|
 |
1/10/2011
How will Appleton taxpayers pay for labor contracts?
Appleton mayor Tim Hanna, via a Post-Crescent transcription published Sunday (from a Thursday interview), shared thoughts about upcoming stresses in the state and municipal budgets.
[In a discussion group for Gov.-elect Walker] We talked about more pressure on local government and declining resources in the face of almost increasing expectations. We spent a lot of time talking about our mediation-arbitration laws. They need to be talked about….
[Question from the P/C] Will any departments see a pay increase in 2011?
No. The budget was passed with zero percent. As we negotiate these contracts, the goal is to go in and negotiate so there is zero percent and we don't have to go back and make budget adjustments.
…. I know in trying to put the next biennial budget together, the shared-revenue program is one of the big five expenditures for the state. I don't think any one of the five is going to be exempt. I fully expect to see some kind of reduction in shared revenue.
If the 2011 budget was passed with 0% increases for 2011, how will the city fund a 1% increase in personnel costs? That’s the projected increased cost for 2011, given approval of a new contract with Appleton police officers – a contract sure to predict settlements with the rest of Appleton’s 15 bargaining units. In the contract, wages don’t increase for 2011, but health insurance costs do. (It’s possible those health cost increases are in the budget – I didn’t yet drill down.)
I’m guessing here, but let’s say the city’s personnel budget is about $100,000,000 (the total budget for 2011 is almost $147,000,000). That potentially 1% unbudgeted increase in personnel expenses would be right around $1million..
And given that Mayor Hanna shares our belief that changes in Wisconsin labor laws most likely will come sooner rather than later, why would he condone a 3-year contract, with wage increases of 8% in 2012 and 2013?
And given that the mayor sees state shared revenue payments to municipalities shrinking, how does he expect the city will fund a projected 3.35% increase in labor costs in 2013? (That 3.35% projection uses a 4% assumption for increases in health costs – fat chance it will stay that low.)
Would it be wise to get more accurate health care cost assumptions for 2012 and 2013?
Would it be wise, before passing a 3-year contract, with shared revenues expected to shrink, to tell taxpayers exactly how the city expects to pay for those increases in the out years?
Would it be wise to consider that potential state labor law changes may impact future negotiations and then consider a one-year contract, in the best interest of city taxpayers?
Yes, yes and yes.
Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net
COMMENTS
Would it be wise? Unless the City of Appleton has a big "reserve" hidden somewhere, of course it is unwise. The only possible answer is that Hanna plans massive layoffs.
I am not a financial planner. Perhaps the City needs one.
Jo, if your numbers are correct, the city is being negligent.
David (Mon Jan 10 08:05:57 2011)
I do not see where anybody has written disagreeing with today's blog.
Jo, I have high expectations for the State with the new Governor, and the Country with Reid Ribble. On the city level I would hope that our Council and Mayor can see that they are being very risky with our future.
I read Mayor Hannas interview you mentioned in today's blog. He mentioned "talking" about matters on the State level. I think talk is fine but I call the City Fathers to take action.
I challenge each member of the council to randomly contact members of their Ward and ask if they should encumber the city with three year contracts? I expect the answer would be 95% NO.
I challenge the Board of Education to do likewise.
I challenge Mayor Hanna, and Superintendent Allinger, and all elected officials to be BOLD. Be BOLD and make fiscally sound decisions.
David (Mon Jan 10 09:40:45 2011)
>>>(That 3.35% projection uses a 4% assumption for increases in health costs – fat chance it will stay that low.)<<<
Health care costs.....Maybe it would be wise to support single payer so a to reduce those costs. Medicare for all? Go repeal "Obamacare" and enact single payer.
Dean Weichmann (Mon Jan 10 09:57:05 2011)
It is clear to me from a strategy standpoint that the City (Hanna nad the HR Director, and the Finance Director) have been nicely "Out-Foxed" by the Unions. In all likelihood, the "Med/Arb" law is going to be changed in the next year. Frankly, it has been badly tilted in favor of Public Sector Unions for decades. It is also likely that changes will be coming resulting in 5% contributions by Employees for their Retirement (As now provided by State law, but "Bungled away" at the bargaining table by inept Public Sector Management over the years.) Further, increased payments by Employees for Health care are looming. The result of this round of negotiations is that Appleton will be "Locked-in" for three years to a very expensive labor agreement with ALL its Unions, and Mangement will look VERY foolish! BUT, AS ALWAYS, THE FOLKS WILL FOOT THE BILL! DUMB! GLS
GL Schillng (Mon Jan 10 12:36:03 2011)
I'm still waiting to hear from the supporters and the Mayor about how we expect to pay for this. So far, I haven't heard anything and no one is standing up to say they'll increase taxes to pay for it. If you support it, tell us how we can afford it. What will be cut?
