Monday, February 21, 2011

Burrell Now Claims He's A Victim

By Megan Matteucci
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis says $33.6 million in proposed budget cuts are politically motivated to hurt him.

The County Commission is scheduled to approve a $530 million budget on Tuesday that includes massive cuts. Ellis had proposed raising property taxes.

“This is irresponsibly political. This was not done with the citizens at heart,” Ellis told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We’re going to have to have cuts in staff – either layoffs or furloughs. It’s going shut down government services.”

County commissioners said the cuts were not political, but aimed at reducing spending and eliminating a tax increase. Commissioners said they anticipate the cuts can be made without large staff reductions.
DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis says $33.6 million in proposed budget cuts are politically motivated to hurt him.

The County Commission is scheduled to approve a $530 million budget on Tuesday that includes massive cuts. Ellis had proposed raising property taxes.

“This is irresponsibly political. This was not done with the citizens at heart,” Ellis told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We’re going to have to have cuts in staff – either layoffs or furloughs. It’s going shut down government services.”

County commissioners said the cuts were not political, but aimed at reducing spending and eliminating a tax increase. Commissioners said they anticipate the cuts can be made without large staff reductions.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is total BS. Another political ploy. Study after study have said to reduce the work force. Get rid of non-essential employees and staff. They offered up the early out retirement, which by the way I took and then they staffed those positions and even hired more people! If taxes are not increased, then they have no options: early out retirements again and cuts to overall staffing. Don't refill positions that are opened up by retirements. And quit giving those in executive positions raises in fact freeze all promotions. Some may not like to hear that, but it's the dagger to the heart of the truth.

Anonymous said...

I get it. The CEO wants to raise taxes and the BOC does not. It’s political fighting and everyone is pointing fingers and blaming the other guy.

There is one fact that is not in dispute regarding this whole mess. The police department’s budget was cut last year and it will be cut again this year. Will the commissioners expect the same service for a lot less money? The commissioners constantly call and e-mail the chief and other police supervisors. They always need to complain about something or need a special favor. There is always a crime problem somewhere and they want something done about it.

The CEO is probably overstating the case to some degree but his basic premise is correct. If you slash the budget too much, there will eventually be a decline in services.

I think the BOC may want to buy a brand new Ferrari but they only want to spend the money for a used Volkswagen Jetta.

stevie said...

ya'll get ready to tighten up your belts!! i think i will send burrell a box of chocolates.
JOIN POILICE OFFICERS ANNUITY !!

Anonymous said...

Look at what he pays his staff and then payout when fired.

Look at his police security at his office everyday.

Rides around in a gas guzzling SUV.

That would be a good starting place for budget cuts.

Anonymous said...

Raise the taxes and STOP balancing the budget on the backs of county employees....this is not rocket science..

Anonymous said...

LEAVE THE PENSION ALONE!

Anonymous said...

Has anyone seen the 90 million missing from recorders court? Oh yeah who cares let's raise taxes.....oh no lets just make all employees take furlough days they should be happy they have a job....plus if they quit we can hire all the perps in my family its a win win for the county, my perp family can collect a check from the county and still sell drugs....and get away with it. Lets not forget Burrell might get scared and insist on having 2-3 Tucker officers patrol his perphood indefinantly.

DaiQuan from Doraville said...

I'll vote anyone who raises my taxes out of office. DeKalb County government is bloated and they get far too much of my hard earned dollars already. No splost, no property tax increase, no millage rate increase.

Anonymous said...

This county has so many pointless and useless employees.

My fellow officers, the next time a tax paying citizen tells you they are upset it took you so long to respond to their call, tell them to take advantage of the county's gardening classes! That should make them feel better! Sure, you had to wait 40 minutes for an officer to respond to your 911 call. But hey! The county offers free gardening classes!! Or maybe you could go see one of the crappy shows put on the Sanford center!

Anonymous said...

Hey can someone tell me when a man has a nice home, nice car etc he has to be a perpetrator? Why can’t it be he has a better EDUCATION then you and was able to secure a nice job that pays well Anon 8:54? To that idiot and others that have limited thinking. A mind is a terrible thing to waste and it’s a shame you have a computer and even worse make kids. I just hope you teach them values.

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. Ellis/VICTIM,

Would you like a case number. Takes 7 to 10 business days to obtain a copy of the report. TAKES A BRAIN SURGEON TO RAISE TAXES. Read my lips: NO MORE FURLOUGHS!

Anonymous said...

9:49 You sound like an idiot with your abbreviations and slang. You are probably one of the losers hired during the Bolton era who are nothing but a further drain on the taxpayers. If you are going to post, you could at least attempt to sound intelligent.

The budget could be balanced if the Commissioners would actually do what the study they payed for recommended. A small tax increase would help even more but the problems with mismanaged money and services need to be fixed first. A tax increase alone would only feed the CEO and Commissioners' wasteful spending and lack of proper management.

Anonymous said...

Stand by for the 5-2 schedule if we dont get a tax increase. You heard it here first. Leave now!!!

Anonymous said...

The brain is a terrible thing to waste-that's why Mr. CEO and the BOC don't have one.

Anonymous said...

Its a shame we have to sit here and watch all the people witting in,all this really needs to be said in front of the BOC. And its a shame that the county has to use the backs of the officers (Being ticket writing to make up the loss from the county). Its a shame the so called leaders.( Majors, Captins and lt's), have to use scare tactics such as threatening to take away part time jobs to get the officers to write tickets. Because they're so afraid they'll lose there position in rank. (Being appointed or reassigned) If the people in rank would look at the whole picture and stand by the officers in a whole. Then we all win. I guess there's two different standards. when looking at where we are.The ones who makes the big money really don't care because there already making big bucks, And the ones who really do the job of supporting the county by being told that if you don't write tickets, well then your gonna get punished. I bet that If the shoe was on the other foot, they would be screaming.I never thought that this place would get so bad that I hated coming to work. I'm here till I can get what I've come for. My retirement.. Hope and pray that will still be here. God speed!

Anonymous said...

I am a retired county employee who took advantage of the generous early-out incentive last year. Unfortunately, it was too generous because it allowed two of my staff to retire with only 8 years each and one of them is now working again in the same office part-time. I reside in Dekalb County and oppose a tax increase until they have cut the ridiculously inflated number of employees. I do not approve of cuts to police and fire response, but I know from many years in this county that they are still topheavy with employees and there is still unbelievable waste. Check out the cost of a printer(over $300), due to the contract the county insists departments use. If they would allow such purchases at Office Depot it would be much cheaper.

Anonymous said...

"I am a retired county employee who took advantage of the generous early-out incentive last year. Unfortunately, it was too generous because it allowed two of my staff to retire with only 8 years each and one of them is now working again in the same office part-time."
You gotta be kiddin right...right? EIGHT YEARS and retired. The last early retirement was a bigger rip off for the pension that we thought. Someone has to make the pension board answer that why on this!!! And Robertson was not at the early retirement meetings to answer this...is that right. I can't believe what these people have done.