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Friday, April 23, 2010

How to slash the city budget

Once you ask, it turns out there are hundreds of ways

Posted by Tim Bousquet on Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 10:48 AM

As Halifax Council and staff have been looking for ways to meet the upcoming $30 million budget shortfall, hundreds of suggestions have come in--- from staff, from councillors, from the public generally.

City staff has compiled those suggestions, and the full list is now available on the city's web site.

I'm linking to it, because I'd like to see what readers think. So far, at my cursory glance, it appears some of the suggestions are ridiculous, others good ideas, and a great many need more investigation.

I'll have a more in-depth analysis next week, but just wanted to get this out now.

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Comments (3)

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I agree some things make sense and others don't. No one seems to want to hit the big guys.

Half the budget ($300,000,000) is tied to wages and benefits, seems like a bit much for what we get. Council size should be cut, as does the # of managers, and deadweight employees. If you work for the city, you should be on salary, and part of your description should be to present your report to council meetings (i.e. no overtime wages, maybe get a half day off later on when the workload is LOW).

Next, sidewalk plowing in residential areas, cost $5,000,000. Not needed, residents already shovel driveways, a few tens of feet of sidewalk won't kill them. Also, those clowns can't drive for shit and rip up lawn and driveways, so in the summer the city HAS to come and repair them damages (more costs).

Do we really need 1 worker working and 3-4 watching the guy do whatever it is they are doing? More waste. Consultations: what exactly do we hire staff for if we send out so much work?? Central library, needed but seeing as it is on SGR, there is no need for food/beverages, and the auditorium I am on the fence with. Convention center, well that should be left to businesses, if they feel it is a good investment then they should front the costs. So many cities have lost $ on those, you would think by now people would smarten up. And Metro transit needs some new management to take the service in a new and more efficient route.

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Posted by Bundy, Al Bundy on 04/26/2010 at 9:52 AM

A few layoffs would be a good start. Too many paper shufflers earning too much money.

Layoffs are good because it makes the others think they could be next unless they moderate wage and benefits agreements.

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Posted by Joeblow on 04/25/2010 at 1:20 AM

Taxpayers are getting fed up with everything being planned behind closed doors. Our sidewalks are a mess and the streets no better. Too bad this isn't election year. Perhaps we would get some attention.What does it cost to tear up the Commin every year just for one night. We cannot afford a new convention center but the planners are brain dead when it comes to dollars. Why not hold more smaller conventions and spread it out?The Coast must be congratulated for getting their fingers inside the cash register to see what is going on. Too bad a few citizens don't get together and sue the City for cooki'n the
books !

A. Irwin - Halifax

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Posted by Burp on 04/24/2010 at 11:59 PM

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