Summer has arrived, at least as far as the temperatures are concerned. Spring seems to have slipped by almost unnoticed. Unfortunately, neither of those events has helped the politicians out of their craziness. If anything it has made the insanity of our times even more evident than in the past. Living under the assumption, often questioned by friends and others, that I still retain some of my past sanity, I would like to point out some of the most recent events which could be used to certify that our politicos are eligible to be committed.
On the local scene, New Philadelphia and Dover administrations are hovering near the top of the list of possible suspects. Neither seems to have a clue about money matters or what constitutes fiscal responsibility.
In the case of New Philadelphia, City Council is deliberating Resolution No. 19-2011, and will probably pass it, to raise the salaries of all non-union employees, those either elected or appointed, who did not get pay raises under the recent union contracts. The logic seems to be that if fact finders and arbitrators can give unaffordable pay raises to union members, then those who don't belong to a union should get pay raises as well. First on the list for retroactive 3% pay raises is the Mayor, who, as we know, is responsible for the financial well-being of the city, followed by the rest of elected and appointed city workers. Nobody in the administration and few on city council appears to care that income tax revenues are down this year or that the state has announced that state funding to municipalities is being cut. City officialdom wants more money and they are going to give it to themselves. Hey, Mr. and Mrs. New Philadelphia. Get ready for one of the promises Mayor Taylor made when he was running for mayor. The income tax increase he promised is on the way
The new high school in Dover is moving along. The problem with the current high school is that it is old. There is another problem. The state will give the school board 9.2 million dollars for the construction. Wow. 9.2 million. Of course, the Dover School Board will have to come up with the remaining 26.8 million. The school board? Well, not exactly. The citizens of Dover will have to come up with that amount of money through a bonding issue which they will be paying for. Although the building itself is in good shape, there are some water leaks, and the air conditioning system is inadequate for those warm summer temperatures when school is not in session.
Dennison seems to be joining the list of financial oddities. According to the Times Reporter, their village council wants the voters to pass a five year, 4.8-mill levy ($500,000) to provide the village with its own emergency medical services unit, translated ambulance. According to the T-R article Dennison currently contracts that service out to Smith Ambulance for $45,000 a year. By providing those services through the fire department, we are told there can be a financial savings to the residents. Start-up costs would include a building to house the equipment, cost $150,000, a squad vehicle at $20,000 (the last one New Philadelphia purchased came out close to $200,000), and the needed equipment to go with the squad at about $12,000. Let's see. That comes to a $182,000 initial cost, which is equal to about four years contracts to Smiths. That leaves $318,000 for operating expenses for the five years of the proposed levy. The move would also protect eight to ten jobs according to the T-R article. I guess it is a good deal as the statement in the article, "It would provide 24-hour-a-day, seven-days a week service to the village," indicates that such service is not always available in Dennison currently. But it will save jobs, increase overtime, and guarantee another levy in five years. By the way, New Philadelphia should consult with Dennison to find where EMS units can be bought for $20,000.
One last parting shot. Kelly Ricklic, the former Water Department Supervisor for New Philadelphia found an innovative way to get a pay raise. He left New Philadelphia employment to be Building and Grounds Supervisor for the New Philadelphia Public Schools. The New Philadelphia job paid a mere $55,000 base salary, in excess of $80,000 a year with benefits, to a base salary of $58,000 base salary with the school system, and who knows how much in benefits, a total which could run to $87,000. Hey, Mr. and Mrs. New Philadelphia. Remember that when the School Board cries about needing another levy increase to meet expenses. By the way, will Ricklic be eligible for the 3% pay increase retroactive to the first of the year if New Philadelphia City Council Resolution No. 19-2011 passes?
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