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County budget cuts, what would you do without?
- Thread starter wrobert
- Start date
Matt J
SWGB
Air conditioning on school buses. I'm pretty sure that won't make up the difference, but FTLOG I'm not that old and we didn't have air conditioning, we all just opened the windows and the breeze was fine. I understand that special needs kids need air conditioning for medical reasons, but the average kid isn't going to die on a moving school bus without air conditioning. How much does that cost the county in the initial extra of having it on the bus, maintenance, and fuel costs?
scooterbug44
SoWal Expert
Do you have a link or copy of last year's budget?
I'm sure there are many items that we don't realize are part of the budget or just how much $ is spent on them.
I'm sure there are many items that we don't realize are part of the budget or just how much $ is spent on them.
wrobert
Beach Fanatic
And they did not have air conditioning in schools when I was growing up. But things moved on. School started in September, Al Gore did not convince us we were all melting, buses get better mileage now then they did back then, and the BCC, which is what we are talking about does not pay for buses.
ckhagen
Beach Fanatic
I could deal with the courthouse being closed on Fridays or half days or something like that.
Of course, then you get into talking about cutting jobs or salaries and the uproar will follow.
I could deal with the courthouse being closed on Fridays or half days or something like that.
I once rode a school bus in early August for a day camp. I will never, ever forget that experience because I remember feeling like I was going to suffocate every day on that ride. I walked in the door to our house on the last day and passed out on the foyer floor. With these kids going back to school in mid-August, I don't think the benefits would be worth it.
Of course, then you get into talking about cutting jobs or salaries and the uproar will follow.
I could deal with the courthouse being closed on Fridays or half days or something like that.
I once rode a school bus in early August for a day camp. I will never, ever forget that experience because I remember feeling like I was going to suffocate every day on that ride. I walked in the door to our house on the last day and passed out on the foyer floor. With these kids going back to school in mid-August, I don't think the benefits would be worth it.
wrobert
Beach Fanatic
Courthouse would be another interesting thought. Problem is that the Clerk and Tax Collector are pretty much fee based. So making it more difficult for the public to transact business would probably affect their income.
GoodWitch58
Beach Fanatic
Take a look at the county vehicles; get rid of the gaz/diesel guzzling ones and start to go to hybrid or something similar. Especially thinking of those expensive trucks driven by the code enforcement people...in their reactive mode of doing business.
Is it really cheaper to have a public works unit that paves streets? What is the difference in contracting that work out to a local company? Seems there would be a savings; some might lose jobs, but perhaps they could be retrained/reassigned.
Stop putting up Big Blue Signs and little green signs at waterways!
Is it really cheaper to have a public works unit that paves streets? What is the difference in contracting that work out to a local company? Seems there would be a savings; some might lose jobs, but perhaps they could be retrained/reassigned.
Stop putting up Big Blue Signs and little green signs at waterways!
Camp Creek Kid
Christini Zambini
The county should consider going to a 4-day workweek with 10 hour days. Jefferson County, AL is doing that, but they are staggering their employees so that all offices will be open the regular M-F days, but not all employees will work every day. The State of Utah is going to a true 4-day M-Th week will offices open from 7a.m. to 6 p.m., with offices closed on Fridays. No jobs are cut, etc. Employees still work same number of hours, but have an extra day off, and the extended hours are convenient for those needing county services.
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Alicia Leonard
SoWal Insider
scooterbug44
SoWal Expert
1) Cut the vehicle fleet. Unless your job requires a SPECIALIZED vehicle (garbage truck, road grader etc.) I don't think you need a car. Most of the jobs that don't need a specialized vehicle don't need a vehicle IMO so if you are using a car for county business, maybe mileage reimbursement would be better. If mileage reimbursement is more expensive than providing cars, I'd like to see a fleet of high mileage/low frills vehicles. I see a trail of dollar signs flying through the air every time one of the #$*@* code enforcement trucks goes by.
2) Jack up the cost to use the Sheriff's department vehicles for "private security" so that it fully covers gas, wear and tear, etc.
3) Award contracts to the LOWEST bidder, (not the one who claims to be local and is based in the next county or somewhere else in Florida) and let bidders know that if the price comes in too high, the project will not go forward. Have monetary penalties for projects not completed on time.
2) Jack up the cost to use the Sheriff's department vehicles for "private security" so that it fully covers gas, wear and tear, etc.
3) Award contracts to the LOWEST bidder, (not the one who claims to be local and is based in the next county or somewhere else in Florida) and let bidders know that if the price comes in too high, the project will not go forward. Have monetary penalties for projects not completed on time.