Pima County departments have until Dec. 15 to figure out how to fill a new $3 million hole in the budget, thanks to the recently approved state budget.
1. Comment by Tanu A. (Tanu)— November 28,2009 @ 12:36AM
Ratings:-31+18
When the various governments (City, county, State and Federal) start reducing and/or eliminating the benefits to its employees, then I will take this dribble seriously. We have had to make 'sacrifices', I expect Government employees to make the same 'sacrafices'.
2. Comment by Celeste L. (Watchdog)— November 28,2009 @ 12:47AM
Ratings:-7+32
I'm still trying to figure out why the Stadium District and Library District weren't part of the memo from Huckelberry to the BOS, as it clearly says Special Taxing Districts can be used as a source. His list has grants, which is stupid, as virtually all grants are reimbursement related, which means you have to spend money and get reimbursed, and a State tax payment is not a reimbursable expense. Who is this moron trying to fool? And why not use the $5 million payoff from the White Sox? God knows they won't need it for baseball.
3. Comment by Jane C. (gjane)— November 28,2009 @ 1:38AM
Ratings:-3+22
I'm employeed securely, so it's easy for me to say this, but, so what happens when "this" debt can't be met? I think true our priorities will become more focused.
We cannot go down the same road we've been going, which isn't help us.
7. Comment by Kerino M. (kerino1)— November 28,2009 @ 5:30AM
Ratings:-4+16
With news like this, I sure am glad I spent all my money yesterday on the great Black Friday deals to be had....now I'm just waiting for a cold enough day to wear my 75% off scarf!
TTT for the jobless recovery! Everything is actually going great........
#5 - Bending over yet? We all are and will be!
10. Comment by Dennis S. (1535)— November 28,2009 @ 6:18AM
Ratings:-12+9
#2 Celeste
Regarding reimbursement grants.
1. The county spends the money
2. The grantor reimburses the county
3. The county receives the money
4. The county can then decide to give the money to the state or not.
Simple enough?
Stupid?
Moronic?
Want to try that one again?
12. Comment by Phillip D. (pdavid)— November 28,2009 @ 6:34AM
Ratings:-7+29
I hope people are paying attention and thinking about this outrageous demand...the cities now have to send the state money to backfill the state budget!!??
What the H_LL is wrong with the Republican legislators in charge of our state budget? Burns, Adams and the rest are right now passing even even more tax cuts in their sleep, while real people are hurting in Arizona, while real people are losing their jobs, while the deficit is growing ever larger and with $288 billion in unfunded infrastructure costs over the next 25 years to meet the growing needs of residents and business, including transportation, water, public
health, education, and public safety, are looming over our heads.
Tax cuts passed nearly every year (every year except 2003) have removed billions from the general fund. $1.4 billion a year. Even now as our lawmakers struggle unsuccessfully to close the gap of our staggering budget deficit, the tax cut “hole” continues to get bigger. And amazingly tens of millions dollars in new tax cuts were passed during the 2009 legislative session, even as state revenues continued record-breaking drops month after month.
And the WORST part is the tax cuts they pass don't even work!! Even the Heritage Foundation, which is as right-wing as right gets, says the type of cuts our leaders make won't "improve the prospects for future after-tax income from earnings or from capital" because the tax cuts lead to structural deficits and cuts to services that businesses depend on. They call them wasted tax cuts.
We all know that if you want the economy to grow, you make investments, not cuts, in transportation, water quality and supply, education, and workforce
development - the type of things that promote growth and attract businesses. These investments continue to bring benefits to the state even if particular businesses shrink or leave.
But the current republicans are running us into the ground. Real people are losing their jobs, and it's even getting to resemble a Charles Dickens novel in certain parts of our population. Cuts to AHCSS mean that a woman I know, who adopted four disabled children who all need medications, can no longer get the meds she needs for her kids. AHCSS says it doesn't have funds to pay for them right now. The state promised to pay for the needed meds when she adopted the kids years ago, but now they are reneging on the deal. One of the meds costs $700 a month, so she can't afford to pay for them out of pocket.
