Friday, February 18, 2011

Does Burrell Really Believe What He Says?

The commissioners, who have never been accused of being very smart people, have taken a common sense approach to the 2011 budget. STOP THE TAX AND SPENDING!

Burrell's response? "Realistically, you can't completely cut your way out of this crisis." He continues on "without that (a tax increase), you will see our services severely impacted and our quality of life diminished."

Sound familiar? Hey Burrell, we feel your pain and have over the past 5 years. But here is how we say it: "I know children, but daddy just can't afford it right now. I haven't had a raise, the cost of my benefits have gone up, food prices are going up, gas prices are through the roof, and mommy no longer has job." Please understand, maybe you can play your sport next year. Maybe we can take a vacation next year". "Yes, I did get promoted, but now I'm not getting the raise I thought I was."

But one thing different from us and you Burrell? We can't legally stick a gun to the taxpayers head and demand more money like you can. We make due with less money and so should you and the rest of the departments.

Kind of sucks to be a DeKalb paramedic right now. But we do favor the elimination of the Director of Public Safety position.

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are many comments about the increased pension deductions from the employees checks. The first thing I'd ask the county and the pension board if why is the pension in trouble. I'm sure that the first thing that will be brought up is the $43 million to the county from the pension to help sweeten the deal for the last early retirement , which was a fiasco, as we all know. The second thing would be that he $43 million may have been better for the pension if it was invested in the stock market instead of giving it to the county. Another thing that should be brought up is why is the pension in so much trouble, when the stock market has been in rally mode for almost three years? I'd question the pension board about the returns managed by our many money managers and why we have so many of them and what kind of return are we getting. I just can not figure this out. I have many reservations about how our pension is managed and the competency of our pension reps...the ones that actually show up for the meetings. I really hope the new pension board members look into this and actually realize that they are there for the employees and not the BOC.

Anonymous said...

The budget cuts are based on Ellis’ spending plan and not actual 2010 expenses, May said. Police will be cut from $107 million to $102 million. However, records show the police department spent only $97 million in 2010."

The administration overspent $7 million last year and we didn’t know about it,” May said. “We begin $7 million essentially in the hole.”

These two items come directly out of the AJC article. How is it the police department is able to save 10 MILLIION dollars from last years budget and the county is still starting off 7 million dollars in the hole???? It would seem that the police department is cutting and cutting but the other departments keep spending and spending. I thought public safety was a priority???? Also how in the hell does a commissioner publicy state he didn't "know" they overspent last year. Isn't that their job?

Everyone needs to take a second to actually read the article. They basically aren't going to do anything until June. The budget is supposed to include 800 layoffs but they are going to wait and see. What the hell does that mean???? They're using this whole fight with Director Miller as a diversionary tactic. Everyone is focused on that while big questions still remain. His salary is only 150k of a 30-50 million dollar problem.

This article is once again just proof that this BOC/CEO haven't got a clue on how to do a budget.

Anonymous said...

Our dear beloved CEO has managed to fool not only the employees of the county, but to fool the taxpayers who contribute hard earned tax dollars in an ecomony which gone down into the toilet.

But our dear beloved CEO doesn't give a shit about all that, because is on his pedastal telling the many people what he believes to be the truth.

Unfortunately, the CEO has never known the truth since the day he took his seat on the commission, and also becoming CEO. He speaks out of both sides of his mouth, and tells the media what they want to hear. The end result is HOT AIR and nothing else.

At least the commissioners might have the "balls" to go against the CEO. and only time will tell.

Another day in "paradise" of Dekalb County.

General Beauregard Lee could a much better job than Wild Bill Burrell Ellis ever dreamed of.

The good part of Burrell Ellis is that he might not get re-elected to another term.

Next ???

Anonymous said...

If they layoff, it better be somewhere other than Public Safety.
Start with sanitation,Roads and drainage and the the other non 1st responders. Pot holes can wait, thrash can wait, hell pick it up once a week rather than twice a week.Its not going anywhere. Get some of our retired guys to put in there 8 hrs here with us doing office work. There is a way to do this other than on the backs of your most essential employees.
Face it BOC, you made this mess now fix it.

Anonymous said...

Here come the furloughs.

Anonymous said...

Does the County need things, such as, The Poter Sanford Center and Senior Community Centers, etc., more than Public safety? I feel terrible to mention eliminating the Senior Centers, or any other social programs that benifit people, but the No. 1 function of a government is to provide a safe environment to the public. A new study by the FBI shows that a person in Atlanta is 5 times more likely than the national average to be a victim of a crime! If the BOC is to provide an environment condusive to attracting new businesses, and therefore making the economy better in Dekalb, people HAVE to feel safe when they come into this county.
We, as a department, are begging to work our butts off if we have the support of the BOC, the judges, and the people of Dekalb. We need enough officers to be proactive and effective and a work environment (pay, raises, benefits, equipment) that will attract and keep good officers here.
Instead we have the support of NO ONE. If the people in Dekalb County don't care about us or don't want to push this county forward then where are the Public Safety employees supposed to get the motivation and desire to care or try to accomplish anything at work? Just give me my dwindling paycheck and leave me alone. Dekalb County will get what it is paying for. It is now Performance For Pay since we don't have Pay For Performance anymore!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. Ellis,

