brown void that one), cut back spending on parks or mow twice a month (only the thugs are using them now) and all other expenditures except core functions of government. Itstead of worrying about how the city can be all things to all people Mr. Brown should cut, cut and cut non core functions government to ensure that Flint can provide at least three things for the majority of people. Police, Fire and DPW first, last and always or Flint will never be able to be anything for anybody.
frednavy4 April 11, 2012 at 11:01AM
the people turning in metel seeing that i have put all sorts of this at the curb in small amounts how about a place for us to drop off free so the city can make money on it if a place was there i would drop off the little amounts i end up with.
exit247 April 11, 2012 at 11:03AM
I'm still not sure why we have the Arnold Browns, Bill Fowlers, Howard Crofts et al all brought to in to work as "consultants" at astronomical rates of pay. Add Dayne Walling and a do nothing Police Chief who works plus collects a pension, that right there totals about a half million dollars.
Sam Muma the local 1600 president makes almost 40 bucks an hour to do what? Sit at home the majority of the work week? Simple fixes are being over looked. True it may not put a huge dent into the bottom line issue of reducing the deficit but it would be a start.
wasit4sure April 11, 2012 at 11:03AM
rida and doinit...shared sacrifice means everything is on the table and everybody who has a stake makes some sacrifice. It is crazy to expect that the workers suffer the most when they aren't the ones who created all the problems. Forcing laws in Lansing that are unconstitutional isn't the solution either. It just makes things worse. Until everybody is complaining a little about having to give up something, then shared sacrifice hasn't occurred.
wasit4sure April 11, 2012 at 11:14AM
Take the new golf contacts for example. $9,000.00 a yr. to the city for something that makes far more than that in revenue is a joke.
And to top it all, they just gave these bozo's free use of city purchased equipment
. If you or I were to need equipment to run our business that we didn't own ourselves, we would have to rent it. Why aren't these new golf "managers" paying the city for rental of their equipment? Just saying..after all it's you're the tax dollars that paid for it! |
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Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:19 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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"exit247 April 11, 2012 at 11:03AM
I'm still not sure why we have the Arnold Browns, Bill Fowlers, Howard Crofts et al all brought to in to work as "consultants" at astronomical rates of pay. Add Dayne Walling and a do nothing Police Chief who works plus collects a pension, that right there totals about a half million dollars. "
Arnold Brown is there because the city never trained anyone to replace him. When Brown placed Tom McCabe, retired Flint purchasing, to that job, McCabe was a disaster.
Bill Fowler is there because the state requires an appraiser of his level to be there and no one else wanted the job. He is currently a shared employee with the City of lansing as part of the EVIP requirement of the Governor.
Howard Croft is a mystery as he is assigned too many departments and he has no experience in hardly any of them. Doesn't he have a company to run? |
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Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:25 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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"wasit4sure April 11, 2012 at 11:14AM
Take the new golf contacts for example. $9,000.00 a yr. to the city for something that makes far more than that in revenue is a joke. And to top it all, they just gave these bozo's free use of city purchased equipment . If you or I were to need equipment to run our business that we didn't own ourselves, we would have to rent it. Why aren't these new golf "managers" paying the city for rental of their equipment? Just saying..after all it's you're the tax dollars that paid for it!"
The Land Bankk also gets to use city equipment and resources for free. Is this a case of "it's who you know". |
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Wed Apr 11, 2012 11:29 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Tomorrow may be the day we learn if layoffs will occur in the police department. So it is interesting to note that Snyder finally antes up the money that may open the city jail and pays for the transfer of prisoners from the county jails when overcrowded
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Governor signs bill for $3M to open jail space in Flint
Published: Thursday, April 12, 2012, 5:24 PM Updated: Thursday, April 12, 2012, 5:24 PM
By Kristin Longley | klongley1@mlive.com
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Gov. Rick Snyder signed a budget bill today that includes $3 million to free up jail space in Flint.
The funding will be used by the Michigan Department of Corrections to continue to pay to house Genesee County jail inmates in other county jails, said Kurt Weiss, spokesman for the state budget office.
The funding also could be used to help the reopen the city of Flint's lockup, he said.
The funding for Flint is part of Snyder's public safety initiative, which he announced in a special message in March at Flint City Hall.
