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45 city positions on the chopping block

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BY DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, Jun 13, 2008 - 04:28:16 pm CDT

The budget-cutting has begun. Mayor Chris Beutler announced Thursday the city’s projected $6 million budget shortfall has been reduced to about $1.5 million.

But those cuts won’t be painless.

Beutler will propose to the City Council next month a reduction in the city payroll by about 45 employees. Some, but not all, of those cuts will come from the ranks of 33 employees who’ve applied for early retirement incentives.

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Mayor Chris Beutler

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For example, Antelope Valley project manager Wayne Teten plans to take advantage of the incentive program and retire, and his position will not be filled. But when Library Director Carol Connor retires in September, her position will be filled.

If 45 positions are cut, the city work force will have shrunk by more than 100 in the past two years. The city would have 50 fewer civilian employees than in 1990.

Until last year’s record-setting 63 job cuts, the most city positions previously cut in one year was 28 in the early 1990s.

Even the police and fire departments would likely face cuts, the mayor said, since public safety accounts for more than half of city spending.

“When you consider that fact in light of the budget deficit we face, it’s nearly impossible to leave police and fire off the table,” Beutler said.

If the City Council sticks to its guns and refuses to increase property taxes, Beutler said it’s likely library hours would be cut, swimming pools closed, aging services reduced and economic development efforts reigned in.

Beutler put some pressure on the City Council to decide whether it’s willing to make the cuts necessary to leave the city property tax rate unchanged.

“If the City Council decides that this budget must be balanced without any revenue increases, the cuts will be deep and in some cases, very severe,” he said.

Skeptics often accuse city officials of threatening such draconian cuts annually, only to find a way to balance the budget without them.

Beutler says he’s not crying wolf.

“Some will accuse the administration of using scare tactics,” he said. “This is not rhetoric. This is reality.”

“The unfortunate fact is that past city government decisions to put off the tough choices on the budget has dug our fiscal hole very deep,” Beutler said.

He is also proposing to:

* Possibly reduce new city employees’ retirement benefits to a 1.4-to-1 match, rather than the current 2-to-1 match for civilian employees. Beutler said the 2-to-1 match is “out of touch” with the private sector.

* Cut the StarTran bus system by $589,000, possibly by reducing midday service.

* Restructure public works, parks, library, building and safety, aging and health departments to save money.

Other changes are coming to the bus system: Beutler wants to increase bus ridership by expanding the popular “Ride for Five” program to more moderate-income residents.

Now, low-income residents can get $5 monthly bus passes. The mayor is also considering consolidating the plethora of bus fares into one “very low fare.”

Since the budget projections were made, fuel costs have had to be adjusted upward by $750,000. But the city also got good news when it learned its health insurance costs would be nearly $1 million less than expected — the result of switching to a self-insured plan in 2006.

City Council Chairwoman Robin Eschliman complimented the mayor, saying he appears to be taking seriously the public input he got through a survey and town hall meetings. StarTran was a lower priority for people, and a property tax increase wasn’t popular at all.

“I’m pretty impressed with this guy,” she said of Beutler reducing the shortfall to $1.5 million. “He works very hard.”

Eschliman said the council gets pressure to increase property taxes from special interest groups, but not from average Joes.

If Beutler’s cuts are too deep, she said the council will have to find other cuts. Although she’s been a frequent critic of unions, she complimented them for working with the administration during a tight budget. Five of the city’s six unions are renegotiating contracts.

“From what I can tell, they are really compromising,” she said. “They really are working with him.”

Beutler said the administration is “very, very close” to an agreement with three of the unions but has “a ways to go” with the other two.

Beutler is dribbling out pieces of his budget proposal, but won’t unveil his entire budget proposal to the City Council until July 7.

The council will spend much of July and August working on the budget before approving a final spending blueprint in August.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.

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jmk wrote on June 12, 2008 12:10 pm:

" Sounds about right. Cut jobs and leave stuff like the areana, antelope creek and all the other pet projects alone. Way to go with the scare tactics that police and fire will have people cut. A sure way to get a tax increase. Maybe the council and the mayor should work for free. "

Eric wrote on June 12, 2008 12:10 pm:

" While LPS who take the vast majority of our tax dollars is looking to spend even more of our money we will be looking at less city services and fire/ police protection? Does this not annoy anyone else? The school board and school administration are strangling Lincoln. "

Paul Schack wrote on June 12, 2008 12:21 pm:

" To cut bus service would be a very large mistake. In the current climate of rising gas prices we should instead leave no stone unturned to encourage more bus service. This would result in a huge cost savings for all. Recent information is showing that consumers are now less likely to make purchases at the gas station but only gas. Simply do the math and see how much the savings add up. "

Another Study wrote on June 12, 2008 12:25 pm:

" Maybe if the mayor's office spent less money on endless "studies", and stopped trying to morph Lincoln into the leftist mecca of Portland, OR (if you like Portland so much, pack up and move there), canned the arena, and scrapped the antelope valley transient flop resort project, they wouldn't be in so much trouble. Oh well, Talent Plus is living large from all those "studies". "

police wrote on June 12, 2008 12:29 pm:

