Apart from layoffs, what cutbacks are you hearing of from your local governments?

[Stinky The Clown]

The next county over has let it be known they will suspend all preventive maintenance in an effort to overcome their $300M budget shortfall. Their policy for the foreseeable future is "Break it? Fix it."

The person interviewed on the radio quipped: "If you visit the library and need to sue the restroom, check for toilet paper first."

Again, apart from personnel cuts, what money saving measures are you hearing from your local governments?

[Broken_Hero]

1. In our county

the $$ shortfall is so bad, we got our cops fixing their own cruisers out of pocket. There is a lot of budget shortfall in the county but it appears to me that its a lot of money mismanagement, and for now, the county cops are being used as scapegoats.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. This is what's going on in NC -

http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/8759206/

significant consolidation which will lead to damaging cuts in service and jobs.

[GoCubsGo]

3. Haven't heard much regarding local cutbacks.

However, the tax-hating republicans here in South Carolina are threatening to bring back the tax on groceries.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Government locally not cutting much, people are hurting tho.

Many houses foreclosed, empty. MERS has been very busy, this is a state where no court intervention is needed, so
MERS has had free rein.

One large old company went under and all of us got stuck with a water bill increase to make up for the water bill/income the company used to pay.
I called and told water company I had never heard of citizens having to subsidize a non-existent business, but I think the clerk had no clue what my words meant, she said I was the only complaint.

Republican town, ya know.

[Angry Dragon]

5. How come one never hears about the people

that make the rules and screwed things up
taking a cut in pay??

[Historic NY]

6. My town layed off all part time employees....

bought one police vehicle in the last 2yrs, cut all overtime, hasn't replaced retired or disabled employee's and they may layoff a few more people, taxes going up 14%. This is a town of 30k. The nearby city is laying off a whole lot of cops & 12 fireman etc, tax rate is expected to go up over 50% +..yes thats right.

[dixiegrrrrl]

12. Which tax rate is going to go over 50%??????

I assume you mean it will increase BY 50%?


Our taxes on what we buy locally, including food, is already at 9.5%.

[Historic NY]

13. property taxes ....

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/11/24/news/doc4cec9fbf2745d734096424.txt

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/11/23/news/doc4cebbca56b0b3071924630.txt

http://timesadmin.startlogic.com/wp/2010/10/newburgh-budget-is-insane/

http://timesadmin.startlogic.com/wp/2010/11/deep-cuts-for-newburgh/

[dixiegrrrrl]

15. Oh my....no homestead law in that state, huh?

[Starry Messenger]

7. Pensions are getting a wack here.

They are trying to create a two tier system. I'm having a hard time understanding what it entails.

[OhioBlue]

8. Our County cut pretty much all spending on non-mandated

services. They've also asked all departments/elected officials to cut their budgets over the last 2 years. So far, I don't think most of the public has felt it other than longer wait times for stuff and if they have to call the County - now there is a machine instead of a person that answers... that does make it hard to navigate to the correct office. but, after 2 years of pay freezes, pay cuts, furloughs, increases in insurance co-pays, putting off upgrades in computers, equipment, etc... I expect that most of the public will be feeling it as much as those that relied on some of the non-mandated services. I also worry about our Board of Elections - I think that equipment is probably getting to the point of needing replaced and there is no local money, no State money and no HAVA money to replace it as far as I know.

I think stimulus money kept us from crashing too much over the last 2 years. But now our state is looking at an $8billion deficit - which also means a cut in local government funds. look for libraries to close, people to fall off of medicaid, closing & overcrowded jails/prisons, State parks & local parks to have higher fees and some to just close, roads that aren't plowed, etc.

[JDPriestly]

9. I don't know about the county, but the city has cut back on the library

hours.

[Donnachaidh]

10. Education -- that f*ckwit Deal they made Governor in Georgia is already

chomping at the bit to strip schools bare. And this would be the second raid - the teachers are still reeling from last year.

[Hannah Bell]

11. 14 city positions. in a very small town. on top of cuts last year.

[Pathwalker]

14. Small towns are shutting down police and fire stations in Michigan.

Snow removal on roads only if it snows 6 inches or more in the cities. NO road repairs.