Wednesday, January 19, 2011

It's Offical, The County Is Broke

Forced to use its remaining reserve funds for 2010 bills, DeKalb County started the year without any money. Wonder how they are going to pay the folks who didn't show up for work during the winter storm?

Speaking of the winter storm, we are calling B.S! What do the dedicated public safety employees who made it to work get for risking life, limb, automobile and leaving their families at home? We get the same pay as the ones who claimed they couldn't make it in, while they cuddled by the fire watching the news saying "it sucks to be them!" Again, B.S.!

According to Richard Stogner; "Employees whose work-sites were not officially closed, but could not make it to work, will be credited with their normal shift on Monday January 10th, and Tuesday January 11. Thereafter, they should be charged with annual leave."

We understand the county is broke, and we don't mind coming into work, that is our job. But to pay people who are sitting at home and wondering where to build the snowman? And the county is broke? Get real, please!

Wait until the next storm or natural disaster and see how many make it in. Nice touch Burrell.

DeKalb budget mess drains county reserve funds.

DeKalb's bond rating lowered again

19 comments:

LoFlyer said...

Mates, I have a sinking feeling the shit is about to hit the fan. The AJC reports that the county has no cash reserve. (http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-budget-mess-drains-808153.html)

Unfracking-believable!

The CEO and BOC ignore valid studies (GSU) that indicate where to make cuts in DeKalb government. (political staff, management and non-vital government functions) The BOC has stated that no tax increase will be instated.

The counties pension contribution is about to be increased by 150 percent due to state law. Under the circumstances of DeKalb politics, I expect the worst for DeKalb employees.

Instead of doing the smart thing of reorganizing the county and divesting itself of redundant and non-essential operations, or laying off specific non-essential employees.

The BOC will elect to screw all employees equally. Furlough days will be doubled.

Meanwhile the county will be busy constructing three new senior centers with "free" stimulus funding (loaned from China) to be staffed with even more furloughed employees as the county employees slips into more apathy and mediocrity.

DeKalb citizen's are electing the wrong people for the wrong reasons. Until this changes DeKalb citizens and employees are in for a long, hard ride.

DeKalb needs leaders, not elite rulers.

Best of luck, guys....

Anonymous said...

Good old Dekalb County Government planning at work !! These intelligent, highly respective dingbats sitting in their fancy high dollar leather swivel chairs lined with gold plated trim, trying a way to screw the taxpayer out of more of their hard earned money and those on fixed incomes who have reserve funds (not like DC), who saved for a rainy day.

This county government has turned into one big embarassment for the State of Georgia, and will remain until all those idiots either retire with fat pension checks, move, quit, or die on the job.

There is nothing that can be said for the BOC, the CEO, the COO, or any person who is in charge of this messed up county.

Why any taxpayer would want to move here, is something that I cannot figure out, and that I am sorry that I am still here.

Anonymous said...

As a young man moving out of my mommies house to enlist in the military (if my application doesn't go through) This Blog has taught me the importance of INVESTIGATING A CITY OR TOWN BEFORE YOU MOVE INTO IT!!

Gold Badge said...

Funny as a supervisor my phone was like the bat phone. It didnt stop ringing with sorry ass officers calling me whining saying I cant make it in.
So what did I say "standby' we are coming to get you!
It was about this time I started getting every excuse in the book, you know but what about my baby who will stay home with them.
Hell it's your child make arrangments, I know I do.
Please if anyone wants a list of names just say so, this way you will know who you are working with.

Anonymous said...

Let us not forget all of the money Judge Walker failed to collect in Recorder's Court.

The BOC wants to cry about the ticket strike and and point fingers at us for a fall in revenue. How much was it? $5 million they estimate the county lost due to the ticket strike? Walker failed to collect almost 20 times that much. Why isn't anyone going after her criminally and civilly? She got a free pass because she goes to the right church and hangs out with the right people.

Anonymous said...

Totally unrelated to the topic but to you Wiz Miller fans watch him bumbling on CBS 46 news. What a clueless response he gave the reporter. Is it any wonder the issues that arise when the troops are led by incompetent managers. I believe people have been fired before with very little investigation. Makes you proud to be an officer led by these people.

Anonymous said...

Gold Badge...if I cant get out of my driveway....how in the heck can someone get up my driveway to watch my child(ren)...daycare and school systems closed...sooooooooooooo what you are saying is that you ..yourself personally was going to -96 my child(ren) to my nearest family member?... My coworker got denied that service and she was ready to work.. What's your number for future references....

Anonymous said...

If not for people like you fueling the media with false rhetoric , the media would not even be asking stupid questions to still one of the most competent and smartest people in DeKalb government. People in DeKalb County. Im speaking of Wiz Miller. I work at Fire Dept and he is going to turn it around.Thanks Director Miller.

Anonymous said...

Anon January 20, 2011 8:14 PM-

I hope you don't speak in front of the public or write reports the way you post on here. "yourself personally was..." Good grief! If you're an officer, have some self respect and learn to speak English. It's no wonder the public has so little respect for us when we have people who speak like perps wearing badges.

Anonymous said...

Anon Jan 20..9:03 What you been smokin'? Was that ON duty or OFF duty? Miller is going to turn the dept around? Big question: which direction?

Gold Badge said...