" If the police would do their job and ticket the 99 out of 100 cars that are speeding the budget would be balanced quickly and the school system would also benifit "

Dak wrote on June 12, 2008 12:31 pm:

" Here's a thought. I often see three park workers doing a project that one person can handle alone. Maybe the park crews should be trimmed of some of that dead weight that doesn't want to work. People like the guy who drives his park truck up into the park, to fix a chain on a swingset. Seems to me, he could park that truck in the street, and walk to the swingset, but oh no, not our park workers. "

Well wrote on June 12, 2008 12:35 pm:

" cut out the LPS spending. You could save a ton there. Buy all those
laptop computers and cut the police, now isn't that smart!!!!!! Your just
inviting more crime! "

Nina wrote on June 12, 2008 12:38 pm:

" Bet I know 45 people who won't vote for Beutler again. But it's making him famous. How else would he get his likeness on 45 dart boards? "

Dennis wrote on June 12, 2008 12:44 pm:

" Did you know that the fines from speeding tickets and other traffic violations go to pretty much every agency except the city? Get your facts straight before posting. Here is a fact: Lincoln has the smallest police force for a city of our size and this mayor wants to cut it. Crime is spreading especially with the poor economy. What will it take for the city to correct this problem as crime is only going to get worse. Omaha was in the same boat - cutting the police force, having a force to small - until Officer Wilson was shot and killed. Then and only then did they actually take action. Mr. Beutler, is this what has to happen before you to do something? Does Lincoln actually need to have an officer killed on duty for you and your city council to do something about having a inadequately staffed police force? "

Trim away wrote on June 12, 2008 12:49 pm:

" They should reduce the payroll by 100 employees and make deep cuts to property taxes. "

Dear Mayor wrote on June 12, 2008 12:50 pm:

" Put your reputation on the line, be a leader, and raise taxes. The city is in dire need of help. If the city improves, people will forgive you. People will not even end up paying much more per household. 50 fewer positions than in 1990? I do believe that the city is larger now. I cannot wait to graduate and move out of here. People don't want to pay their share. Wake up people, or let your city become a big ghetto. How will anything be done for the upkeep, or maybe even an improvement here or there if the mayor keeps making cuts. This is the great republican plan of less taxes and government, but that only works when you can run up a huge deficit. "

sls wrote on June 12, 2008 12:52 pm:

" To DAK: How does parking in the street and walking to the repair the swingset make park employees more efficient? Should we make park employees mow with reel mowers too? "

MO wrote on June 12, 2008 1:01 pm:

" Dak, have you seen the condition of some of the parks lately? Some of them get mowed ONCE a year- some not at all. I don't think we need to cut parks any more! Maybe one of the two cops that are standing around talking at 30th and J could go mow a park or two. "

Schools wrote on June 12, 2008 1:03 pm:

" I totally agree with Eric that the schools are taking way too much of the property tax budget. Mayor Beutler is going through a yearly bout of harsh criticism of the budget, while the schools get off with a free ticket because the politicians won't hammer them over their HUGE budget. I think we need a grassroots effort to throw out the entire school board and get in people who will be fiscally responsible and stop giving the line, "It's for the Children." Private schools do it at a much reduced cost. Note: Many private schools do with classrooms built in the 70s, computers that don't work, HVAC that cuts their margins - and they still get better test scores than public school children. Is everyone oblivious to this? "

CEO wrote on June 12, 2008 1:06 pm:

" I think that cutting fire and police is a proper and prudent move. I can't count the number of times that I have seen an excessive number of police and fire department personnel attending to a fender bender or small BBQ fire. This seems to be a shameless waste of resource and very self serving by the the departments involve. Nothing bads stats better than showing that the staff was dispatch regardless of whether they were needed or not. "

ok wrote on June 12, 2008 1:08 pm:

" ok let LPS buy those laptops, then when they are stolen, who's going to look for them there will be no police "

Scott B wrote on June 12, 2008 1:12 pm:

" Do you people do anything besides complain? Seriously, no matter what decision is made, no matter who made it, there are 6 negative comments for every level-headed, logical comment that weighs both sides of an argument. "

frustrated wrote on June 12, 2008 1:19 pm:

" I agree with Eric. The LPS situation is ridiculous. They need to show a line item budget with every single cent accounted for. I never see the new position of security monitor at their desk. They are chatting on the phone or are in another room. Yet, this is a new position they have added and we are paying for. Also, it seems that many staff teaching members are 'retiring' from the schools to administrative positions with LPS. What? Are there that many administrative positions open at LPS or are they creating new ones? They should be looking at cutting too. "

rac wrote on June 12, 2008 1:21 pm:

" Please cut Star-Tran period. No more empty buses that I'm paying for fuel. "

J wrote on June 12, 2008 1:21 pm:

