Calcasieu Money Woes

     Budget problems for Calcasieu Parish... and that could mean workers won't get a cost of living increase.  Thursday night, Calcasieu Administrative officials unveiled the proposed parish budget for next year.  And it's 10.2% less than this year.  That's due in part to a projected five percent decrease in sales tax revenues.  This is the first budget in recent memory that does not include a cost of living increase for employees.  Gaming funds are also expected to decline by 4%.  But the police jury has a long standing policy of not using those funds for the operating budget.  The gaming revenues are used for building projects.  Today we're opening up our "Hot Topic" blog to your thoughts on the budget situation facing Calcasieu Parish.  How do you think parish administrators should deal with ever increasing demands in a depressed economic climate?

Comments

[kyle]

What a stupid question. Do like everyone of us do who I might add haven't got a raise in a while also. CUT BACK if you dont have the money you dont get it. I'm sure there is plenty of dead wieght on the payroll. Cut the gravy over paid jobs. There are plenty of them in this parish.

[Mike]

Maybe Obama can just borrow some more money from China and then print some more money for us. Or were we included in the trillions?

[GUMP]

The Federal system declares no COLA all the time. Everybody seems to be OK. Just cut back a little.

As far a the Police Jury having a "long standing policy", let's look at some of those.

1. Filling job vacancies with out taking applications.

2. Granting contracts without competition.

3. Tweaking job announcements to where they can only apply to one person.

I'll stop. If these guys want to include a COLA, not having the money is no problem. They'll do it anyway.

[CamoBuck Reborn!]

I fail often.....but i try to learn, and God tries to teach me....still.....I was wrong to criticize any thing God has given life too......My part from the Holy Spirit is always due to my weakness for alcohol....I get sloppy, but i try, and sometimes can see.....and hear....It is of paramount importance that respect towards women be the endeavor of anyone who seeks to know God....I will be tested again and again....but i sincerely seek God, and it is a challenging walk for any simple human.

[CamoBuck Reborn!]

a dedication to any woman i may have offended....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQVz6vuNq7s

[Peach]

Hey CamoBuck,

We have 2 tall bridges...pick one.

[JAMES]

After RITA AND IKE REVENUES WERE THRU THE ROOF. I CAN NOT BELIEVE NONE OF THESE GOVT. ENTITIES DID NOT PUT SOME OF THOSE WINDFALLS IN RESERVE FOR LEANER TIMES. NOW THEY CAN JUST MAKE DO WITH WHAT THEY HAVE.

[Birds Eye View]

Let's run the idiot DA Gardener for Mayor. He will get it all straightened out. With in a month evrybody like Him will be on government hand out's and welfare. Printing new money and drinking free beer. Free loading at everyone else's expense. That's exactly what is wrong with government spending. To much fat like Him. Trimming down to meet the needs not the wants. We all have to live with in our means. Unless you live off of the government. DA Gardner sets a fine example of what is wrong with our government finances.

[PO'MO'JO'BRO']

Last one out of the Parish , TURN OUT THE LIGHTS ! The party is over. I left in 1985 , crumbs for the dumbs - What a pitiful place to be from

[Disappointed with CPPJ]

Start with cutting things that the CPPJ does not need, ie Air Planes for the CPSO, or down town renivations, or buying buildings for $1,000,000, or buying airboats for the OEP, or get rid of an employee that spends $40,000 on personal expenses, or leases a SUV or for a god awful amount, etc.

[Mike]

The answer is pretty simple...just make do with what you have just like the rest of us. Increasing demands will always be there but that doesn't mean that they have to all be met. Proper management means that some will merit higher priority than others. Good leadership will recognize this and allot funding accordingly. It all boils down to effective leadership and management...something the Calcasieu Administrative body seems to be lacking.

[CamoBuck Reborn!]

screw it...i'm prepared to die for what i believe to be the good and right thing....i never meant to hurt anyone, but i will not worship the Beast...if i be a martyr;....then let it be in the name of Jesus Christ

[Bob]

On Jan 1, 2011.... Cut 15 % across the board.From major to janitor.
NO EXEPTIONS..or Union Bull.

