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31. spatny
    Member

    Fred - with no new, quick to access and identifiable revenue source on the immediate horizon, economies will no doubt be undertaken. That's what everybody has to do when expenses exceed revenue. We may find it impossible to avoid a tax hike, but people will be a lot more inclined to back it - if and when it comes - if they feel expenditures have been pared and savings implemented - and most importantly - that the Board has the right priorities and approach to problem solving. I happen to believe that critical and necessary capital fund projects that are absolutely necessary could and should be priced and made the reason for a tax hike, and that the surplus million that always was in the General Fund should go back there. We have a separate fund for water and sewer, partial funding from MFT for road repair, and if more/other things are requred that should be explained to the voters and let them decide. We need to stretch out what we have to operate at a level we can live with - in terms of service and cost. maybe some equipment has to go another year, maybe we need to have less costly people in some areas, maybe we need to do other things - that's what the audit and analysis is for.

    Mr. Gorman stated he loves to do that, he's a CPA, so let him do it - and with economy as a goal, let's see how the department heads can contribute. Look at the dough that was saved when Rec was put on the spot - 50% saving on the Village contribution. I personally do not feel that we can bring the deficit to zero by cuts alone, but that some important savings will be made - and that we can get though the next few years without depleting our reserves entirely. If we can't pay $90K for a director but can pay $70K, there or anywhere, that is a reasonable thing to ask - do you want to continue now at that rate and we'll see what we can do when times are better? If our need has been proven and the person can't say, "What about her/him? They could be cut too." it should/could happen, and we might find there are a couple hundred thousand in savings around like that all across the board. (I know - the unionized departments are the big problem and the most difficult to negotiate with, but we can try.)

    Posted Saturday Mar 28, 2009 13:02 #

32. Fred
    Member

    Can't disagree with most of your points. Mr. Gorman has not, in my opinion, instilled great confidence in his ability to work with a group of professionals in brokering acceptable solutions. I don't think he did himself any favors with his participation in the long term financial committee. His biggest strength is the number of people he knows. His biggest weakness is the number of people who have come to know him. Being able to make sense of a ledger and gaining the trust of a staff are two different things. I think the vote will sort things out. We are actually getting past the "who" and discussing the "what is expected." I respect all those with differing opinions on particular candidates. I am past one party vs another. My vote goes to individuals.

    Posted Saturday Mar 28, 2009 13:19 #

33. Flight
    Member

    Weather Mr. Scanlon is a good administrator is not the point. This is not about Mr. Scanlon being a good guy or not a good guy.

    The issue is that the State of Illinois is in the middle of a budget crisis which will only get worse. The biggest problems are the structural commitments of paying for retirement of State, County and Municipal employees. Giving him an 18% over 3 years will only exacerbate that problem.

    Mr. Scanlon will be eligible for retirement at 57. At current actuarial trends it will create a continuing obligation for what could be 20-25 years. He can also collect a pension and take another job at another school district and add to that pension obligation ... while collecting this pension. What is also not discussed is the gold plated health plans with minimal deductibles, days off for every possible holiday. The total compensation package for Mr. Scanlon goes above $150,000 per year.

    The reasoning from the Board of Ed is that "We did this for everyone else". SO WHAT! Why is that an excuse to continue the practice? If the boat is sinking and you figure out it is sinking because everyone was allowed to take water from the sea and poor it on their heads to cool off, do you continue the practice because it might be unfair not to let the next guy cool off? No you stop poring more water into the sinking boat. Jim Marciniak seems to be the only adult on the board right now.

    Life is unfair. Life has been particularly unfair to a lot of good people in the private sector right now. My SEP-IRA is down by 45%. It will be more unfair for everyone if we keep on with these expenditures for both teachers and administrators.

    I do not know Larry Herbst and this is not a personal attack on him but it shows supreme ineptitude that he uttered these words ""What we're doing is making sure he has the same exit plan as everybody else," said District 208 school board President Larry Herbst. "That's what we've always done for retiring administrators.".

    It brings me back to what my father used to tell me: If everyone else jumps off a bridge ...

    Posted Saturday Mar 28, 2009 13:23 #

34. Catherine
    Member

    Many people have been caught without a chair now that the music has stopped. I don't understand why anyone thinks the public sector should be cossetted from the winds battering us all. Lots of people were promised money they are not now going to get.

    As to the village budget, Saachi said at a recent forum that he, nor do I think anyone, is against tax increases per se. Tax increases have been approved before. But no one will, nor should, approve a tax increase unless and until they are convinced that any and all fat has been squeezed out of the budget. People are also dismayed by the amount of money that has been blown on consultants and lawyers for plans that came to naught and for which there was no mandate. There was disapproval of the priorities. Since the Caucus RP campaign began with a promise by Mr Smith to continue the policies of the current board, and the other candidates seem to think all their ideas were swell, these folks are not going to convince anyone to volunteer for a tax increase, in my opinion.

    The point is you do not automatically look to a tax increase whenever you have the shorts. This is an orientation some people have. You must seek and realize efficiencies and, just as important, show people through transparent practices that you have done that to the maximum extent. Then and only then can you rationally expect anything further from them. This is my opinion about tax increases, anyway.

    As to what you imagine Mr Gorman's personality to be, he and one other person had the guts to disagree with the majority opinion of the LTFSC. I call that guts and intellectual integrity. Oh, and independent thought. If you're debating Miss Congeniality winners, you have a few clunkers on the RP slate.

    Posted Monday Mar 30, 2009 10:26 #

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