" Part of being anyone invovled in goverment is the responsibility to make unpopular decisions. We have to trust that Lincoln elected the right man to do the job. Yes, it'll be bad for people losing their jobs, but our economy is quickly going down the toilet and we need to do whatever we can to get it back on track. Baby steps. "

jmk wrote on June 12, 2008 1:22 pm:

" I used to live in Fort Collins, Colorado (for those of you who ask what this other city is) and before you ask...I would move back there, but obligations are keeping me here only for now. Property taxes are cheaper, there is less crime, the schools are better, the roads are better. If other cities can do better with less taxes, why can't lincoln? So why don't those who say we should be happy to pay even more in taxes just keep quiet? "

Floyd wrote on June 12, 2008 1:24 pm:

" TO sls: Reel mowers; I like that. Green and doubles as a fitness program! "

Great Idea wrote on June 12, 2008 1:28 pm:

" You know what the best way to cut city spending? Cancel all contracts the city have with city council members! Open up those contract to the public and watch how many contracts get filled at a lower cost to the city.

Well: LPS means the Lincoln Public Schools not Lincoln Police Dept.

I agree, we need to hold the line on LPS spending. They do not need to buy the latest and greatest computers, software or any other equipment each year. The students don't need the best in everything. Let them use some older items. That is the way businesses control costs. "

CONNIE wrote on June 12, 2008 1:42 pm:

" Maybe the city should quit bying new vehicles for a few years. Don't we have mechanics that can repair the old ones? That's one way of cutting back. Maybe the City of Lincoln should start living like a majority of the citizen's do. If we don't get pay increase, we have to cut back somewhere. Wether it be in groceries, electricity or fuel consumtion. We already have cut out eating out, movies and buying clothes. Maybe this is what the city needs to do. No arena, no new streets(repair the old streets), don't start any new projects(finish what we have started) and wait until we have the money before planning for more projects(this is what we have to do at our house), and do more logical think on what is a priority. You know what, why is it always people that are cut when there is no money?, why not also freeze the wages?, and if things are so tuff, stop the retirement match (period). We as citizens of LINCOLN, do not have this option. Aren't we the one's paying the taxes so the employees have this benefit!!!!!!! LET'S DO SOME BETTER THINKING!!!!!!!! "

getaclue wrote on June 12, 2008 1:46 pm:

" I have lived in Lincoln for 37 years-born here. People here take so many things for granted and whine about everything. Have you driven over the potholes of Omaha???? To the person complaining about park workers- Can I follow you around at your job and evaluate your performance?? The genius who says "cut away" - Do you want to be responsible for the poor community safety and standard of living this will cause. Stop the whining people , you get what you pay for in life. Oh no we'll have good streets , oh no we'll be safe, oh no my taxes will go up minimally. If you can afford to own property count yourself lucky-see how blessed you really are and get over it. Lastly, anyone who wants to complain about LPS spending needs to go to a school and hang out for the day. The district pays lower than so many other districts. To many people in our city think they know it all. When they have no clue what it takes to educate children or be at risk of losing their jobs because a few people want to keep their money out pure greed. They are unable to think of anyone other than themselves. So much for the word "community". "

Alan wrote on June 12, 2008 1:49 pm:

" Where else can you get a $2 to $1 match for your retirement? Don't forget that police and fire have defined benefit plans. Taxpayers are on the hook no matter what the economy does.

I agree with JMK. Put an end to the arena plans and the Antelope Valley nonsense. The city was warned well before the Antelope Valley project was started that it would soon consume too much of the budget to be sustainable. Those sounding the alarm were cast as backward looking cranks. Spending money on studies for an arena that may never be built is irresponsible.

Maybe the council could vote to decriminalize marijuana possession and prostitution and that would free the police up to pursue real crime. "

CRAZY wrote on June 12, 2008 1:49 pm:

" Cut jobs and people's income for an Haymarket project plus the other hidden agenda filling pockets. Cut the projects, not the people! ! ! You just redid the route for the bus service and now???? Mr Mayor you office is not thinking clearly. Common sense "

Raised Out West Living in Lincoln wrote on June 12, 2008 1:51 pm:

" Now I'm not a fan of trimming jobs in order to save money but what has to be done needs to be done. It's more unfortunate that it had to come to this point but I trust the Mayor even when I lived out in the 3rd Congressional District and he was a State Senator. However, I take issue that LPS is the evil little devil child that steals are tax dollars. Don't you want our children to have a quality education instead of rotting in the county jail?! Education is a top priority of mine and I applaud LPS taking a leadership position on educational issues. But when it comes to wasteful spending, I take issue with the County Board! The commissioners have a history of mandating un-funded pet projects, like the Event Center on 84th and Holdrege and now with what I call the new proposed state pen in Lincoln. The county board's actions are costing the residents of Lancaster County more than what the school board has done in previous years. But I know someone will say that the school bond issue was a crock however, it passed by the residents of Lincoln easily and you can't say that about what the commissioners did. As for the buses, that's another thing I'm going to have to grit my teeth and live with because I was just getting used to the new bus system and this is unsettling for me to hear. "

Same Old Politics wrote on June 12, 2008 1:52 pm:

" This is becoming tiresome. Taking a cue from the bickering in congress, Lincoln's elected officials are playing the "blame game" while the average person keeps paying the price. "It's past city officials' fault. It will be the city council's fault." It's time to stop blaming others and start trying to be creative and come up with solutions. New times require new approaches, not the same old tired excuses. I thought that's what we elected our officials to do -- find solutions to problems. Does Beutler favor a tax increase or not? Take a stand. Don't just pass the blame on to someone else.