We need responsible leadership. Please call or write your representative and demand they institute some fiscal sanity. We need an infusion of revenue! They way they are running things, everything is in flux, our future options are limited and the money cut in taxes can’t be set aside in a Rainy Day Fund to smooth out the effect of economic downturns, it can’t be used for emergencies like wildfires or flu epidemics, and real people who have real needs are getting hurt and losing their job.
14. Comment by Mason C. (Azson43)— November 28,2009 @ 7:40AM
Ratings:-1+18
This makes no sense, the state gives the city money to waste on Rio neivo and then they want money back from the county?
I say keep the money for Rio to nowere and save us all grief.
15. Comment by wit w. (Wit)— November 28,2009 @ 8:11AM
Ratings:-4+14
Both the State and the County went broke because, instead of saving for hard times, they subsidized land development at tax payer expense.
They fueled the building boom like dousing a fire with gasoline. The bigger the boom, the bigger the bust, hence Arizona was hit harder than other states and is not recovering.
The State simply needs to cut back spending like the rest of us.
17. Comment by Lloyd D. (Dr. Dee)— November 28,2009 @ 8:47AM
Ratings:-2+20
This is outrageous! Rather than raising taxes at the state level, the state government forces the County to raise taxes to pay for state costs.
#1 Oh, gee, government employees get 2 or 3 more holidays than you do. That certainly doesn't stop the work. It just backs up on the desk and takes a week to get caught up. Yeah, the health insurance plan is nice, if you don't get sick. If you do, plan on spending $$.
#15 The County had a 10% cushion for hard times. With reducing spending and reducing revenue, that level is no longer there. Simply cut back spending? The state pays for 4 major programs; education, roads, law enforcement, and health care. Let's see...cut education so that your child won't be taught the necessary life skills required in this economy...cut the police force and the judicial group, less arrests mean less judges, of course you've got more crime, but oh, well...cut highway speding so that I-10 looks like my street...cut health care, no H1N1 shots for you or your kids. Maybe you need to rethink your comments.
18. Comment by Ed W. (samssis)— November 28,2009 @ 8:57AM
Ratings:-6+12
9. Comment by Juan C. (666999)
You read my mind! I thought the same thing.
What I'm curious about is if they have that same $25K in taxpayer funds that they've been dolling out every year for the illegal immigrant water stations as listed on the budget as line item again for this current and the next fiscal year. If so, they need to be pulling that out and using it toward the debt. Plain & simple.
19. Comment by Phillip D. (pdavid)— November 28,2009 @ 9:21AM
Ratings:-8+17
How about instead of the poor counties making up the difference, how about the Republicans reversing some of their giveaways to their buddies?
I know the perfect place to start -- the state’s Private School Tuition Tax Credits program that covers the cost of private education for rich folks and costs us taxpayers a boatload of money!
To date, Arizona’s general fund has has lost $350 million to private schools in this outrageous tax giveaway to rich folks! The price tag is growing as the state grapples with the most serious financial crisis in its history, and people who depend on the general fund – public school children, the disabled, the poor and the sick – face severe cuts in services.
Under the program, taxpayers give money to nonprofit charities called school tuition organizations, or STOs for short. STOs give scholarships to children for private school tuition, and the state provides donors a dollar-for-dollar tax credit in exchange for their contribution.
So in effect, the state pays for rich folks to send their kids to private schools -- who else but the rich can afford to "doante" money to the STO's? -- and none of their tax money gets put into the state general fund, instead it goes to pay for tuition of expensive (20 grand instead of 5 or 6 grand)privbate schools.
The tax credit law is touted as a tool to make private education more accessible to families who could not otherwise afford it. Instead, it has fostered a rigged system that keeps private education a privilege for the already privileged.
And our tax dollars pay for it! A Republican giveaway of our tax dollars. Reverse that really quick before you come asking us for more money!
Read the whole series of articles here in The East Valley Tribune Be proud of your Republican legislature at work!!
