Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to Livonianeighbors.com. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. To ensure your privacy, never use personal information in your screen name or email address ("janedoe@hotmail.com" or "Billysmom" for example).

Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Mayor to discuss ‘realistic decisions' on budget; Obsever-March 7, 2010
Topic Started: Mar 8 2010, 10:20 PM (422 Views)
Administrator
Administrator
Mayor to discuss ‘realistic decisions' on budgetBy Ken Abramczyk • OBSERVER STAFF WRITER • March 7, 2010

Mayor Jack Kirksey's State of the City calls this year “a time to come together to meet our challenges.”

That's the theme of the annual address he will deliver Wednesday at Laurel Manor to a sold-out lunch crowd.
Kirksey wouldn't spell out specifics of the address, but said that he will talk about the “realistic decisions” that have to be made to balance the budget for 2011 and 2012 and how the city is meeting the challenges in a faltering economy.
“We'll put into focus how we've been able to deliver a realistically balanced budget,” Kirksey said. “We'll discuss how we can come together and the certain dynamics that have to occur.”
The city of Livonia may lose as much as $5.4 million in property tax revenue in next year's budget due to declining residential assessments and taxable values on homes.
The residential taxable value is estimated at $2.7 billion for 2010.
Under that estimate, the city would collect $31.4 million, down from last year's $36.4 million. Residential taxes represent 63 percent of property tax revenue for the city. Last year's budget totaled $50.8 million, which included more than $3 million in cuts.
Kirksey also expects to outline the economic development in the city and the strategies in place to draw more companies to the community. “We'll be explaining how to do more with less and still reach a quality outcome,” Kirksey said.
Kirksey added that the city “is as well-positioned as it could be.”
“We're dealing with some very deep pitfalls. We're not closing buildings. We're not compromised to any serious degree our quality of services when other venues are not as fortunate.”
The sellout of tickets indicates the level of interest in the community is great, Kirksey said. Kirksey expects a crowd of approximately 500 people.

http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20100307/NEWS10/3070434/1027/rss18
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Expect cuts in city, school services next budget year

March 11, 2010

Livonia city and school officials are preparing for one of their worst budget years in recent memory.

Save 80% on Heartgard Plus

The recession has caught up with school districts and municipalities. Falling home values are impacting property tax revenue.

The city of Livonia expects to lose as much as $5.4 million in residential property tax revenue for 2011, more than 10 percent of last year's $50.8 million budget.

The Livonia school board is preparing for a deficit of up to $14.7 million, again more than 10 percent of its projected $140 million budget.

Mayor Jack Kirksey presented his State of the City Address Wednesday, calling this year a time to make “realistic decisions.”

Superintendent Randy Liepa presented initial budget recommendations for 2010-11 to the school board Monday, including increasing class sizes and reducing bus transportation.

Residents can expect reductions in programs and services. The city and school district can't continue to spend at the levels they have in the past. Like residents, they have to live within their means. Unlike the federal government, they can't simply print more money.

City and school officials have been anticipating budget shortfalls for 2010-11. They have been planning ahead and cutting back their spending for the past several years. Some employee groups have agreed to concessions.

So far, residents probably haven't felt many of the cuts. That probably will start to change.

One way to make up the shortfalls without cutting programs and services would be to increase taxes, which most residents would probably oppose at this time.

The economy is starting to show signs of improvement. But until things turn around, residents can't expect the same level of service from the city and school district — unless they're willing to open their wallets to pay for it.

http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20100311/OPINION/3110523/1199/NEWS10/Expect+cuts+in+city++school+services+next+budget+year
Quote Post Goto Top
 
Deleted User
Deleted User

Threatened with layoffs, police OK pact
By Matt Jachman • OBSERVER STAFF WRITER • July 15, 2010

Police officers in Plymouth Township have apparently averted layoffs with the approval Monday of a new contract proposal that includes employee concessions.

The township's 21 officers will see their pay cut by 5 percent in exchange for furlough days, pay more out of pocket for medical care and contribute 1 percent of their gross annual wages toward health insurance premiums under the new deal, which expires at the end of next year.

Health insurance benefits for retiring officers will also be affected, and officers who work holidays will get paid their flat hourly wage (in addition to holiday pay) instead of time-and-a-half.

“We took the concessions to save seven jobs.
There's not much more you can say,” said Officer Bill Fetner, vice president of the Plymouth Township Police Officers Association. “With the way the economy is and the threat of layoffs, members voted it in.”

Fetner declined to reveal the outcome of the vote, except to say the plan was ratified. A June vote on concessions by the officers failed.

The plan is expected to be approved Tuesday by the township Board of Trustees.

The township and the officers union had been negotiating for months as township officials sought concessions to offset falling property tax revenue and cuts in state aid. Other employee unions — clerical workers, public safety dispatchers and public works employees — have made similar concessions.

Township Supervisor Richard Reaume estimated the new contract will save the township between $140,000 and $150,000 a year.

“We wanted more, but this is a very difficult group and they come with a lot of public support,” Reaume said. “Nobody wants to have less officers. We didn't want to have less officers.”

The contract includes some protection against layoffs: If any officers are laid off during the contract period, the concessions are voided.

Under the furloughs, patrol officers who work 12-hour shifts will take nine days off a year without pay. Those, such as detectives, who work eight-hour shifts will take 13 furlough days a year. Furlough days can't be scheduled in a way that would cause overtime, Reaume said.

Officers at the top of the pay scale currently earn about $64,000 a year, plus any overtime.

The union did win a couple of bonuses — the ability of those who retire to add children to their health-care plan (only the retiree and his or her spouse were covered previously) for a flat $100 a month and an incentive to earn an extra paid day off by using less sick time.

Township officials are still negotiating over concessions with the Plymouth Township Command Officers Association, which represents the department's six sergeants. Another meeting is planned for Wednesday.

Reaume said some sergeants could face demotion if the group does not approve concessions.

“If they're not willing to do the savings, we would have to demote a sergeant or two” to get the savings, he said.

mjachman@hometownlife.com | (313) 222-2405
http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20100715/NEWS15/7150536/Threatened-with-layoffs-police-OK-pact
Quote Post Goto Top
 
f11
Advanced Member
[ *  *  * ]
Residents can expect reductions in programs and services. The city and school district can't continue to spend at the levels they have in the past. Like residents, they have to live within their means. Unlike the federal government, they can't simply print more money.

City and school officials have been anticipating budget shortfalls for 2010-11. They have been planning ahead and cutting back their spending for the past several years. Some employee groups have agreed to concessions


What a joke, these people just don't get it...NOW? now is the time to live within your means?.
I hope it all implodes.
Does Kirkskey double dip?
Are teachers EVER going to concede? No, they would rather all the children and families suffer, than to give up anything. THIS IS THE REAL WORLD, REAL PEOPLE PAY FOR HEALTH CARE! Teachers in Michigan are OVERPAID when you include salary, benefits and time worked, yes I said it!
Edited by f11, Jul 23 2010, 06:58 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
« Previous Topic · Livonia Neighbors Forum · Next Topic »
Add Reply