Another story the same day in the Journal-Star found the state of Nebraska is $100M in the BLACK this year. Yet, Lincoln just can't seem to get it done. Instead, we'd prefer to bicker and blame. "

leg wrote on June 12, 2008 1:53 pm:

" Eric, you must not have children in the LPS system. I am proud to call myself an LPS parent and previous student. We have good schools with good teachers and even better programs for every student.....from gifted to special education. I would gladly pay more on my property taxes to ensure my daughters continue to receive a top notch public school education. Try finding that in another city Lincoln's size around the US. Don't just think of yourselves but your neighbors and Lincoln's future, our kids. "

fair wrote on June 12, 2008 2:11 pm:

" I still think the Mayor should start by looking at ALL the bloated salaries of city employees. If you looked at the average, city employees make more than the average private paid employee. Why not do a study of market salaries across the city of Lincoln and decide if they are over budget on FTEs. I bet they would find a whole lot of money there to spend on needed things that could make the city of Lincoln a better, safe and resourceful city. "

former parks employee wrote on June 12, 2008 2:17 pm:

" Does Parks and Rec really need two Golf Managers that make over $50,000 a year? Only reason I saw for this was one is computer illiterate. "

Thor wrote on June 12, 2008 2:18 pm:

" I agree with Paul Schack. Gas prices are horrible and I have started to take the bus again. This should be the last area they cut services to. More should be given to public transportation at this point. And yes, LPS is strangling Lincoln. Sad sad sad. "

New to Lincoln wrote on June 12, 2008 2:29 pm:

" Change the way the tax terrorists (LPS) gets their money and there may be some left over for the city. "

Comm UnSense wrote on June 12, 2008 2:31 pm:

" Here's an idea. Lets have some meetings with the residents of Lincoln and ask them to prioritize what we cut out of the budget. Oh, wait, we did that already. Everybody said the thing they cared about most was the police, fire and emergency departments. Now that's the first thing they come up with to cut. We should have said we need to get the research park funded. Then they would have cut that. Ask the people what they want, then do the opposite. That's our motto! "

Dave wrote on June 12, 2008 2:32 pm:

" How about this, instead of cutting services and employees, how about the City Council do what they were elected to do and serve the people and not themselves and their interests?

For three years now the city council has been targeting the city employees retirement benefits as a way to "balance the budget" instead of looking elsewhere. Property taxes are the lowest they have been in many years, it wasn't that long ago that our property tax rate was almost double what it is now.

If the council would compromise, and raise the property tax rate just enough to cover the expected costs to balance the budget, and maybe even have a little bit left over for the coming years, I for one would not complain one bit. We are looking at raising our property taxes maybe a hundred dollars, it's not like our property taxes are doing to double.

Whats more important, putting 50 people out of a job in an already tough job market just to keep property taxes low, or everyone bite the bullet, keep out city safe, secure and running and pay a few extra dollars?

Put yourself in one of those 50 city employees shoes, how would you feel if YOUR job was one of those in jeopardy? "

shane wrote on June 12, 2008 2:37 pm:

" Dennis the question is NOT do we need police. The question is are you, and the city, willing to PAY for those police? The fact is Lincoln's ENTIRE property tax does not even pay the bill for fire and police. So the other 30 percent of the fire and police and the REST of the city budget is paid for with grants,fees and sales tax. If you take in less money you make cuts and you cannot ignore fire and police as they are the biggest parts of the budget.

Too bad that people cannot see that building an arena actually provides more tax money for construction of the arena and bringing people to town will increase sales tax. The Mayor has said it can be built without property tax but people continue to try to equate this year's budget and the arena project. I guess you get what your willing to invest in. "

Outside the Box wrote on June 12, 2008 2:46 pm:

" I do not envy the Mayor's task. If you asked 10 people how to deal with the deficit, 5 would want cuts to 5 different areas, 2 would blame the republicans, 2 would blame the democrats, and 1 would have the courage to suggest raising taxes (this one person would then be beaten by the other nine).