The Council vote during Committee of the Whole last Wednesday night was 7-7 before it got referred back to the Finance and Administration Committee.
This is not the only financial issue we have to consider for the next couple of years. We have a golf course with a large debt and a transit system that will be losing a lot of federal funding. That's not to mention the constant infusion of cash into the our water plant and the potential for huge wastewater mandates from the DNR on phosphorus reductions.
Come Wednesday afternoon and listen in on the discussion and provide your thoughts. Jo, I hope to see you there.
Chris Croatt (Mon Jan 10 21:19:21 2011)
|
|
Blog Archives
| 2010 |
  December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Solberg: Healing After an Abortion
• Basketball fans eyeing extension of Miller Park sales tax
• Nanny sex-ed bill goes to Doyle
• A first. Village limits pension contribution for employees
• Nanny State update: Toothbrushing mandated
• Obama pushes education inflation
• WI Investment Board votes to borrow to juice up returns
• So Republicans have brought nothing to the table?
• You have got to be kidding me
• Nygren: Governor Continues Terms of Failure in State of the State
• Sen. Fitzgerald: Governor down the wrong track at high speed
• Phosphorus is the new CO2. $Billions in Wisconsin
• More Obama giveaways
• A reprimand? Would you keep him on the job?
• Burri: Sarah Palin for Prez troubles me
• Quote of the Day – Obama after the pie-eating contest
• Populism, abused and trampled
• Fitzgerald: Senate Republicans Propose Real Job Creation Agenda
• Stripped down health insurance – it’s about time
• Ok GOP, scrap the Party of NO; time to lead
• No way Feingold is a Coakley. Is Wall a Brown?
• Burri: Conservatives off the chart for a RINO?
• Paltry quid pro quo?
• Doyle says ARRA has ‘created or retained’ 44,000 WI jobs
• Does most of the public fall for this stuff?
• When you get signatures, always get a couple extra
• Blame it on the outmoded computers
• Scott Brown victory does not scuttle health bill
• 8th Congressional Candidate Forum, Jan. 25
• Scott Walker Meet-and-greet, Monday, Jan. 18
• Aren’t consumers taxpayers too?
• MORE taxes on investment income - dreadful and wrong
• Join the blaze orange army and say ‘Enough is Enough’
• The future of government-run health care
• Tax on banks is a really bad idea
• Roth, Savard on the stump, grassroots style
• Savard speaking in Appleton, 8 PM, Wed., Jan. 13.
• Rahmlow: Savard, Bies frontrunners for State Senate
• Burri: Failing Political Correctness 101
• School contracts and Race to the Top
• Senator Feingold worrisome and big red flags
• Psephological?
• This is really important. Contact Rep. Kagen. Now. Please.
• This is exactly what we need from Governor Doyle
• This guy is my hero
• Why am I not surprised?
• Talk health reform with Feingold (Th), Petri (today)
• Give the Mayor power over MPS - if he can break contracts
• Burri: Yup, Dems really are going to bypass a conference
• The $2.7 billion Wisconsin deficit no one told you about
• Walker launches county accountability website
• Rahmlow: Why is Van Hollen dodging the Nebraska deal?
|
| 2009 |
December
|
November
|
October
• The Lawton-Bader files
• Yup, it’s the TAX LEVY, not the tax RATE
• Ellis: costly automobile insurance laws must be rolled back
• If not Barrett, who?
• The subsidy game
• Burri: Bailouts, Banks, Health Care, and the Mob
• Attend Appleton Schools budget meeting tonight
• A public option WON’T increase costs? That’s delusional!
• Appleton Schools budget meeting Monday
• Wisconsin should be screaming for accountability
• Burri: If anything, we need more obstructionism around here
• WI on the leading edge - in the wrong direction
• Rep. Montgomery: Utility Customers Join State’s Crime-Fighting Efforts
• Public Conservation and Recreation Lands Total 16.5% of State
• In the crow's nest of the Titanic, shouting 'Iceberg!'
