Homework For You
IT'S "SIMMER TIME" AGAIN
OK, campers, once again it's time to put the old Cauldron on simmer for a couple days. Because I will be otherwise occupied, any comments you fire at me will be slow in appearing, but I will eventually get to them. I know, I know - that delays the snappy repartee and the back-and-forth banter... such is life. In the meantime, here's something you can contemplate until I post again.
DOWNLOAD THE BUDGET INFORMATION
First, your assignment for the weekend is to go to the City of Costa Mesa web site, HERE, and download the 2011-2012 Preliminary Budget, (237 pages) the Preliminary Budget Summaries (67 pages) and Tom Hatch's memo on the budget. They are all easy to find - they're near the top of The Latest Headlines section of the home page. Take some time to review some of the numbers - start with Hatch's memo first. The "Summaries" are just the first section of the whole budget and might be easier to begin with. There are some handy definitions right at the beginning that will help you as you navigate through the subsequent pages.
NUMBERS ARE UP
You'll be able to see, in easy-to-understand graphics, where our money comes from and where it's going. Hatch's memo will tell you that the preliminary budget at this point is $117,705,201, up 7.5% from the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011. In that memo you'll also learn that the Capital Budget being proposed (the big mantra for some on the City Council) is pegged at $10,449,122 - which represents a whopping 173.63% increase from the current year.
STAFFING NUMBERS
On page 51 of the budget you'll find that the authorized staffing numbers dropped from 611 in the FY 09-10 budget to 489 in this proposed budget. However, it's my understanding that our ACTUAL staff at this point is hovering just under 475, with more departures pending.
LOTS OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE
There's lots of good information available to you in these documents if you actually care to plow through them. The charts and graphs are great for us "image driven" folks... love those purty pitchurs! :-)
STUDY SESSION NEXT TUESDAY
Next Tuesday, May 24th, there will be a Study
Session in Council Chambers beginning at 4:30. Normally, a study session is expected to last a couple hours. Hatch, at the last council meeting, anticipated this meeting will last at least 3. That session will be the first of several necessary to hammer out the final product that must be balanced and approved before July 1st. Meetings are tentatively scheduled ever Tuesday from now until the end of June.
STUDY HARD...
There will be a pop
quiz when I post again.
OK, campers, once again it's time to put the old Cauldron on simmer for a couple days. Because I will be otherwise occupied, any comments you fire at me will be slow in appearing, but I will eventually get to them. I know, I know - that delays the snappy repartee and the back-and-forth banter... such is life. In the meantime, here's something you can contemplate until I post again.DOWNLOAD THE BUDGET INFORMATION
First, your assignment for the weekend is to go to the City of Costa Mesa web site, HERE, and download the 2011-2012 Preliminary Budget, (237 pages) the Preliminary Budget Summaries (67 pages) and Tom Hatch's memo on the budget. They are all easy to find - they're near the top of The Latest Headlines section of the home page. Take some time to review some of the numbers - start with Hatch's memo first. The "Summaries" are just the first section of the whole budget and might be easier to begin with. There are some handy definitions right at the beginning that will help you as you navigate through the subsequent pages.
NUMBERS ARE UP
You'll be able to see, in easy-to-understand graphics, where our money comes from and where it's going. Hatch's memo will tell you that the preliminary budget at this point is $117,705,201, up 7.5% from the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011. In that memo you'll also learn that the Capital Budget being proposed (the big mantra for some on the City Council) is pegged at $10,449,122 - which represents a whopping 173.63% increase from the current year.STAFFING NUMBERS
On page 51 of the budget you'll find that the authorized staffing numbers dropped from 611 in the FY 09-10 budget to 489 in this proposed budget. However, it's my understanding that our ACTUAL staff at this point is hovering just under 475, with more departures pending.
LOTS OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE
There's lots of good information available to you in these documents if you actually care to plow through them. The charts and graphs are great for us "image driven" folks... love those purty pitchurs! :-)STUDY SESSION NEXT TUESDAY
Next Tuesday, May 24th, there will be a Study
Session in Council Chambers beginning at 4:30. Normally, a study session is expected to last a couple hours. Hatch, at the last council meeting, anticipated this meeting will last at least 3. That session will be the first of several necessary to hammer out the final product that must be balanced and approved before July 1st. Meetings are tentatively scheduled ever Tuesday from now until the end of June.STUDY HARD...
There will be a pop
quiz when I post again.Labels: Budget Proposal, Tom Hatch
posted by The Pot Stirrer at 5/19/2011 03:06:00 PM
8 Comments:
Pot Stirrer, enjoy some much deserved rest!
I finally caught the video of the Council meeting. I found it interesting when Helen from the CM employees union remarked about Kimberly Brant leaving her position, trying to say people are jumping ship. Check out the OC Register today--Newport is outsourcing left and right and no one is even talking about it. Guess it's not a problem for Kimberly Brant. Why aren't all their employees jumping ship? Is it just our problem.
In my view, this outsourcing stuff is reality and making a lot of hay about is pointless. Everyone is doing it, we're just getting all the attention.
Barb, thanks, twice. I had not seen Jeff Overely's article yet - http://www.ocregister.com/news/-301180--.html. As usual, he did a good job of covering this issue. I thought Righeimer's comment was more than a little self-serving:
"Jim Righeimer, a Costa Mesa councilman, said his city's hand was forced by a budget crisis, and that its controversy will provide cover for outsourcing elsewhere.
Because Costa Mesa is out front with this issue, it's given a lot of other cities leeway ... to move things forward," Righeimer said."
Have a nive getway.........Slacker.......! ;}
Ouch! And who was it that spent a glorious weekend away recently? :-)
we will study email leaks to unions rather than budget. either ol nick is lying or there is a scandal.
Least Barb or anyone else didn't already know it but in her field no one does it better! Kimberly Brant is not only an exceptional professional but a person with superb work ethics and even temperament. I doubt that Kim would have left her Director position and long tenure with Costa Mesa if it were not for the meat ax mentality and behavior of the ham handed Council bosses. The City of Newport Beach Council approach their budget cuts in a fair, open, logical and transparent manner. They actually make decisions after public and staff input and give every matter due and proper deliberation. They want to make the right decisions for the interest and benefit of the entire community. Outsourcing is not their goal but a painful tool to be used only as a last resort and only to the extent necessary.
When the cats away the mice will play. Job security for you. Have fun
Another long term employee 22 years Debra Yasui is leaving her post as Manager for the Risk Management Department. She is leaving because of the incredible chaos. Development Services called the police two days this past week due to public hatred inspired by the rhetoric instigated from the City Council and the Republican GOP. Barb- you need a reality check. The quality of services will suffer as well as the efficient manner City business is done with the departure of long-term employeees.
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