The simple truth is no person, business, or government should operate in a deficit and the Mayor is trying to play the hand he was dealt. Cuts need to be made or taxes need to be raised. Since few of you are willing to cough up more tax dollars, you need to decide what you're willing to live without. Tough decisions in tough times. "

Decrease wrote on June 12, 2008 2:48 pm:

" people's paychecks. Duh? "

jo gale wrote on June 12, 2008 2:48 pm:

" cutting jobs is never a good solution, unless those people aren't doing their jobs. "

Roger wrote on June 12, 2008 2:57 pm:

" Raise taxes if you must - but do not cut the Antelope Valley Project. Just think, how much worse our flooded streets would be without this project? "

Deb wrote on June 12, 2008 3:07 pm:

" Cutting the police force is a big mistake. We need to have more police officers to handle the situations of a city this size. Look in to the school budget and cut some of the high administrative positions. I think they are very top heavy. Why does it take 10 people to decide to sharpen a pencil when one should have the knowledge and degree to do it???? Lincoln Public Schools certainly should be scrubbed of the administrative positions. Try that one out for size! "

Duh wrote on June 12, 2008 3:29 pm:

" Remember the flooding over the past few weeks, and remember that the next time you choose to vote for or against another bond issue. These are the kinds of things that studies are used for. You don't start building a house before putting together blue prints do you, no different than these studies? Professionals put them together, quite frankly, I'm glad, cause if they didn't, we'd probably all live in dirt houses that were washed away last night. Does your kid need a education, LPS does not spend freely, they are restricted just as well as anyone, remember your kids are the ones benefiting from these LPS costs, come on folks, get real. If you don't like it, move and find a job elsewhere, you'll be doing a lot of people a favor. Quit complaining. "

RE getaclue wrote on June 12, 2008 3:45 pm:

" I understand how someone who was born, raised, and by god going to buried in lincoln would feel about someone berating their city. On the other hand, have any of these born,raised and die here people lived anywhere else at all in their lives? When comparing lincoln to other citys its size, it definately comes in last. The mayor and council seem to take direction from a one horse legistature at the statehouse. Progressive, never! Regressive, always! Prone to providing local developers access to confidenial information about planning and zoning, yes. I was raised in nebraska and lived in lincoln for 20 + years. Way to long. When my house that sold for 112,000 several years ago but was taxed at 2000 a year, I knew I should go shopping for a new town. I found it and pay about one fourth of lincolns taxes. Nasayers beware, I have documented proof of taxes, on house,car,gas,utilitys or whatever else you want. The schools operate on much much less than lincoln and are all almost new schools. Only they don't have marble or granite in the lobbys,bathrooms,librarys. "

Hey wrote on June 12, 2008 3:47 pm:

" How about the mayor take a pay cut and save a few police/fire jobs..... "

Observer wrote on June 12, 2008 3:49 pm:

" Look within city departments at who gets paid what and what this person or position actually does. Look at the amount of time spent in meetings, who attends the meetings, what they get paid and what the meetings accomplish. "

Scott wrote on June 12, 2008 3:50 pm:

" $1.5 million is $0.12, per Lincolnite, per week. It seems like it would be kind of pathetic to cut bus service or library hours to cover that. Could the average family of 4 afford 48 cents a week? No...cut services instead! "

Bill wrote on June 12, 2008 4:00 pm:

" It's easy to see who is on the City payroll in these posts. Does anyone know how much office space is being rented in the City by both the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County; after taxpayers funded a new City/County office building. Why does everything built to house city departments have to be state of the art. I say until they quit wasting money, stop all expansion, remodeling, substation, and precinct construction. Do legitimate performance evaluations on all positions and eliminate those not performing. It would be sooooooooo easy to find $6 Million in waste in City Government and still have the buses, police, fire, and fix the streets. "

Common Sense wrote on June 12, 2008 4:04 pm:

" fair - I'll take it you didn't look into the "bloated salaries" of which you speak. If the City employees' average salary is higher than the community as a whole, that's not surprising. The whole community includes a lot of people flipping burgers and working for minimum wage. The majority of City employee positions are skilled workers requiring degrees. Your idea of comparing wages vs. the community may not turn out the way you'd want. Find me a CEO in this town who makes less than the Mayor or the head of any of the big departments that is making less per employee than the City folks do. I know that private engineers, accountants and attorneys make more than the city employees do. I can only imagine the reason they stay with the City is all the encouragement and attaboys they get from bloggers like you and others. "

Husker Girl wrote on June 12, 2008 4:12 pm:

" Do not cut funds for education. And do not cut funds for the police and fire departments. That's insane. Our children are our future and they need to be well educated and well protected. Pet projects need to be looked at first for "trimming!" "

Jack wrote on June 12, 2008 4:17 pm:

" Maybe we should close all the public golf courses in the city. Let golfers play on the private courses. Look at the savings that would generate!! No salaries, maintenance workers, fuel spent on mowing and upkeep, not to mention WATER. Golf is a sport for the rich anyway, they can afford the private memberships. "

cutjunkie wrote on June 12, 2008 4:24 pm:

" cut anything you want as long as it doesnt affect me. "

Dennis wrote on June 12, 2008 4:27 pm:

" Yes raise my property taxes. Raise sales tax. Raise any tax. Raise a bond issue or anything to pay for public safety (mainly police). I wish the journal would do a story on how Lincoln's police force stacks up against cities our size. The criminals are moving in and it's going to get worse. So to answer the question - YES YES YES Raise my taxes to pay for more cops so my family is safe!!! "

Tyler wrote on June 12, 2008 4:30 pm:

" What is the countdown until we can vote out Buetler? "

John wrote on June 12, 2008 4:30 pm:

" The people that think cutting the police force is a good idea are blind. When one major thing happens in the city like a homicide or robberty, there are barely enough cops to cover during that. But what will open people's eyes is when that second homicide or bank robbery happens a short time later and those people will have to wait until the prior event is done. Good luck with that. "

someone who has already felt the cutback wrote on June 12, 2008 4:40 pm:

" Well, my daughter worked for LPS for about 8 years, was making really good money, and guess what, she isn't any more. Now they can hire someone for that position at a way lower wage. Now that she has to apply for assistance until she can find another job, I wonder, is saving the City of Lincoln money going to cost the State of Nebraska more? "

DJ Stone wrote on June 12, 2008 5:50 pm:

" I love this guy!! Less government is a good thing. If the market dictates something is necessary or otherwise i.e. busses, there will be a savvy business to swoop in and make a profit. I wonder if the city were able to automate many of the services at the County/City Building how many more jobs could be cut.
Run it like a business and learn to take care of yourself, quit looking for a handout.
Capitalism is glorious "

year Democrat wrote on June 12, 2008 6:32 pm:

" Just remember, that growth pays for it self!
TIF it and Blight it, every thing will be OK.
Agree with the LPS budget.
Spend more money on studies. ie. Arena and County Jail.
Get rid of the State Fair Park. UNL will take care of us.
Ask the citizens for Money for Union Plaza that the Parks is asking for donations.
god I wish I could move, and let all the Students take care of US. "

me wrote on June 12, 2008 6:54 pm:

" i known people that worked for the city or the county and they have made comments to the effect of themselves having to make work last all day. i question why 1 department has to have 10-15 people working in it and then make work last all day. sure they have busy days or busy times of the year. but does it make sense to be paying all these people when 1/2 the staff can get the job done? sure i dont believe in cutting jobs just because you have an arena or parks projects to fund but i think that waste has long been in the city of lincoln and lancaster county. im sure there are alot of audits going to take place in the future as these departments are scambling for money. "

N wrote on June 12, 2008 6:59 pm:

" With "Democrats" like Beutler, who needs Republicans? The rich certainly do not. "

Business owner wrote on June 12, 2008 7:02 pm:

" I have worked in the private sector for 30+ years. Here is what well run organizations have done in my experience. 1) They have looked carefully at each department. 2)They make sure they are not cutting customer or consumer services when in fact there are other areas that can be cut. 3)Employees do not receive more supervision than they need because in the private sector employees who cannot do their jobs are gone. There is no reason to pay someone big bucks to simply check up on them or monitor their behavior. 4) Unneeded levels of management are done away with without cutting services to the public? 5) Meetings are held only when needed and for limited amounts of time because they are expensive. "

Rck wrote on June 12, 2008 7:26 pm:

" I have an idea. Ask the Chief of Police who is knocking down $120K in salary alone to take a pay cut. Maybe $103 K. Ask the Fire Chief the same thing. Go to each Department head and those making over $ 100 K, ask them to take a cut. "

A closer look wrote on June 12, 2008 7:43 pm:

" If you as a tax payer look very carefully at what you pay in property taxes you would be very suprised at just how efficent the police and fire departments are with your tax dollar. A quick look at the numbers and you will find that you pay LESS for your Police and Fire protection than you pay for your cable\cell phone\garbage\internet etc. A quick look at the Fire Departments web site shows that the average property tax payer pays $15.14 a MONTH for all fire and emergency service. This incluedes, Fire and Emergency Medical response, HAZ-MAT incidents, traffic accidents, swift\ice\dive water rescue teams, annual business inspections, public fire education programs, High\low angle and trench rescue capability, smoke detector installation. This to me is quite efficent use of my tax dollar. Since I pay $50 a month for spotty reliabilty in the form of Time Warner internet. $30 bucks a month for garbage collection that comes once a week. Heck I call 911 and I get EMT's and paramedics at my door for a medical emergency in less than 4 and a half minutes. Not a bad deal. The police department in lincoln is understaffed as compared to city's of the same size. It's relly simple, you have to pay for what you get, and might I add you get quite alot for cheep. Im sure that if you saw a $1 increase for police and fire that it wouldn't bother you. But just to see your cash go in a large lump some to the city is quite hard to swollow. "

JH wrote on June 12, 2008 9:07 pm:

" Seems like Lincoln's crime rate has risen in the last year or so, think that the last thing Beutler would want to do was cut the police force, but, unless you have wore the badge, you have no idea, and I am sure he has no idea at all! or just don't care....Am sure he will have alot of votes if he reruns for mayor next time!! "

Joe Bubba wrote on June 12, 2008 9:23 pm:

" Property Taxes are already outragous, In the last few years properety taxes have gone up at a rate greater than inflation. With declining real property values I dont see the city rushing out to update property assessments for the lower values. I think raising property taxes this is just an easy answer for the city. If the City & public need additional services it should placed on ballot and the people should decide. If City officails are afraid to ask The city doesnt really need the money "

Why the LPS talk wrote on June 12, 2008 9:46 pm:

" I don't understand all the talk about the school budget in comments about the city of lincoln budget. Do you all realize they aren't the same entity - one has nothing to do with the other. LPS is not a department of the city. They each have their own tax levy. The mayor has no control over the school budget.