I am a Master Police Officer. I can barely feed myself and my kids with the money I make after all the cuts and rate increases. I never lived above my means and I work park times to put my kids in programs for their futureI police because I love it. I'm not asking for more money, but I am asking for you to stop taking what I have. I don't mind downsizing my expenses, and I have! However, like other officers, I am considering my options. I have been filling out applications elsewhere. I love Dekalb, but I have not been here for long. I here officers talking about how they wish they would've left when they had the chance. Dear Mr. Ellis, please don't put me in that position. I have to feed my family. I am clear on the financial problems we are experiencing. I did not vote for you because I had no faith in you. You and your entourage let everyone down. Tax increase is the only way! There is no way around it!

Anonymous said...

Read my lips LOL. Burrell wants to get re-elected, so it is in his best interest to present a crap budget, knowing the Commissioners couldn't give it a green light. That way, he looks like the hero trying to save the things everybody wants to save. Then he can say "I tried". So NO - he DOESN'T believe what he says.
There are some on the board who don't get enough credit from ya'll. In other words, they DO see the problems and are fighting for you. Have faith that everything will come out in the end, but it's been so f'ed up, that it's impossible to wake up tomorrow morning and say "Everything's OK now". It's a process. (Thank you Vermin, thank you Tebo --- NOT!!!)
Ima Citizen who cares about you.

Anonymous said...

We had calls pending on/during my last shift...... layoffs and/or furloughs......lets see how long the public will stand for extended response times.

Anonymous said...

A tax increase is not the answer to get more funds into the cofers.
Getting rid of employees who sleep on the job, employees who employed because of favor of certain people in Dekalb Government, and basically a large bunch of free loaders who have been on the job for along time who haven't been caught stealing from the taxpayers.

The above can save a shitpotful of dollars in salaries and benefits.
Let those who are hard working, intelligent, a value to their respective departments, come to work when they are supposed to, and do not bitch or complain about the dumbest thing. These hard working, conscienous individuals have made this county prosper in many ways, and getting rid of the deadbeats is the first biggest step to accomplish the meaning of a well established county.

Deadbeats take up valuable space, create havoc on the job, bitch and moan, lay out, sleep in, and demand stupid things that do not deserve an answer.

The above is the biggest problem of any medium or large employer.

The only way to eliminate these problems is to get rid of them once and for all.

Anonymous said...

Some good points annon 10:01. I retired when They started promoting more than the usual number of incompetent lazy idiots and good 'ole boy's above me. Just couldn't take it anymore. Vernon Jones ruined the police department.

Anonymous said...

10.29
the police onle psent 97 Million last year. Our Budget this year is 102 Million. + $5 Million
The BOC despite asking for CEO updates was not made aware that the CEO was 7 million in the hole. The CEO and CFO keep the books . This is why the BOC is now asking for MONTHLY department budget reviews. Forcing every depat to MANANGE their budget just like we do

Police have a 4.5% reduction while the entire county has to cut 8.9% Sounds to me that everyone including the CEO and COC staff have to more than us.

Read the budget not the newspapers. Read the handouts to understand. The core is a run of three straight years of being blasted buy 4% /yr dercreases in tax base..

It is also why the BOC has suggested in walling off the police to cut them off from the genral fund so when the Police need a tax increase, that money can be allocated directly to police.
County income is down by 0ver 100million dollars, Iy ou have a solution why dont you all just offer it up

Anonymous said...

I dont have a crystal ball, but trust me. The BOC as usual will say LAYOFFS but that wont happen. What they will do is what they have been doing. More furloughs, more increase in insurance, pension, hell they will get rid of the pension that way they wont contribute at all. Anything other than what is best for the county and that is cut the fat, and citizens of DeKalb trust me, there is fat everywhere. Look to the north of us, Gwinnett Co shut down all projects until this crisis is over. What has DeKalb done? nothing other than hurt their employees. Some of you in P.D and Fire may hate what I'm about to say, but I understand no raises. But leave the pension, insurance and no furlough days for essential employees. Trim the fat BOC IT'S EVERYWHERE!

Anonymous said...

Th BOC just budgets the money, th e CEO and his department heads MANAGE the money.
Whe did it take the BOC to suggest privatizing the Ambulance service at a savings of $5,000,000 per year?
Should that have been the job of "Wiz" and his $400,000 department?
Where are the efficiencies that "Wiz" was suppose to bring to the table to save us money?
Public Safety Director was a position the the BOC did not authorize so the CEO "found" room in his budget. Whis I had that kind of room in mine.
And jabari, really? What the Fu*% does he do? What does he deliver to the county?
Don't for get the "re-Elect Burrell Campaign Committee" known as One DeKalb. Give you 10 bucks if you can tell me what they contribute?
The cuts suggeted by the BOC are being done to FORCE the CEO and his staff to do what they are paid to do and that is MANAGE their money
If you hear layoffs, it is becasue the managers are lazy and are not looking very hard.