• Is Rep. Nelson a political hack?
• Health care: The road ahead will be brutal
• Kagen's pandering again
• Birthers - good stuff for you
• How much do we bend over backward for seniors?
• The trouble with health care is paying for it
• Two-parent families: The Gold Standard
• Burri: Kids... the joys and blessings
• Very, very worried about health care
• Rep. Huebsch: Wisconsin is proof government health care isn’t the answer
• School district contracts push up tax levy
• What? Obama, the Peace Prize?
• TODAY - hearing on Campaign Finance Reform
• Appleton School District tax levy up way too much
• CBO report is out - and the bill isn't even written yet?
• So, how much do YOU budget for health care?
• Burri: Copenhagen trip was amateurish
• “Sotomayor, you have blood on your hands...”
• Cap and Trade. Always follow the money
• Rep. Kagen gets (almost) free health services
• I actually agree with Rep. Kagen
• Future Wisconsin Conference for Conservatives, October 10, Wauwatosa
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
|
| 2008 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
• Important votes Tuesday, including Appleton Common Council
• Democrats are becoming supply siders??
• Further debunking Hillary myths
• WEAC has created an unsustainable monopoly
• From Mark Gundrum: One of the greatest honors an American can experience
• 'Operation Chaos' working?
• Joe Martin the best candidate in Appleton's 8th
• State programs to cut? - Volume II
• Oh the naivete of youth
• Not just disingenuous - flat wrong
• Steve - you will be missed
• Make cuts only AFTER you're elected....
• Getting serious: What programs can we cut?
• Rep. Steve Kagen joining me on Jerry Bader Show today
• Rep. Van Roy: Dental Care Pilot Program
• Has Dave Obey turned the corner on earmarks?
• Speaker Huebsch: Governor turns down Federal Aid?
• Mark Rahmlow: "We're Broke."
• As taxpayers, how do we know if it's a Chevy or a Lexus?
• This is trash talk - about a veteran
• Frank Lasee: Take time to get the Compact right
• 'The Gableman Ad' - is it racist?
• Roth thankful, Kagen shaking money tree
• Gov. Doyle's office not enamored with Freedom of Information
• Governor Doyle will never do it
• Leadership on smoking ban? Not Hanna
• Rep. Van Roy speaks out about smear ads
• You're threatening me about potholes?
• Losing the Hastert seat is NOT a trend and NOT curtians for the GOP
• First suggestion for 'slashing' programs
• Big money-saver for municipalities
• More one time fixes. Nuts.
• Any chances???
• I'm doing the Jerry Bader Show, today, the 11th
• Representative Frank Lasee: Final Waltz of the Season
• Guest Blog: It's not the county's business to be in the nursing home business
• Yup, Hillary won Texas and Ohio
• Gableman/Butler race featured - and it isn't pretty
• Lies from Planned Parenthood and NARAL
• He who sacrifices liberty.....
• Duh.
• The Troha sentencing, Doyle and that $200K
• Guns, passion and "originality"
• How hard is it anyway, to shut down a government program?
• Voting is a PRIVILEGE. And so are property taxes....
• Guest Blog: Governor Doyle, cancel your Ireland trip
|
February
|
January
|
| 2007 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
August
|
July
|
June
|
May
|
April
|
March
|
February
|
January
• Lots of ideas. No money.
• The Cigarette Tax - "Poor Policy Instrument?"
• School budget Lite?
• Frankenstein - not in the library, but in the legislature
• A librarian, a legislator, a president
• $1.25/pack - NO, NO, NO, and NO
• Kagen and Reagan in the same breath?
• Menasha: behind the 8-ball, but not biting the dust
• Any way you slice it, Wisconsin government wants (further) in on health care
• The World is Flat...what about health care?
• The PAC - too precious to fail. Day 3
• News follow-ups: Appleton West, Kagen at the White House
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail - Day 2
• Fox Cities PAC - too precious to fail
• New Transit Tax coming your way
• Rep. Petri has his finger in the dike - I guess
• AASD Retirement Costs Burdensome
• Health care, health care, health care, health care
• Water rate increase was no slam dunk
• Education for all is just a bad dream
• New Year's resolutions from a parade snob
|
| 2006 |
December
|
November
|
October
|
September
|
| 2000 |
May
|
|
