Barry Allen’s Comments on Glendale Finances in the 08-17-08 Vanguard Weekly News

“Gimme more,” is the cry we hear from the Governor, Caltrans, the MTA and even the City of Glendale where there was a budget trimming to make up for a $10,000,000 budget deficit resulting in closing a library and reducing hours at the Central Library; pulling school resource officers from the schools and further reducing services to the community. Was there a whisper, a murmur or any sound at all by those sitting on the dais to cut expenses, to reduce payroll, to reduce benefits, to close the Employee Health Services? No! In order to further reduce the work load of the employees, Management wants a budget administrator to oversee the budget process that has been overlooked by Management. Several years ago I spoke at a budget session pointing out that on the Fire Department Budget 1 person was going to be paid almost $500,000. It took two weeks to correct the error that would have been put in the budget because many on the dais didn’t and still don’t understand a budget. As some Council members go belly-to-belly with employees whispering in their ear that pay raises are coming, it is the public that pays and gets little in return. We need elected officials that understand and question the numbers…like why is there less money to invest? How much will this bond issue cost over its life? Or why do management level employees get overtime? It is time to change the mantra of, “Gimme more,” to “let’s be fiscally conservative and start cutting expenditures that only benefit the employees.” That takes a concerned, knowledgeable public. How will the City cope with sales tax decreases especially from the car dealers because of the recession? How will they respond when the Utility Users Tax is found unconstitutional and the City has to adjust about $20,000,000?