Snyder is recommending another $1.5 million for Flint jail space be included in next year's budget, Weiss said.
Freeing up jail space "will allow for the high number of outstanding warrants to be addressed," he said.
A recent Flint Journal review found Flint police and state police handed out a combined 72 appearance tickets to offenders in January and February. Some were allowed to walk free, instead of getting arrested, because the county jail was too crowded, police said.
Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell said more money to house county inmates in other jails would be "wonderful."
The jail had 704 inmates recently, he said, and he's only allowed to have 580.
If the jail has more than 580 inmates for more than seven consecutive days, then a "jail overcrowding emergency" could be declared and some inmates released.
"This special appropriation will help significantly," Pickell said.
Flint emergency manager Michael Brown said he's planning to sit down with corrections representatives to talk about when and how the city can access the funds for reopening the city lockup.
Brown has been an advocate for reopening the lockup since he was appointed in December. His team is in the midst of hammering out a 2013 budget and talking with city unions, but he hopes to have a plan for the jail issue in the coming weeks, he said.
"We're going to be meeting with them soon to discuss the details," Brown said.
Pickell was more cautious about the idea of reopening the Flint lockup, which he said could lead to another overcrowding problem if handled incorrectly.
By law, the Flint lockup can only hold suspects for 72 hours before they're arraigned and then sent to the county jail. Opening up the lockup will allow for more suspects to be taken in, but it also could cause an overcrowding emergency in the county jail, Pickell said.
"We have to be careful that if we open up the city jail that it doesn't overcrowd the county jail to the point that we're forced to declare an emergency release," he said. "The people let out the back door could be more dangerous than the people coming in the front door."
Pickell said he's open to the idea, if there's a proper plan in place.
"It's a delicate situation," he said. "It can be worked out but we have to sit down and talk it out."
Kristin Longley can be reached at 810-429-5333. You can also follow her on Twitter @KristinLongley or subscribe on Facebook. |
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Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:16 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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hERE IS THE QUESTION:
IF THE CAPTAINS AND LT.'S UNION AND THE SGT.'S UNION APPROVE CONTRACTS WITH EM BROWN, CAN BROWN IMPOSE A GREATER CUT ON THE POLICE OFFICER'S UNION THAN THESE OTHER UNIONS?
SOME WHO WATCHED NEGOTIATION IN DETROIT SAY NO AND INSIST THE CUTS WITH THE PUBLIC SAFETY UNITS HAVE TO MADE ACROSS THE BOARD.
THIS WILL BE WORTH WATCHING. |
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Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:16 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Flint police unions pass tentative contract agreements with city
Published: Friday, April 13, 2012, 9:11 AM Updated: Friday, April 13, 2012, 9:27 AM
By Kristin Longley | klongley1@mlive.com
FLINT, MI -- Two
Flint police unions have passed tentative contract agreements with the city, emergency manager Michael Brown said today.
The members of the Flint sergeants union and the lieutenants and captains union voted on the proposed contracts Thursday, he said.
Brown said it was a significant accomplishment that the parties were able to reach a consensus. The city's four public safety unions have been operating under expired contracts for more than two years.
"We're very appreciative of that effort," Brown said this morning. "We think it's going to help a lot."
Brown said he expects to sign both contracts soon to make them official. The details on each of the contracts were not immediately available Friday morning.
"Our target (for concessions) was around 20 percent," Brown said.
A representative for the lieutenants and captains union could not immediately be reached. A representative for the sergeants union declined to comment this morning.
"It's significant to be able to work this out," Brown said. "I believe that everybody realizes this is a real unique situation we're in. It shows they want to be part of the solution."
The city's fire union is also expected to vote on a tentative agreement this week.
Kristin Longley can be reached at 810-429-5333. You can also follow her on Twitter @KristinLongley or subscribe on Facebook. |
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Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:03 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| If the terms of the contracts are the same, then I don't believe brown can impose a greater cut on the Police Officer's Union. |
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Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:04 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Brown and Pickell are said to be negotiating a joint Sheriff-Flint Police unit.
Howver in the face of the recent violence, How can anyone justify more police layoffs?
Woodrow Stanley had his monthly coffee meeting at the Golden gate restaurant. Daid caswell was present and announced the layoff of 53 officers. He also said the South Side Task Force would end becausethe grant funding is no longer available. The loss of that LT. and the six officers would make 60 police laid off.
