Last week, out of an abundance of caution, Northampton County Council voted 7-1 (Glenn Geissinger was absent) to reject a John Brown Budget that included a $20 million line of credit considered illegal. Their intention was to start all over with a clean slate. But they went too far, In the CraZy world of Northampton County, the Executive's proposed budget, even if rejected, will be considered adopted by December 16 unless Council amends it. Unlike the federal or state government, the Home Rule Charters in both Northampton and Lehigh County guarantee that there will be a budget.
When Council meets next week, I understand they plan to rescind their rejection.
Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne
Local Government TV
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Friday, November 14, 2014
34 comments:
You own views are appreciated, especially if they differ from mine. But remember, commenting is a privilege, not a right. I will delete personal attacks or off-topic remarks at my discretion. Comments that play into the tribalism that has consumed this nation will be declined. So will comments alleging voter fraud unless backed up by concrete evidence. If you attack someone personally, I expect you to identify yourself. I will delete criticisms of my comment policy, vulgarities, cut-and-paste jobs from other sources and any suggestion of violence towards anyone. I will also delete sweeping generalizations about mainstream parties or ideologies, i.e. identity politics. My decisions on these matters are made on a case by case basis, and may be affected by my mood that day, my access to the blog at the time the comment was made or other information that isn’t readily apparent.
What a freaking mess caused by Brown's bungled budget.His LOC illegal from day one yet it took council's solicitor a month to offer an opinion. Bad government.
ReplyDeleteYou would think that the pitifully inept executive who presented an illegal budget in the first place would work overtime on his own dime to make it legal, and resubmit it. All that was required was to change a few line items.
ReplyDeleteCouncil must have realized that they also could not propose any amendments until next year, since they turned down the budget.
ReplyDeleteTalk about a rudderless ship... ?
ReplyDeleteSo county council will vote to reject their previous vote for rejection of the budget. I am sure there is a law somewhere in the sane world that makes this illegal but who gives a shit. After all it is Northampton County, where the A-holes reign.
ReplyDeleteI believe this reversal requires an ordinance. They voted to reject an ordinance and rescinding that vote requires an act of equal dignity in most instances.
ReplyDeleteIt also means they must advertise for a new budget vote. They must allow time and do it all within less than a month.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of clowns.
Ready! Fire! Aim!
ReplyDelete"Council must have realized that they also could not propose any amendments until next year, since they turned down the budget."
Bingo! That's what Mr. Parsons was trying to say at the meeting. The LOC was clearly illegal, but in his haste to further embarrass the Executive, Lamont failed to realize the potential consequences of voting down a budget. Replacing the LOC with fund balance as proposed by Mr. Brown was a simple fix. Now money must be wasted to re-advertise.
Council and the Executive must work together! I know this seems like a foreign concept. To quote Peg Ferraro, "where is the compromise?"
ReplyDeleteThey need to work together to 1) not screw the employee on health insurance cost. 2) have a balanced budget without a LOC.
The employees are no less equal to Lehigh, Carbon/Monroe/Pike, and other surrounding counties who pay far less cost for their health insurance.
A plant to cap total out of pocket cost at 1000 for family per employee is reasonable if they receive a 2 to 3% raise.
Look around politicians at NorCo. This is happening in other neighboring counties. Yet you are the ONLY ones trying to screw your employees. Shame on you.
This is fair to the taxpayer as well as a min raise and a modest cost expense in health care past on to the employee. Taxpayers have jobs who receive the same or better in the private sector. NorCo health insurance was became even years ago with private sector based on their cost.
Maybe the county needs to get out of the self pay plan and actually buy a health insurance plan. Neighboring counties did this several years ago as it was more cost effective.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who knows this! Do you politicians of NorCo?
Agree!!!!!
DeleteRaise taxes. Norco residents voted to keep Gracedale which is what is losing county dollars. So raise taxes. While you're at it, give career services a raise so we have half the chance of making similar saleries to that of union employees who make substantially more. Get to it council. Do the right thing for once.
Deleteclowns to the left of me, jokers to the right - here I am in the middle stuck with you
ReplyDelete6:23,
ReplyDelete1% pay raise, $1,500 deductible for singles, $3,000 for married plus $250 per kid
They need to work together to... 3) Not raise property taxes.
ReplyDeleteBlah Blah blah..Once again comparison to neighboring counties health benefits is not valid because they pay a percentage of the cost of their benefit plan. Norco employees pay a percent of salary. Getting out of self insurance may be worth investigating, but Brown would need to hire more consultants before making that proposal.
@ 7:42
ReplyDeleteNorco workers pay a % of the cost of their health care also.
Do you ever know what your typing about? Ever?
But where are the clowns"
ReplyDeleteQuick, send in the clowns.
Don't bother, they're here.
"To quote Peg Ferraro, "where is the compromise?"
ReplyDeleteTo quote Peg Ferraro, I don't get a COLA why should Northampton County retired don't get a COLA.