21. Comment by J S. (Logical Thinker)— November 28,2009 @ 9:45AM
Ratings:-3+16
It's time to look again at the top of the Sheriff's over bloated top brass payroll again...eliminate a Captiain and asst. Chief and you'ra a third of the way there.
23. Comment by Bill J. (jonzie)— November 28,2009 @ 9:58AM
Ratings:-3+13
County Supervisor's listen up. What ever you do to make up the shortage, DO NOT for even one second consider taking it out of your employees' pockets. The brain-trust at 255 W Alameda decided to do just that to make up an alleged budget shortage. In a tough economic time they decided it best to slap their employees in the face rather than cut unnecessary expenses.
No. 19's comment attacks education and manipulates the truth to make a very worthwhile program look bad. Classic!
Well Mr. 19, what about those young mothers with 3 kid's in-tow, whom drive in the parking lot with the boomer stereo blasting in their Escalade with the 22" wheels, then hop out and nearly blind everyone in close proximity with their gold jewlery as the have a heated conversation with someone on their blackberry phone as they march into the Section-8 office to collect their "benefits". What about that one Mr. 19? Don't believe it? Go spend the day at the welfare office and get educated.
24. Comment by Celeste L. (Watchdog)— November 28,2009 @ 10:31AM
Ratings:-4+5
Sure #10 - I'll try that one again... Grants pay for expenses for programs that are "nice to have." The County wouldn't have spent the money in the first place if they'd had to put the money up themselves, and being reimbursed doesn't give you "extra" money to be spent - Expenses-Reimbursements=Zero. And sometimes the reimbursements don't come for many months, so you have interest expense on the negative cash flow for that period of time. I think I'll stnad by my observation.
25. Comment by Celeste L. (Watchdog)— November 28,2009 @ 10:35AM
Ratings:-3+9
Here's another way for the City and County to get some extra cash.
1. Tucson Water should sell all the infrastructure and accounts to Marana for the area of Marana to then run. They would no longer need to maintain that portion, or have workers for that portion of the service area. This makes sense since they won't issue new water permits now anyway.
2. The County could listen to the judge and hand over the portion of Wastewater that belongs to Marana and quit spending thousands of dollars a month in litigation for a trial they don't have a piece of straw to stand on.
3. All the jurisdictions in Pima County could start working together instead of bunkering down to their personal "kingdoms." Consolidate all Park operations. Turn all law enforcement over to the Sheriff's Department. Consolidate all Transportion Departments, etc to save ALL the citizens some money.
26. Comment by chet c. (chetchap)— November 28,2009 @ 10:37AM
Ratings:-10+5
Just wait until the democrat congress and the Obama administration get done with the mandates in the "Obana health care" progeams that will be foisted on the public. Then the fed money will go away but the mandates will remain and the states and county will have to pick up the pieces with extortion taxation.
27. Comment by Richard M. (rpmgrace)— November 28,2009 @ 10:42AM
Ratings:-3+12
Yep #23, I have seen it up close.
I volunteered for years at a pregnancy center; I watched throngs of these users come in for free diapers & free pregnancy tests while they texted on their Blackberries with their full set of silk wrapped nails. I watched them waiting for their free pg results, texting where to meet for lunch, cigarettes & designer purses in tow, usually a few welfare babies along for endless free rides as we, the tax payers, finance them.
Just so discouraging for those of us who work in stressful, grinding jobs 40-60 hours a week to support those who diligently work this broken system.
28. Comment by Celeste L. (Watchdog)— November 28,2009 @ 12:01PM
Ratings:-3+9
How about putting ALL prisoners to work; either on Chain Gangs or other programs to do the things the City and County can't seem to manage....like filling in the d@mn potholes all over this trashy county. Picking up the trash and weeds on I10, painting grafitti....etc.
29. Comment by Bruno O. (one.bruno)— November 28,2009 @ 1:09PM
Ratings:-2+8
#12 - well said. Tax cuts have not improved this state.They are irresponsible and in many instances just shift the burden downward as in this case.
But these brilliant legislators continue the tax credits for individuals and corporations for private schools. a triumph of ideology over intelligence.