According to Caswell there will be a public hearing in the City Council Chambers on April 30, at 5 pm and the police issue will be brought up.
The Police Chief recently said Flint has 128 sworn officers, but that does not mean 128 patrol. There are Captains, Lt.s, Sgt.s and other administrative staff. I am told there are about 89 patrol, so losing 60 would be significant, if not impossible.
Another sticking point is the true number of grant funded positions. The police have posted on Flint Talk and on M-Live how that number is significant, but the administration alleges otherwise. |
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Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:57 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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| If some of the laid off police rehire on as Sheriff deputies, all new hires do not get retirement health care. They get a $50 dollar contribution to some sort of health care fund they receive upon retirement. |
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Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:59 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Flint emergency manager Michael Brown to unveil budget
Published: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 7:50 AM Updated: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 8:55 AM
By Kristin Longley | klongley1@mlive.com
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FLINT, MI -- Flint emergency manager Michael Brown will present the 2013 budget proposal to the Flint City Council on Monday, April 23.
The public meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers on the third floor of Flint City Hall, 1101 S. Saginaw St.
Brown has said the city is facing an "unprecedented" budget situation with a projected $25 million deficit and increasing legacy costs, and said layoffs are possible.
Brown has declined to discuss the details of the budget plan ahead of negotiations with city unions. He delayed a budget presentation earlier this month so he could continue meeting and conferring with employee groups.
Three collective bargaining units -- Flint fire, sergeants and the lieutenants and captains unions -- approved concessionary contracts last week.
Kristin Longley can be reached at 810-429-5333. You can also follow her on Twitter @KristinLongley or subscribe on Facebook. |
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Tue Apr 17, 2012 9:05 am |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Flint budget talks: Rumors abound, but city official says no layoffs issued to date
Published: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 1:41 PM Updated: Tuesday, April 17, 2012, 1:50 PM
By Kristin Longley | klongley1@mlive.com
F
FLINT, MI -- While layoffs at Flint City Hall are a possibility, city officials said it's too early to say what services or departments are targeted ahead of Monday's budget presentation.
Howard Croft, the city's development director under emergency manager Michael Brown, said the city has not issued any layoff notices to date, but all city departments "have been reviewed for what is the best decision that can be made on what services we can provide."
"There are no existing layoffs to date," Croft said this afternoon. "There are a lot of rumors in City Hall these days, and they're probably not all false. But nothing is set in stone."
Croft said city officials are still hammering out the details of the proposed budget Brown is scheduled to present to the Flint City Council at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Flint City Hall. A public hearing on the budget is expected to be held the following week.
Croft said city officials are continuing to meet with collective bargaining representatives on union contracts, and the budget has yet to be finalized. Croft oversees many city departments, including parks and recreation, water, fleet, sanitation and economic development.
Some of the changes implemented so far include the privatization of the city's four public golf courses, as well as the planned closure of the Pierce Senior Center.
In addition, three city unions -- Flint fire, sergeants and the lieutenants and captains unions -- approved concessionary contracts last week.
The presidents of AFSCME Local 1600 and the police patrol officers unions could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
"Nothing is 100 percent right now," Croft said. "Until we are 100 percent, I would not feel comfortable putting anything out there as of right now."
Kristin Longley can be reached at 810-429-5333. You can also follow her on Twitter @KristinLongley or subscribe on Facebook. |
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Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:32 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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SHERIFF PICKELL HAS INDICATED HE IS IN FAVOR OF A MERGED FLINT POLICE-SHERIFF DEPT. FLINT POLICE WOULD BE LAID OFF (AS MANY AS 58 ) AND MOST REHIRED AS DEPUTIES. nOW WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS THE PLAN REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
SAGINAW IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONSOLIDATING THE SHERIFF AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS JUST AS PONTIAC DID.
ADAM FORD CALLED THIS MOVE MONTHS AGO.
MEANWHILE FLINT JUST HAD MURDER NUMBER 18 AT PIERSON AND FLEMING.