Having said that I think LPS needs some house cleaning. "

TWP wrote on June 12, 2008 9:47 pm:

" Wow! What a mess the new mayor inherited. Should our former mayor share some of the blame for this?
As for those of you saying the government should be run just like a business: government is NOT a business. Are you saying you want your services privatized? Perhaps you and your neighbors could get together and contract with one of several competing police forces to patrol your part of town. Private businesses could own all the roads, and you could pay a toll to each one as you drive on them. You would soon develop your own route of the cheapest streets to drive on. They might have more potholes than those other expensive streets, but you would save money. In case of fire, don't call the nearest fire station. Check the Better Business Bureau before you call and see which ones are the most reliable. Or, perhaps some will just charge you for a service call, and throw in the water for free. I can see all kinds of possibilities! "

LPS wrote on June 12, 2008 9:58 pm:

" Thats exactly my point, LPS is seperate from the City budget, but it comes out as 1 big patment we have to make. If the citizens were able to see EXACTLY where there money goes, they would not have a problem giving some extra to fire and police. If 911, fire and police were on a seperate safety line item instead of the general fund people could see how little they pay for how much they get. Right now you get notice in the mail that somewhat explanes where your big chunk of change goes. "

Finally wrote on June 12, 2008 10:18 pm:

" How refreshing to finally see a Democrat cutting the size of government!! I never thought I'd see the day this would happen!! Thank you Mayor!! "

DR wrote on June 12, 2008 10:32 pm:

" Stop sending 61% to LPS. They can do without olympic sized swimming pools. I went to elementary school in a two room school and that was only 12 years ago. I don't know where it's mandated that they get that high a percentage of property taxes, but someone should look into it. "

Marisol wrote on June 12, 2008 11:00 pm:

" I've never seen a group of citizens more eager to decimate their own public school system, or their own city. It's disgusting and depressing. Have you people no sense of commitment to your children, to your future, to the public good? Are you all so selfish that you'd gladly compromise the education of tomorrow's citizens or the livelihood of city employees just to save yourselves a couple of bucks? Lincoln is petty, small, and ugly in so many ways. "

A different world wrote on June 12, 2008 11:44 pm:

" I am very much about finding efficiencies in Government and holding departments accountable. But, essential governmental services should NOT be run like private businesses. Private businesses can and do fail overnight. Government departments that you rely on will not do such a thing. How would you like calling 911 in the middle of the night only to find out that your ambulance service closed it's doors and did not leave any ambulances for your protection, or to find out that your privately paid firefighters went on strike and are not working due to labor\management fights. Or if you were told that the private police force does not cover your neighborhood due to contract disagreements? This is why the city provides these services and at quite the bargain also. "

Make do wrote on June 13, 2008 12:20 am:

" I would support increasing the city's tax levy, which I considerable very reasonable for the quality of services rendered. Like some others, I object to the black hole of spending that is Lincoln Public Schools. I do think LPS could deliver quality education for less by eliminating many of the frills. If the school board doesn't start heeding public discontent, voters in this school district are going to start rejecting bond issues and the like. "

Cut the schools not the city wrote on June 13, 2008 1:30 am:

" It's nice to see that people are finally beginning to realize where the vast, vast majority of their tax dollars goes--the Lincoln Public Schools. Anyone interested in a coalition to stand up to the education establishment? How hard do they have to squeeze before Lincoln residents do something? "

dewboy wrote on June 13, 2008 3:09 am:

" To Duh:As far as flooded streets and Bond issues go think on this. Bond issue for flood control and yet build in the floodplain as a RESULT of one of your studies. LPS does need a look at. The Arena pay taxes get serious.TIF. Antelope Valley would be a good place to start.
the cutting. Just think of the cost of paper work (more studies) spent on that project. WAIT! with all the new building going on how can we be in the hole? So much for economic development. Seems we need another study of the Planning Department. PLEASE don't cut Fire Dept. as we need 15 to 30 there for an air conditioner fire. Lets cut one hundred jobs for starters and STUDY the next cut. "

JAZZY wrote on June 13, 2008 6:37 am:

" Well, this just goes to show that a degree isn't always the best. My daughter is still looking for a job in Nebraska. But everytime she sees a little hope in landing a decent job, the city puts a freeze or cuts jobs. How about having the city Retire some of the old relics and get some new blood in there to maybe figure out how to fix the budget. "