31. Comment by Rob S. (azrob)— November 28,2009 @ 3:17PM
Ratings:-4+7
Maybe they should cut back on some of their "feel good" programs such as the one they give $25,000. annually to that funds the water stations along the border. They've been doing this for years now with taxpayer monies..
I would truly like to see the expenses that the County has which include the aforementioned.... How bout it ADS--can you swing it?
32. Comment by Rob S. (azrob)— November 28,2009 @ 3:23PM
Ratings:-2+5
Don't worry about Pima County--all they have to do is keep raising our property taxes--oh... Sorry, they already do that--a lot... Mine have been averaging an increase of about 10% annually for the past 8 years. In '09 it was 26.5%-- '10- 5.2% (in a recession after my property went down 30% in value). This makes me sick!!!!
33. Comment by Jack D. (Otis 2)— November 28,2009 @ 3:38PM
Ratings:-2+5
An observation for #26 (and countless others on countless other boards):
When using the name of the Democratic political party, in its adjective form , it is DEMOCRATIC not DEMOCRAT. Similarly, when using the name of the Republican political party, in its adjective form , it is REPUBLICAN .
If I were to write, "The Republic Congressional leaders in Arizona [never] know what they are doing," it would sound strange , wouldn't it? That is because it is just as incorrect as writing Democrat leaders, or Democrat Congress. However, it has become so commonplace -- in reference to Democratic, that is -- for this mistake to be accepted, that it is hardly even noticed. (More so, even, than the word "ain't" considered "not proper.")
34. Comment by mike l. (mike lane)— November 28,2009 @ 3:42PM
Ratings:-3+5
Sharon Bronson has always warned about spending? What Board meetings has Andrea Kelly been watching? The only people who have fought for reductions in spending is the two Republicans, Ray Carroll and Ann Day. But I'm glad Bronson is on board. Now there is a majority of fiscal conservatives, so I hope we will see some serious reductions -- and this includes all of YOUR PORK, Ms. Bronson.
36. Comment by Patrick M. (AZ1)— November 28,2009 @ 4:43PM
Ratings:-2+3
Quote from the Article:"Supervisor Sharon Bronson has long warned that the state budget situation would almost certainly affect county budgets this fiscal year and cautioned against increased spending."
NOTE TO AZ DAILY STAR:
The above quote from the article is 100% FALSE! Supervisor Bronson has always voted for bloated county budgets. Supervisor Bronson has historically voted for INCREASED spending. This needs to be corrected as it is FALSE. The video evidence is in the custody of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. Next time please do more fact checking before you print what a politicain says about herself and her record.
37. Comment by Marla W. (azsage)— November 28,2009 @ 4:48PM
Ratings:-0+8
Not all of us who were on the AHCCCS program are people with blackberry phones, ipods, gold necklaces in fact gold of any kind. I would love to have something with gold in it but my husband & I can't afford it. We are both disabled & receive SSA & the state states that we are only allowed to have in federal SSA income $608 per month with $16 for food stamps. So needless to say since our SSA is bigger than $608 we don't qualify. State says that the $608 is the federal poverty level. That is a lie. The federal poverty level for two people is $1698 a month & all of the states are to follow the guidelines of the federal govt. Bet ya the state government is fudging some figures here so that they can receive the bailout money from the Federal govt.
This state legistlature is going to screw up this state so bad it's going to take years after they leave office to fix if it ever gets fixed.
I still don't see the legistlature taking a cut in pay or the governor. They want all of those working to take a big hit in paying for things, increasing the state payroll tax etc. And they want us to fix their mess that they created. I just bet everyone that Gov Brewer asks for another tax - food. Besides an increase in sales tax. That's so she doesn't have to take a cut in her personal budget. If she ever does. She raised her personal budget 7% in the last month. And the legistlature raised their personal budgets as well.
Somewhere along the line the politicians in this state quit working for the people of Arizona & started working for themselves & the rich in the state.