Flint City Council members fear possible layoffs, rate increases in emergency manager's budget
Published: Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 3:50 PM Updated: Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 5:03 PM
By Kristin Longley | klongley1@mlive.com
Flint -- Some of the possible budget solutions talked about at Flint City Hall have included layoffs, rate increases and possible special assessments for city services, some city council members said today.
Though they haven't seen any details of the emergency manager's 2013 budget, some city council members said they're worried about the types of cuts or fees that could be included.
"I'm concerned about any increases to water rates," said Councilman Sheldon Neeley, adding that rates went up twice in 2011. "I'm opposed to any special assessments at this point. I don't want to see any increase (in fees) to any services until we stop the bleeding in other areas."
Flint emergency manager Michael Brown is expected to present his budget proposal to council members at 5:30 p.m. Monday. Brown's development director, Howard Croft, said Tuesday that the budget likely won't be finalized until the weekend.
Neeley said if there has to be an increase, he would prefer it in the form of an income tax hike.
Council Vice President Dale Weighill said he also hopes the city can avoid increasing the water and sewer rates.
"My second big concern is the number of layoffs in public safety -- police and fire," he said. "I'm hopeful we can avoid it."
Weighill said Flint can't afford to lose any more police or firefighters, but the city also can't afford to not cut spending. He said he would support putting a public safety millage on the ballot to pay for police officers and firefighters.
"The police have been decimated," he said. "We're in a serious financial issue now but I don't think we can take any more cuts. Property values are down and people's tax bills have gone down and I think people place a high value on public safety."
Brown could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
The city is facing a projected $25 million deficit amid declining property values and tax revenue.
Some of the emergency manager's cost-cutting moves this year have included outsourcing the city's four golf courses and the planned closure of the Pierce Senior Center.
Brown also laid off a few mayoral appointees and eliminated the ombudsman's office and the Flint Civil Service Commission early on in his appointment.
Flint City Council President Scott Kincaid said he was told the remaining budget cuts won't be as severe as some had initially thought because three city unions -- police sergeants, police lieutenants and captains and the Flint fire union -- have approved concessionary contracts
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"There are still going to be some cuts," Kincaid said. "He (Brown) wasn't real specific on them. I don't know for sure what they're going to do. Everything is moving fast and it's changing every day."
Neeley said he's concerned about how layoffs, if they occur, could affect city services for the residents.
"The people who pick up our garbage, pave our streets are the ones who get hit versus the ones who sit in the ivory tower," he said. "It's not fair to the residents."
Flint Mayor Dayne Walling, who said he provided some input during the budget process, declined to comment on the specifics of the budget talks.
"The budget needs to recognize that Flint's tax base is continuing to shrink so city operations need to be reduced again," he said. "There've been changes and reductions with the city's operations for a number of years and this coming year won't be any different."
Kristin Longley can be reached at 810-429-5333. You can also follow her on Twitter @KristinLongley or subscribe on Facebook. |
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Wed Apr 18, 2012 4:19 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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SAGINAW (WJRT) -
(04/18/12) - The city of Saginaw is looking at the possibility of eliminating its police department and contracting for law enforcement services with the county.
We are being told this is just one of many options, but just the fact that this is being looked at is going to cause some controversy.
Saginaw County Sheriff Bill Federspiel dropped a bombshell at the Saginaw County Commissioners meeting Tuesday, telling the commissioners that Saginaw City Manager Darnell Earley and Assistant City Manager Phil Ludos have asked the sheriff to do some number-crunching to find out what it would take for the county to take over policing the city
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There is no timetable for this at all, but we've been told a representative from Oakland County is coming to Saginaw next week.
The sheriff's department in Oakland County oversees the city of Pontiac, which disbanded its police department two years ago.
Federspiel says there are a number of issues to work out, but he believes that policing model can work in Saginaw.
ABC12 talked with Saginaw Mayor Greg Branch by phone, and he says it's just an option at this point, but one that has to be explored. |
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Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:05 pm |
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Dave Starr
F L I N T O I D
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| Maybe layoffs are what Walling & Sam Muma were discussing at Luigi's today for close to an hour before the Old Newsboys meeting started. |
_________________
I used to care, but I take a pill for that now.
Pushing buttons sure can be fun.
When a lion wants to go somewhere, he doesn’t worry about how many hyenas are in the way.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos. |
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Wed Apr 18, 2012 6:13 pm |
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