[who me]

Lets vote for Riverboat Gaming it will pay for our childrens education. Our worries will be over. Then the politics started we will put it in the General fund so we can use it when we need it. OK Where is it? People lets have a Tea Party!

[ANNETTE]

Calcasieu Parish administrators need to change their priorities and take the people seriously. We pay taxes and trust them to be good administrators of those funds. When you have less money, you spend less, period. That's what we taxpayers have to do every day. There are plenty of ways to cut expenses without taking it out on employee COLA raises. There are highly paid employees driving parish vehicles to and from work, with no work-related need for a vehicle, with vehicle, insurance, gas, maintenance all paid by the Parish; $1,000,000 buildings bought, supposedly with little cost to be ready for occupancy, that by law have to be maintained by the Parish & need another million in renovations to be occupied; employees hired because of who they are & paid top salaries who are not qualified for the position; acquisition of property for parks with "free" movies under the stars; expensive landscaping - I could name some more waste of Parish funds, but the point is, Parish administrators should make better choices as to how to spend our money, starting at the top!

[Mom]

you know what...i haven't gotten a raise in three years so this topic does nothing for me...suck it up and get over it YOU HAVE A JOB!

and on The Speed Limit Around McNeese and Another Accident around McNeese topics -- the city needs to put in some REAL crosswalk signals!

On the Cypress Defaults topic I agree with Garth! Terminate the agreement and find a decent developer!

[GUMP]

Thanks ANNETTE. I was waiting for some one to bring up the vehicles.

How many, non-law enforcement vehicles do we own and maintain? Who drives them?

And why don't they use their own cars and get reimbursed for mileage? Or have a small car pool of 8 to 10 cars for ON DUTY USE ONLY.

[CamoBuck Reborn!]

i like this song.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k0rvTScwX0&feature=player_embedded

[Mike]

I remember a couple of years ago the Police Jury voted to add over $200,000 worth of Christmas decorations to the Prien Lake park. The deciding vote was left to Hal Mcmillan. With a big smile on his face he said of course, why not? There is a time and place for that but, not when the economy is in the tank and people are hungry. Thanks alot Hal! It's this kind of thinking that got the parish in this kind of mess. Not to mention the stupid purchase of a airplane by the CPSO. Thanks alot Tony! Oh Yeah, and let's not forget Richard Cole the stooge. Thanks alot Richard! Who's next? I hope the mayor has more sense than these idiots.

[GUMP]

Good post Mike. But I would like to take the privlege of tacking on a question to your thoughts:

How, in God's name, do these people run a household?

"Daddy Hal, can I have a Rolex?"

"Well, I was going to get you one for your 10th birthday but...sure, why not."

[CamoBuck Reborn!]

The watchword for us all, no matter where God leads us, will be "love". Love is the one quality the world can discern that sets the Christian religion apart from every other religion. If we fail to act on this truth, we will lose our right to be heard.......Thomas Hale

[PO'MO'JO'BRO']

Solution : Get rid of the Parish Administrators , reduse the employment by half , get the other half to go out and DO all of THEIR JOBS

[Swamp Charly]

...and lets not forget to lock CamoBuck Reborn in a loony bin...

[CamoBuck Reborn!]

you will listen now.....

When the devil came and even identified itself as the devil, did you not embrace that message?

Weren't you thirsty for vengeance on those who dared to love, and even dare to be repentant?

Didn't you shun change and the new day, for your own selfish ends?

WELL THERE IS NO MORE DETERGENT FOR YOU, EXCEPT THE ONLY DETERGENT, THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB!

Only God's medicine now, for this stain, the stain you have put on me, is now yours.....

RETURN TO YOUR CHURCHES, and preach a NEW song that is the OLD song, LOVE.

Afflicted ones will learn from the Mockingbird....for even though it is said, it mocks, it in reality in fact, learns.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMpe34Aign4&feature=BF&playnext=1&list=QL

[CamoBuck Reborn!]

well obviously, but....His mercy is ALMOST endless, ..............have any of you been so aware to hear the Earth drinking? Think about a light yet steady spring rain shower, not a torrential downpour, just a passing of the water....and a few seconds into it you can "hear" or perceive in some fashion or another, a "opening up", a reception of the rain, usually, like clockwork, followed shortly thereafter by a bird calling out......think about it, it's there...