They all need to be fired. ASAP
38. Comment by S B. (SKB)— November 28,2009 @ 6:19PM
Ratings:-2+4
When I have problems financially, I stop giving money away, how about the government stop giving freebies to those who wont pay their own way. I can certainly understand hardships, but when people suck the system for over their share of time, it boils my blood. Buckle down the money and pay for what is necessary and not give it away and make us work harder to pay for everyone else's free rides!!
40. Comment by rob v. (chabickin)— November 28,2009 @ 7:13PM
Ratings:-3+0
Off Topic: Why does ADS proceed to keep an old version front page of two 20th century throw back on every web page? Should give you a clue that they too hate the USA
42. Comment by C. C. (cac)— December 2,2009 @ 3:03PM
Ratings:-0+0
Pima county already owns 66% of ALL county debt in the state. They have proven that they don't know how to do anything right fiscally. Huckleberry is a useless POS.
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County needs to find $3M for state
Pima County departments have until Dec. 15 to figure out how to fill a new $3 million hole in the budget, thanks to the recently approved state budget.When the various governments (City, county, State and Federal) start reducing and/or eliminating the benefits to its employees, then I will take this dribble seriously. We have had to make 'sacrifices', I expect Government employees to make the same 'sacrafices'.
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I'm still trying to figure out why the Stadium District and Library District weren't part of the memo from Huckelberry to the BOS, as it clearly says Special Taxing Districts can be used as a source. His list has grants, which is stupid, as virtually all grants are reimbursement related, which means you have to spend money and get reimbursed, and a State tax payment is not a reimbursable expense. Who is this moron trying to fool? And why not use the $5 million payoff from the White Sox? God knows they won't need it for baseball.
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I'm employeed securely, so it's easy for me to say this, but, so what happens when "this" debt can't be met? I think true our priorities will become more focused.
We cannot go down the same road we've been going, which isn't help us.
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"To Serve and Collect" is basically how this shortfall is to be made up. Bohica!
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"Bohica"? please translate...thanks
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Bend Over Here It Comes Again!
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With news like this, I sure am glad I spent all my money yesterday on the great Black Friday deals to be had....now I'm just waiting for a cold enough day to wear my 75% off scarf!
TTT for the jobless recovery! Everything is actually going great........
#5 - Bending over yet? We all are and will be!
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#6 & 7: Thank you.
Have a pleasant day.
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Is Pima County still funding water stations for illegal invaders?
I think I know where they can get at least part of the money
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#2 Celeste
Regarding reimbursement grants.
1. The county spends the money
2. The grantor reimburses the county
3. The county receives the money
4. The county can then decide to give the money to the state or not.
Simple enough?
Stupid?
Moronic?
Want to try that one again?
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With money issues the way they are, maybe it's time for the state to finally get serious about looking for the Lost Dutchman's gold.
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I hope people are paying attention and thinking about this outrageous demand...the cities now have to send the state money to backfill the state budget!!??
What the H_LL is wrong with the Republican legislators in charge of our state budget? Burns, Adams and the rest are right now passing even even more tax cuts in their sleep, while real people are hurting in Arizona, while real people are losing their jobs, while the deficit is growing ever larger and with $288 billion in unfunded infrastructure costs over the next 25 years to meet the growing needs of residents and business, including transportation, water, public
health, education, and public safety, are looming over our heads.
Tax cuts passed nearly every year (every year except 2003) have removed billions from the general fund. $1.4 billion a year. Even now as our lawmakers struggle unsuccessfully to close the gap of our staggering budget deficit, the tax cut “hole” continues to get bigger. And amazingly tens of millions dollars in new tax cuts were passed during the 2009 legislative session, even as state revenues continued record-breaking drops month after month.
And the WORST part is the tax cuts they pass don't even work!! Even the Heritage Foundation, which is as right-wing as right gets, says the type of cuts our leaders make won't "improve the prospects for future after-tax income from earnings or from capital" because the tax cuts lead to structural deficits and cuts to services that businesses depend on. They call them wasted tax cuts.
