City looking to cut expenses without cutting pay
By
KGNS News
Story Created:
Jun 8, 2010
Story Updated:
Jun 8, 2010
City officials are now looking for new ways to cut back on expenses after getting some bad news from the chief appraiser.
The chief appraiser has projected and over $6 million shortfall for the city's budget next year.
Combined with other expenses, the shortfall is expected to reach over 16 million dollars.
“This is going to be one of the toughest years Laredo’s had with balancing the budget without furloughing people without laying anybody off.”
Next years city budget looks like it could be up to 16 and a half million dollars short.
It’s what City Manager Carlos Villarreal made very clear at Monday’s City Council meeting.
Today many are acknowledging the tough time ahead.
City officials say they knew it was coming.
A combination of issues like decline in sales tax revenue paired with contracts that can't be ignored have finally caught up.
The situation, they say, is one other cities have been facing but laredo hadn't until now.
Now, the challenge is to cut absolutely everywhere possible, without asking employees to take pay cuts, or pack up and go home for good.
City officials say it seems like a tough situation to be in but in reality, they are confident they will be able to make the budget work.
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La Feria said on Wednesday, Jun 9 at 7:16 AM
Good cut the needless junket trips and that should put us in the black.
45003827whatisfair said on Wednesday, Jun 9 at 9:11 AM
The city manager should take a 100,000 dollar pay cut . Does anyone know what he makes in salary and perks ? Many would be surprise . Before you ask the employees to a take cut , look at the top heavy salaries .
45013468Laredoan said on Wednesday, Jun 9 at 10:29 AM
Cut out all the trips that El Pelon Pason takes to Washington!
45020379pay cuts said on Wednesday, Jun 9 at 10:41 AM
the whole city council and top officials should take a 15% cut if not more they do nothing anyway but shove down dump laws down our throats without asking us the tax payer.stop the vacation trips at our expense too
45021834Changes said on Wednesday, Jun 9 at 12:26 PM
What the city should do is take a look at all those employees that get hurt for any reason, they go to risk management and right away they get weeks off. Evaluate those employees and see how many times they get hurt. There are so many people out there that need to work, but of course if you don't have any friends or relatives that can get you in, you have no luck. The City hiring procedures is not what you know, but who you know.
45031404cg said on Wednesday, Jun 9 at 4:07 PM
You freakin kidding me right? I know a good way to help with the budget, STOP GOING ON THOSE RIDICULUS TRIPS TO AFRICA THAT ABSOLUTLY DOES NOTHING FOR LAREDO CITIZENS. THEN ALL YOU OVER PAID CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, TOP OFFICIALS SHOULD REDUCE YOUR SALARY BY AT LEAST 15%.
45049399Anonymous said on Wednesday, Jun 9 at 4:29 PM
OK Pro8, I will clean up my blog so you will display it because the first one was not "approved". Are they freakin kidding me? Mybe they should stop taking those useless trips to B**t Africa, since they do absolutly nothing for regular laredo citizens, and maybe top officials should cut their ridiculously over paid salaries by at least 15%. It does not take a whize to figure out where most spending went.
45051029Less chiefs said on Wednesday, Jun 9 at 7:35 PM
I would say they should start by not having too many managers/supervisors with high salaries. I worked at the Parking Enforcement Division and there they have the Superintendent and a supervisor. The lady does nothing but seat in the office and dictate. The supervisor does the same, when previously they had a supervisor that would go out on the field and give tickets and work outside. The superintendent just comes and goes whenever she wishes and the supervisor serves as a puppet. The superintendent should go outside and see what her employees are doing maybe that way they won't get hurt too often. That would reduce an expense on the city and the taxpayers won't have to take the cost.
45061914Gary said on Wednesday, Jun 9 at 7:51 PM
Stop the abuse of city vehicles.No running errands,paying bills etc. etc.
45062599To Gary said on Thursday, Jun 10 at 1:22 AM
People all over do that. From little businesses to large corporations. What they need to do is FIRE those who are caught doing that, so that people who NEED jobs get them.
45077499THE PATRON SYSTEM said on Thursday, Jun 10 at 8:12 AM
I HERE BY ANNOUNCE FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR.. ZERO BASED BUDGET.. A REDUCTION IN FORCE AND A 25% BUDGET CUT...25% TAX RATE CUT..NO NEW HIRES FOR 3 YEARS..FREEZE ALL UNION CONTRACTS FOR 3 YEARS.. NO LIKEY..GO FIND A JOB SOME WHERE ELSE..NO MEXICAN FLAGS FLYING OVER ANY CITY OWNED PEROPERTY..ALL MEETINGS CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH..RECITE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE U S FLAG BEFORE ALL MEETINGS AND ALLOW U S CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS WITHIN CITY LIMITS..
45089854clean house said on Thursday, Jun 10 at 8:54 AM
1st mayor you need to bring down the number of supervisiors to one per dept.2nd they need to go out on the field and check if personel is not abusing the use of city cars. i always see them having breakfast on city time why?
45093614Anonymous said on Thursday, Jun 10 at 9:10 PM
OR how about everyone takes a hit: city salary cuts(%)across the board, cut the trips, cut city improvements of any kind. Just no tax increases, I don't want it to affect me.
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