1-800-I dont give a shit is my number, again nothing but excuses! Its easy you walk down the hill, that's how you get to the car. This is my point always got an excuse. As far a your children go, you fiqure it out you had em.

Anonymous said...

Ohhh..only if we hadn't lost Dunwoody and all those nice big tax paying business...and tax paying big houses with nice rich money spending folks living in them....Thanks Vernon Jones.....and he want's to do for Georgia what he did for Dekalb. You legacy will live a long, long time.

Anonymous said...

Blooger that started out Gold Badge..When you took this job, you should have realized we are providers of emergency service...That means we are better than the normal citizen. We do things they can't do..That's why we are P.D. and Fire bubba's. Research your next job description so you will know what is expected of YOU!! If you live on a hill park at the top of it the night before, or be prepared with some salt to melt the ice around your vehicle. Stop using your children as an excuse to stay home...This job requires 24/7 coverage. When a single parent doesn't get bumped off day watch because of a hardship..Guess who it screws over? Your partner, he or she gets bumped because you whin about who is going to take care of my children, etc, etc. I have no problem with single parents being cops, but be smart about it and plan ahead. If you can't make it to work then find another job. Cause when you get killed out here who is going to watch your child then???????? Just my two cents..OOO yea my entire family consist of teachers. That means they were all home for the whole week..Boy I sure would have enjoyed staying home with them..But guess what "I had to work" and I did.......

Anonymous said...

Gold badge I posted a comment in response to your comment. It sounded like I was blasting you. Not my intent. I agree with you and your comment. My comment was to the so called cops that called you with all there lame excuses..Sorry.

Anonymous said...

Why does it always seem that everyone else gets to have excuses but us? The original point of this post is that people should not be getting paid for being out of work despite the fact that our reserves are dry. If someone called out, they need to burn a sick or vacation day if they want their money.
I risked my ass to get to work all last week and was almost involved in several accidents as a result. When I got to work, how many times did I call for roads and drainage to salt/sand, or even close a road...and how many of those roads did I go past later with no action taken?
The point is, whether you're pd or another branch of county government, everyone should be doing their part and getting their fair share for it. Yes I "Knew what I was getting into" when I signed up, and part of what I was getting into did not include anywhere on my contract "continually taking it up the ass and being told to shut up while others get to skate on by".

Anonymous said...

Talked to DynCorp recruiter today. There needing 1500 Police personal in the next few months,
$117.000 year contract ,See ya dont wanna be ya

Anonymous said...

Yes the county is broke!! They have been broke for years the CEO and BOC is to caught up doing whats best for them and not whats best for the county. When the Red Lobsters, Olive Gardens, and car dealerships moved to the next county over they knew then the county was in trouble. The county is full of people on fixed incomes. Take the north, there are a lot of older homes and older people. Candler Rd area, older neighborhoods. The only area that you have younger famlies is from Panola Rd east to the county line. Then you have Panola south to Henry Co line. Government is too fat with imcompent leaders who are so scared to say this is not right. A school system that is old. Consolidate these schools and put your best teachers in them that you already have. Then maybe famlies will move back. When Gwinnett Co has the best schools in the state why move here. When the sewer system is overflowing, why move here. Fix yourselves CEO, BOC and people might want to relocate back here and bring a respectable business with them instead of a dope infested flea markets. Its not hard to do the right thing. PS stop picking on the county employees cause you think they need their jobs, so lets make them pay for our short comings. But this wont last forever and other counties will be hiring again and thats when you are going to lose your best. Grow up!!!

Anonymous said...

I agree poster "January 21, 2011 12:29 PM". Everyone knew the weather was coming and the likely impact so preparations could be made. So the county is broke, employees don't need to be paid for not being at work.

I was proactive to make sure that: 1. I would make it to work and 2. On time.

I awoke 3 1/2 hours before my shift to make it to work on time. I parked my car at the top of the subdivision because I did not believe I would be able to drive up a steep hill from my home to get out. I walked several hundred feet to get to my car. I swept off all of the snow from the car before driving it. I drove slowly, safely, and with due regard for conditions(25 mph or less) for 39 miles to get to work. With rear wheel drive only and no chains.

So, it could be done and I did it. So did many others. No employee who was scheduled to work that day should be paid on the county's dime for calling out. If an employee was excused by their supervisor(s) for each and every day no matter how many because of the snow and ice, then that employee should be assessed an accrued holiday, vacation time, or use of accrued compensation time.

There is no way in hell it is morally right or ethical that an employee gets to be paid as if being at work when they were not and I along with many others were.

Anonymous said...

Everyone needs to read the link 2011 Budget Recommendation in the left-hand column of this blog's home page. In that link, you will see plenty of evidence listed by the Georgia State University study citing many areas where the county needs to cut-back or eliminate services. Pay close attention to what was recommended and what has actually occurred. This is why the county is going or is already broke. This is why it's credit rating has reduced. This is why we are paying more for healthcare and toward the pension. It is because there are too many county employees and services for too little revenue at existing tax rates.

If the commissioners are so strongly against raising taxes on the remaining citizens and businesses of DeKalb County, then the only other option is to cut the fat. There is no justification for the county to continue to maintain its current workforce and level of services. ALL NON-ESSENTIAL COUNTY SERVICES MUST BE CUT AND QUICKLY BEFORE IT GETS TO BE TOO LATE! For all of our sakes.