We all know that if you want the economy to grow, you make investments, not cuts, in transportation, water quality and supply, education, and workforce
development - the type of things that promote growth and attract businesses. These investments continue to bring benefits to the state even if particular businesses shrink or leave.
But the current republicans are running us into the ground. Real people are losing their jobs, and it's even getting to resemble a Charles Dickens novel in certain parts of our population. Cuts to AHCSS mean that a woman I know, who adopted four disabled children who all need medications, can no longer get the meds she needs for her kids. AHCSS says it doesn't have funds to pay for them right now. The state promised to pay for the needed meds when she adopted the kids years ago, but now they are reneging on the deal. One of the meds costs $700 a month, so she can't afford to pay for them out of pocket.
We need responsible leadership. Please call or write your representative and demand they institute some fiscal sanity. We need an infusion of revenue! They way they are running things, everything is in flux, our future options are limited and the money cut in taxes can’t be set aside in a Rainy Day Fund to smooth out the effect of economic downturns, it can’t be used for emergencies like wildfires or flu epidemics, and real people who have real needs are getting hurt and losing their job.
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wait until they ask for $1 Billion
oh, it's $3 billion
and we got $3 billion in stimulus
wait until UNCLE asks for $1 TRILLION
Oh, I mean $12 TRILLION
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This makes no sense, the state gives the city money to waste on Rio neivo and then they want money back from the county?
I say keep the money for Rio to nowere and save us all grief.
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Both the State and the County went broke because, instead of saving for hard times, they subsidized land development at tax payer expense.
They fueled the building boom like dousing a fire with gasoline. The bigger the boom, the bigger the bust, hence Arizona was hit harder than other states and is not recovering.
The State simply needs to cut back spending like the rest of us.
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Chuck the Huck can start with DUI Hein's salary.
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This is outrageous! Rather than raising taxes at the state level, the state government forces the County to raise taxes to pay for state costs.
#1 Oh, gee, government employees get 2 or 3 more holidays than you do. That certainly doesn't stop the work. It just backs up on the desk and takes a week to get caught up. Yeah, the health insurance plan is nice, if you don't get sick. If you do, plan on spending $$.
#15 The County had a 10% cushion for hard times. With reducing spending and reducing revenue, that level is no longer there. Simply cut back spending? The state pays for 4 major programs; education, roads, law enforcement, and health care. Let's see...cut education so that your child won't be taught the necessary life skills required in this economy...cut the police force and the judicial group, less arrests mean less judges, of course you've got more crime, but oh, well...cut highway speding so that I-10 looks like my street...cut health care, no H1N1 shots for you or your kids. Maybe you need to rethink your comments.
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9. Comment by Juan C. (666999)
You read my mind! I thought the same thing.
What I'm curious about is if they have that same $25K in taxpayer funds that they've been dolling out every year for the illegal immigrant water stations as listed on the budget as line item again for this current and the next fiscal year. If so, they need to be pulling that out and using it toward the debt. Plain & simple.
We get what they pay for!
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How about instead of the poor counties making up the difference, how about the Republicans reversing some of their giveaways to their buddies?
I know the perfect place to start -- the state’s Private School Tuition Tax Credits program that covers the cost of private education for rich folks and costs us taxpayers a boatload of money!
To date, Arizona’s general fund has has lost $350 million to private schools in this outrageous tax giveaway to rich folks! The price tag is growing as the state grapples with the most serious financial crisis in its history, and people who depend on the general fund – public school children, the disabled, the poor and the sick – face severe cuts in services.
Under the program, taxpayers give money to nonprofit charities called school tuition organizations, or STOs for short. STOs give scholarships to children for private school tuition, and the state provides donors a dollar-for-dollar tax credit in exchange for their contribution.
So in effect, the state pays for rich folks to send their kids to private schools -- who else but the rich can afford to "doante" money to the STO's? -- and none of their tax money gets put into the state general fund, instead it goes to pay for tuition of expensive (20 grand instead of 5 or 6 grand)privbate schools.
The tax credit law is touted as a tool to make private education more accessible to families who could not otherwise afford it. Instead, it has fostered a rigged system that keeps private education a privilege for the already privileged.
