It was with complete shock that WayneWho staff read an editorial piece in the Orlando Sentinel this morning that not only made sense, but we agreed with as well. In an editorial titled "We think: State employees shouldn't be exempted from reductions," the Sentinel builds the case that during these tough budget conditions, reducing the state payroll by reducing salaries, temporary layoffs, and the even more drastic idea of cutting of positions should be examined. Basically, the state should reduce the size of its workforce to deal with the budget shortfall just like every other business in America. They go on to say, "Politicians -- especially Republicans -- love to demand that government behave like a business. When businesses face hard times, they sometimes have to lay off employees. It hurts, but businesses do it to avoid passing along cost increases to customers. They do it to survive." We could not agree more and wish that local governments would learn the same lessons.
Just as the Sentinel noted, "No one is disputing the value of their (government workers) service, as few would dispute the value of teachers who have lost their jobs," and that the disputed wisdom of our local and state governments is that of refusing to become more efficient. While downsizing is not the most popular of ideas, especially when it comes to those who have become used to the warmth and comfort of the governments employment embrace, business is business. Raising taxes and fees or creating new ones is not the answer to the financial problems our local governments have put themselves in. It is time to cut government back to the size it should have been all along instead of the bloated government politicians wanted.
We commend the Sentinel for this editorial. We are sure that within a couple of days they will again be derailed from the tracks of mentally competent and demand that in the middle of this budget crisis we should slash jobs to make sure we have money to give to the homeless (shelter challenged), but for now we give them their due credit.
As we end this article we would also like to thank Art Otero for trying to watch out for the citizens of this community. Your attempt to re-address the Fire Fee is appreciated, but next time be careful not to get caught in the technicality wars. The real issue is that the Fire Fee was just a bad idea that has continued to hurt the business community in the City of Kissimmee who we are now relying on to pull our collective fat out of the fire. The commissioners during the Fire Fee fiasco should have been more aggressive in cutting overhead instead of trying to find ways to skirt the will of the voters of the State of Florida. We hope that Commissioner Otero will continue looking into these issues and will continue to speak out for the citizens of our community.
PS. WayneWho is always "Ready to Rumble!" Just give us some warm up time and a couple of Geritols and we are ready to go.
Just as the Sentinel noted, "No one is disputing the value of their (government workers) service, as few would dispute the value of teachers who have lost their jobs," and that the disputed wisdom of our local and state governments is that of refusing to become more efficient. While downsizing is not the most popular of ideas, especially when it comes to those who have become used to the warmth and comfort of the governments employment embrace, business is business. Raising taxes and fees or creating new ones is not the answer to the financial problems our local governments have put themselves in. It is time to cut government back to the size it should have been all along instead of the bloated government politicians wanted.
We commend the Sentinel for this editorial. We are sure that within a couple of days they will again be derailed from the tracks of mentally competent and demand that in the middle of this budget crisis we should slash jobs to make sure we have money to give to the homeless (shelter challenged), but for now we give them their due credit.
As we end this article we would also like to thank Art Otero for trying to watch out for the citizens of this community. Your attempt to re-address the Fire Fee is appreciated, but next time be careful not to get caught in the technicality wars. The real issue is that the Fire Fee was just a bad idea that has continued to hurt the business community in the City of Kissimmee who we are now relying on to pull our collective fat out of the fire. The commissioners during the Fire Fee fiasco should have been more aggressive in cutting overhead instead of trying to find ways to skirt the will of the voters of the State of Florida. We hope that Commissioner Otero will continue looking into these issues and will continue to speak out for the citizens of our community.
PS. WayneWho is always "Ready to Rumble!" Just give us some warm up time and a couple of Geritols and we are ready to go.
4 comments:
I have heard some say that it some of the local governments might be faced with cutting between 1/4 and 1/3 of their people during this next budget review. The word is that revenues are looking much worse that was anticipated and that unless they come up with more revenue the staff is going to have to be cut. Just rumors of course.
Art was lost and wrong when he was talking about the fire fee. He was actually referring to the Ambulance fee that our attorney was careful to make sure the city was not charging. The city got away with raising taxes again.
Why does WayneWho always attack republicans?
Because the Trims are Democrats.
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