Makes Sense wrote on June 13, 2008 7:45 am:

" Give the ambulance service back to the private sector. Seems like a no-brainer to me! "

Agree wrote on June 13, 2008 7:59 am:

" I agree you need to raise taxes but you also need to cut not needed projects like the arena. Don't be fooled people they will say it will not cost the taxpayers. One way or the other it will. They like to shuffle the money around. Take a little from each pot they will not know. Just like they did for haymarket park. "

Sheena wrote on June 13, 2008 8:03 am:

" Am I the ONLY one in Lincoln whose blood just boils every time they drive past the parking lot of the former State Farm building on "O" street, and see the vast sea of cars belonging to LPS school administrators ? Our property taxes paid for each and every one of those cars, and pay the salaries of everyone in that building. What are they all DOING in there ? If any of our city officials, city council members or "investigative" reporters in local news media the real interest of the people of this city in mind, there would be a thorough investigation of LPS staffing. Why do we need all those high-paid administrators ? We're cutting police, fire, library and swimming pool budgets so some burnt-out teacher with a masters degree can keep their job, but not have to stay in the classroom. Does that strike anyone else as unfair ? I challenge the Journal Star to publish a list of every one of the people in that building-their job title and salary, along with a detailed breakdown of where all of our property tax dollars go. Come on, people-get fired up about this-demand that your city council and mayor's office stand up for city services and stand up to mighty LPS. Otherwise this big school bully will give our quality of life a real, thourough beating. "

funk wrote on June 13, 2008 8:13 am:

" I for one am glad the gentleman who says’ “the taxes in my city were lower and we had better services!” finally posted where he was from. Colorado, did you ever stop to wonder if tourism had anything to do with your ability to have lower taxes? If you haven’t noticed Lincoln and Nebraska for that matter is an entertainment vacuum. No mountains, terrible lakes, snow that you can’t drive snow mobiles on, and no where to ride ATV’s or participate in motor sports due to the Nimbys. Originally I was all in favor of replacing the dilapidated Pershing center, but, not at the expense of our police/fire departments. I would imagine that LIBA is full of glee; I thought that Beutler was a Democrat? "

The Sky is Falling wrote on June 13, 2008 9:00 am:

" I love the doom and gloom that comes around every time they threaten Police and Fire cuts, usually these posts are from police and fire members trying to scare us.

First of all, they most likely would not take positions of the street, rather just not fill vacancies, or get rid of not needed people like training, support etc.

Secondly, hold the pay or even cut it. These departments pay excellent, and so many people want to work there, that when they test for positions, more people apply for the job then there are actual officers and firefighters on the job. That tells me we do not need to be paying them so much if people want to work there that bad. Do you realize that cutting firefighter pay by $1000 a year, that is less than 50 cents an hour, could put about 12 more firefighters on the streets, that is an entire engine company.

Third, the "doom and gloom" is already here. I live in SE lincoln, and have yet to ever see a cruiser drive through my neighborhood. But I have been safe this entire time. If you live in the area of fire station 13, it should interest you to know that they usually do not have a paramedic on the engine, so if you need advanced life support, you will have to wait an extended amount of time. What have these departments come to. Unions that have raised prices to the point where they are unstustainable. "

PR wrote on June 13, 2008 9:01 am:

" I am amazed by the people on this blog that think the City, Mayor or City Council has anything to do with LPS. "

Laurie wrote on June 13, 2008 10:13 am:

" So, we know the mayor and city people don't have anything to do with the administrative expense of LPS - that only leaves the clowns to run the circus. A horribly funny expense! "

CUT Traffic wrote on June 13, 2008 11:02 am:

" Why do we pay cops to ride around on motorcycles, giving tickets to hard working people going to work, and driving 5 mph over the speed limit? "

Clueless wrote on June 13, 2008 11:58 am:

" Secondly, hold the pay or even cut it. These departments pay excellent, and so many people want to work there, that when they test for positions, more people apply for the job then there are actual officers and firefighters on the job. That tells me we do not need to be paying them so much if people want to work there that bad." - Oh My! Too bad the court of industrial relations disagrees with you and your logic on what you can pay city police and firefighters. Their pay is COMPARABLE. It's not overpaid - they are not underpaid - they are AVERAGE! How many applicants who apply with the police department actually are qualified for the job. Do your research before posting.

Third, the "doom and gloom" is already here. I live in SE lincoln, and have yet to ever see a cruiser drive through my neighborhood." - You do realize that LPD is busy responding to "Billy won't goto school", domestics, accidents, thefts. Perhaps if you realized that LPD is so understaffed as it is - that would be the reason you never see a cruiser in your neighborhood - they don't have time!

"Unions that have raised prices to the point where they are unstustainable." I'll revert to the court of industrial relations. The city has to pay their employees what is comparable. It has nothing to do with the union. "

New to Lincoln wrote on June 13, 2008 2:01 pm:

" So how do we cut 20% of LPS's overblown budget and give