And our tax dollars pay for it! A Republican giveaway of our tax dollars. Reverse that really quick before you come asking us for more money!
Read the whole series of articles here in The East Valley Tribune Be proud of your Republican legislature at work!!
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Eliminate Mike Hein's job to save $100,000 right there.
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It's time to look again at the top of the Sheriff's over bloated top brass payroll again...eliminate a Captiain and asst. Chief and you'ra a third of the way there.
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Good news -- Pima County may have to cut costs some more.
There's plenty of fat in any county's budget.
Just don't try to raise my taxes if you want my vote.
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County Supervisor's listen up. What ever you do to make up the shortage, DO NOT for even one second consider taking it out of your employees' pockets. The brain-trust at 255 W Alameda decided to do just that to make up an alleged budget shortage. In a tough economic time they decided it best to slap their employees in the face rather than cut unnecessary expenses.
No. 19's comment attacks education and manipulates the truth to make a very worthwhile program look bad. Classic!
Well Mr. 19, what about those young mothers with 3 kid's in-tow, whom drive in the parking lot with the boomer stereo blasting in their Escalade with the 22" wheels, then hop out and nearly blind everyone in close proximity with their gold jewlery as the have a heated conversation with someone on their blackberry phone as they march into the Section-8 office to collect their "benefits". What about that one Mr. 19? Don't believe it? Go spend the day at the welfare office and get educated.
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Sure #10 - I'll try that one again... Grants pay for expenses for programs that are "nice to have." The County wouldn't have spent the money in the first place if they'd had to put the money up themselves, and being reimbursed doesn't give you "extra" money to be spent - Expenses-Reimbursements=Zero. And sometimes the reimbursements don't come for many months, so you have interest expense on the negative cash flow for that period of time. I think I'll stnad by my observation.
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Here's another way for the City and County to get some extra cash.
1. Tucson Water should sell all the infrastructure and accounts to Marana for the area of Marana to then run. They would no longer need to maintain that portion, or have workers for that portion of the service area. This makes sense since they won't issue new water permits now anyway.
2. The County could listen to the judge and hand over the portion of Wastewater that belongs to Marana and quit spending thousands of dollars a month in litigation for a trial they don't have a piece of straw to stand on.
3. All the jurisdictions in Pima County could start working together instead of bunkering down to their personal "kingdoms." Consolidate all Park operations. Turn all law enforcement over to the Sheriff's Department. Consolidate all Transportion Departments, etc to save ALL the citizens some money.
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Just wait until the democrat congress and the Obama administration get done with the mandates in the "Obana health care" progeams that will be foisted on the public. Then the fed money will go away but the mandates will remain and the states and county will have to pick up the pieces with extortion taxation.
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Yep #23, I have seen it up close.
I volunteered for years at a pregnancy center; I watched throngs of these users come in for free diapers & free pregnancy tests while they texted on their Blackberries with their full set of silk wrapped nails. I watched them waiting for their free pg results, texting where to meet for lunch, cigarettes & designer purses in tow, usually a few welfare babies along for endless free rides as we, the tax payers, finance them.
Just so discouraging for those of us who work in stressful, grinding jobs 40-60 hours a week to support those who diligently work this broken system.
Maybe a flat tax...so everyone pays something.
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How about putting ALL prisoners to work; either on Chain Gangs or other programs to do the things the City and County can't seem to manage....like filling in the d@mn potholes all over this trashy county. Picking up the trash and weeds on I10, painting grafitti....etc.
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#12 - well said. Tax cuts have not improved this state.They are irresponsible and in many instances just shift the burden downward as in this case.
But these brilliant legislators continue the tax credits for individuals and corporations for private schools. a triumph of ideology over intelligence.
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It's way past time to . . . "Chuck the Huckster"
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Maybe they should cut back on some of their "feel good" programs such as the one they give $25,000. annually to that funds the water stations along the border. They've been doing this for years now with taxpayer monies..