Hey greedy lady because you have a teachers pension that IS THREE TIMNES BIGGER THAN ANY COUNTY EMPLOYEE. WHEN I LEARNED THIS I WAS FUROUS AT THE GREAT PRETENDER.
When being attacked by a gang of clowns, go for the juggler.
ReplyDelete3:06, based on when Peg retired, her pensionigyt actually be lower than most county workers. And she earned it. Jealous and greedy people like you give public sector employees a bad name. You make the same mistake as the haters who are jealous of you. And drop the caps.
ReplyDeleteBaloney. I was there and heard it too.
ReplyDelete1. Mrs. Ferraro made more average salary in the Nazareth School District than the average in Northampton County and gets a larger average pension and 100% better retiree health benefits.
2. Her reason she stated for not giving a COLA to county retirees is petty and childish. Not based on any principle but on her own selfishness.
Shame on her. She is not what she claims sher is to employees.
Bernie is correct. She earned her pension and benefits. So have we, and I would like to keep them. Council should do the right thing for the employees. If not the only recourse is on election day.
ReplyDelete9:03
ReplyDeleteI agree totally.
I always voted straight ticket democrat; but last election I voted for Peg with the thought that we needed someone fair, level headed and dedicated. I think what we got was the same old thing...I'll never make the mistake again.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is, as much as I despise Brown the county's financial problems are directly on the hands of the council members who have approved and passed those problems.
Norco county council should take responsibility for a lot of this mess and do what can be done to make things right. If the problems were with previous admins, council approved the problems. If Brown is going to write a budget that will be detrimental to employees, farm land, increased debt to the county; it is councils job to stop it and make it right. I hope council members do their home work before the final budget meeting. This budget is flawed and it can't be passed. Do your jobs and find a way to fix it.
"Her reason she stated for not giving a COLA to county retirees is petty and childish. Not based on any principle but on her own selfishness."
ReplyDeleteThe first comment concerning this matter was written by a lunatic and was unclear. Yes, Peg voted against a COLA. yes, her reasoning on that vote was petty and childish. But I would not cast her aside based on one vote. If I decided to stop supporting someone based on one vote, I'd soon be supporting no one.
Bullshit to peg I can remember when Stoffa cheered how well the fund did and gave the retirees a cola it was not that long ago ,what the hell is so wrong with a cola the employees must put a mandatory 5% into the plan and if they so choose can add an additional 5% after taxes after all it is there money, as a county worker of 22yrs,I have never seen any info on how this fund does over all, they just send you your yearly statement about your account,Iguess the real info on the fund is not needed to be seen by the employees but in the end Peg will still get her teachers pension along with colas and her taxpayer paid healthcare.
ReplyDeletePeg Earned her pension, she went to college and became a professional and earned a hire living standard than someone who quit high school and went to work for the county or city or state. Now you want more, maybe you should have put the hard work in in the beginning and got a higher degree and a better job. You should never begrudge someone who took the initiative to earn a better living for themselves. You took the lazy way out and now you take shots at easy targets, you should be ashamed of yourself you petulant little whiner.
ReplyDeleteP.s. Republicans have been majority on council for the past 7 years. Another little fact no one seems to care about.
Most employees do have degrees and none are high school drop outs. Moron!
DeleteThis Admisntration and county council hate employees and retirees.
ReplyDeleteWhen3 is the next county retiree meeting?
The majority of county workers have college degrees so what is the point? Both Peg and those employees earned what their pension and benefits. Enough of the personalization.
ReplyDeleteThis about both council and the executive needing to compromise and not screw over the county worker.
anon 3:49,
ReplyDeleteThis is about a county council member who votes on the retirement board stating she will NEVER give a COLA to retirees because she doesn't get one. Is that really fair? If the pension fund is able to provide it that is a petty and self-centered statement. Yes I do personalize it when it is a specific person who is screwing the employee retirees.
So it is every man for himself. If the retirees don't get a COLAS I guess they should demand the employees get no raise, is that your logic?
Former
Cola raises, are u mad. You get what you pay in, where is this magical increase supposed to come from? No wonder public retirements are broke. COLA. Ha ha
ReplyDeleteI'm with Peg. A raise. Omg
You do realize that current employees are paying money into the retirement so retirees continue to get money!
ReplyDeleteThe fact is the employees are the ones keeping up the balance of the fund as well as try to provide for themselves with the 2014 dollar that is not stretching as far as the 2004, 1994, and 1984 dollar. So the employees help pay the inflation and COL inside the fund in an indirect manner. So it is fair to the retirees!
In order for pyramid schemes to work such as SS, pensions, etc to work the base needs to have more workers and contributing more so the fewer at the top can get their money.
Of course it is fair. Peg's comments at 9:42 are just more petty nonsense. The pension fund should determine the COLA's not her petty anger or partisan political beliefs. Something to remember next time one of her own family gets a $20K raise working for the county.
ReplyDeleteOh and by the way Peg, OMG is so P-A-S-S-E.
So vote the B out this election. She had no problem giving her daughter a raise.
ReplyDelete