Unlike ome of you I have a little more faith in O'Brien that he is going to do his best to deliver what is best for us and the citiznes of DeKalb.

Let not make this worse with another ticket slow down. That just cost the county money and will cause even more problems. And when you do it, they will know exactly the reason, have a good time asking for more money then.

Anonymous said...

Layoffs? Did somebody say Layoffs? (in my best Jim Mora voice) LOL this county will be a complete war zone if they lay any Officers off, and they talk about a ticket push? There won't be anyone to write tickets because they will be to busy trying to catch up on calls. The Hair (Yarboro) will be pulling his hair out when there are no tickets being written....Of course we could make all the arrests in the world but if we don't write them tickets all hell is gonna break you might get transfered to south morning watch, oh no thats fine transfer me i'll go over there and not write any tickets thats fine. This place is simply getting ridiculous let see who will blame who and who will point the finger at the other guy. Just remember what we are taught people, deflection is a sign of guilt. Just saying 10-42 for the remainder as far as Dekalb is concerned.

Anonymous said...

EVERY sworn officer will need to plan on hitting the streets to handle 911 calls at least half their work week this summer as it will NOT be manageable otherwise.

Anonymous said...

All of y'all know exactly how I feel on this subject.
But I am going to zero on another item. Our BOC makes 39 grand a year and their staffs make more, The CEO makes something like 150 grand a year and his staff makes excellent wages.
Consistently through the recession the DeKalb BOC and CEO has refused to make the hard choices and decisions in DeKalb government. They refused studies that highlighted various painless and obvious specific cuts in policy, procedures, departments and employees. To an unbiased observer the BOC and CEO would appear at best uncreative, at worst damn lazy

Anonymous said...

Loflyer start looking up the facts, CEO makes over 200k a year, Miller makes 150k. (And get a life while your at it.)

Anonymous said...

LoFlyer - Never thought I'd say this, but you're getting very careless about some of your statements. Just make sure you know what you're talking about before you make blanket statements. Don't feed the frenzy when it's unjustified.

Anonymous said...

Guys, while I may be incorrect in the exact salaries of the BOC and the CEO. I know I am damn close on the BOC's salaries, and thought I was fairly close on the CEO's.
The fact remains that DeKalb rulers have not used the last three years to reorganize, consolidate and downsize the DeKalb government and employee's in an intelligent plan.
They reject the GSU study out of hand without comment. Instead they choose to cut across the board, and that reflects a lack of knowledge of the vital functions of DeKalb government. There are some extremely small sections that perform mission critical, 24/7 functions that cannot be cut back. We also have other departments such as Extension Service, Economic Development, Cultural affairs and others that provide outdated or redundant services.
The BOC calling for 9 percent cuts across the board is the simple, stupid and lazy way of solving budget problems for DeKalb government. DeKalb citizens pay these people top dollar and the citizens receive poor performance in decisions and planning.
DeKalb needs real leaders creatively fixing DeKalb's problems instead of mediocre rulers that live and work in fantasy land.
PS, I have a life. I like it a lot and it does not include DeKalb government. Unlike yourself.

LoFlyer wanna be! said...

Just like Ozzy Osbourne once said
'Flying high again"

Anonymous said...

"The CEO makes something like 150 grand "...Is what loflier said....I would not call that a fact distortion, it was an estimate...who cares. I think Loflier does much good on this blog and I too would like to see him on the pension board.Last week I had lunch with 9 current and retired DKPD officers and they are of the same opinion.

Anonymous said...

You people (police) do nothing but whine and complain. Thank God for your blessings; they are numerous!

Anonymous said...

The time to worry about police and soldiers is when they stop complaining.

Anonymous said...

"You people (police) do nothing but whine and complain. Thank God for your blessings; they are numerous!"
I bet this is from a day shift 5 day work week bureaucrat with no knowledge as to what a cop puts up with on duty and internally.I do thank God for the blessing I have though.

Anonymous said...

Lo Flyer is very close on his numbers. As of two years ago (last time I checked) the CEO makes $151k per year. The CEO used to make around $50k until Vernon gave himself a $100K raise at the start of his second term. A raise he promised to not take but took anyway.

The commissioners make about 45k.

These salaries do not include the extensive perks, such as vehicles, gas, travel, expenses, discount furniture (heh), etc. that they all receive.

Anonymous said...

Can you say "County Manager"??? DeKalb must move away from this political pitfall that henders most metro arenas and move to a non-bias model that operates independent of favor, relationship and politics.

Look at the City of Decatur and their model of operation. They have a "City Manager" and not one once of the problems DeKalb faces. How many incompetent freinds does Burrell have working, for the County, at the expense of us tax-payers??? Same as Vernon Jones, this guy is just a little shorter. Same {----}, different CEO...!!!