I would truly like to see the expenses that the County has which include the aforementioned.... How bout it ADS--can you swing it?
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Don't worry about Pima County--all they have to do is keep raising our property taxes--oh... Sorry, they already do that--a lot... Mine have been averaging an increase of about 10% annually for the past 8 years. In '09 it was 26.5%-- '10- 5.2% (in a recession after my property went down 30% in value). This makes me sick!!!!
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An observation for #26 (and countless others on countless other boards):
When using the name of the Democratic political party, in its adjective form , it is DEMOCRATIC not DEMOCRAT. Similarly, when using the name of the Republican political party, in its adjective form , it is REPUBLICAN .
If I were to write, "The Republic Congressional leaders in Arizona [never] know what they are doing," it would sound strange , wouldn't it? That is because it is just as incorrect as writing Democrat leaders, or Democrat Congress. However, it has become so commonplace -- in reference to Democratic, that is -- for this mistake to be accepted, that it is hardly even noticed. (More so, even, than the word "ain't" considered "not proper.")
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Sharon Bronson has always warned about spending? What Board meetings has Andrea Kelly been watching? The only people who have fought for reductions in spending is the two Republicans, Ray Carroll and Ann Day. But I'm glad Bronson is on board. Now there is a majority of fiscal conservatives, so I hope we will see some serious reductions -- and this includes all of YOUR PORK, Ms. Bronson.
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They could hold a bakesale or a car wash!
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Quote from the Article:"Supervisor Sharon Bronson has long warned that the state budget situation would almost certainly affect county budgets this fiscal year and cautioned against increased spending."
NOTE TO AZ DAILY STAR:
The above quote from the article is 100% FALSE! Supervisor Bronson has always voted for bloated county budgets. Supervisor Bronson has historically voted for INCREASED spending. This needs to be corrected as it is FALSE. The video evidence is in the custody of the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. Next time please do more fact checking before you print what a politicain says about herself and her record.
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Not all of us who were on the AHCCCS program are people with blackberry phones, ipods, gold necklaces in fact gold of any kind. I would love to have something with gold in it but my husband & I can't afford it. We are both disabled & receive SSA & the state states that we are only allowed to have in federal SSA income $608 per month with $16 for food stamps. So needless to say since our SSA is bigger than $608 we don't qualify. State says that the $608 is the federal poverty level. That is a lie. The federal poverty level for two people is $1698 a month & all of the states are to follow the guidelines of the federal govt. Bet ya the state government is fudging some figures here so that they can receive the bailout money from the Federal govt.
This state legistlature is going to screw up this state so bad it's going to take years after they leave office to fix if it ever gets fixed.
I still don't see the legistlature taking a cut in pay or the governor. They want all of those working to take a big hit in paying for things, increasing the state payroll tax etc. And they want us to fix their mess that they created. I just bet everyone that Gov Brewer asks for another tax - food. Besides an increase in sales tax. That's so she doesn't have to take a cut in her personal budget. If she ever does. She raised her personal budget 7% in the last month. And the legistlature raised their personal budgets as well.
Somewhere along the line the politicians in this state quit working for the people of Arizona & started working for themselves & the rich in the state.
They all need to be fired. ASAP
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When I have problems financially, I stop giving money away, how about the government stop giving freebies to those who wont pay their own way. I can certainly understand hardships, but when people suck the system for over their share of time, it boils my blood. Buckle down the money and pay for what is necessary and not give it away and make us work harder to pay for everyone else's free rides!!
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Eliminate Raza Studies and put the 2.4 MILLION Dollars that it costs for this RACIST Program towards the shortfall.
Lets see Izzy Garcia and the Toad have a stroke!!
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Off Topic: Why does ADS proceed to keep an old version front page of two 20th century throw back on every web page? Should give you a clue that they too hate the USA
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Please send the bill to:
Jonathon Paton
Al Melvin
Vic Williams
After all, they voted for this mess.
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Pima county already owns 66% of ALL county debt in the state. They have proven that they don't know how to do anything right fiscally. Huckleberry is a useless POS.
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