Tredyffrin Board of Supervisors Meeting 12/1/08
A Pen thanks…
Mr. Paul Olsen for stating that BoS’s have “an obligation to keep financial sanity in our township. It’s our responsibility.”
Mr. Bob Lamina for continuing to champion lower taxes.
Regarding 12/1/08 BoS Meeting
In the comments that have been made in the last two Tredyffrin Twp. BoS meetings regarding the TT Budget, I have not heard anyone degrade the quality of the TT employees, nor disrespect them. So, when Mr. Bill DeHaven said that the budget cuts are “disrespectful” of employees or that the budget “beats the crap out of them,” he is being dishonest, dramatic, and diverting the topic. (Same goes for Mr. Mark DiFeliciantonio’s comment last week that the budget cuts were “draconian.”) In the real world, an employee’s salary has little to do with respect, and much to do the value of the job. An employer could be respectful or not, and still pay a fair wage. And employers have an obligation to keep their spending within budget, or eventually face bankruptcy. What solutions did Mr. DeHaven promote? None, except to try to make responsible BoS’s feel guilty about doing the right thing – reigning in spending.
Trimming waste from a budget cut is a business move, nothing else. We’ve heard repeatedly that there is a structural problem with the TT budget. It consistently spends more than it receives. Responsible? Not at all. Every gardener knows that proper pruning increases the health of a plant. Same with proper budgeting. Same with sports teams, household budgets, clothing in closets, etc.
In tonight’s meeting and the last meeting (11/17/08), it was implied by some that TT public employees are rare and precious, and cannot be replaced. I suspect it would be fairly easy to find people to fill TT openings.
In the last meeting’s public discussion with the BoS, it was revealed that there is no salary range and no salary cap. So, with longevity bonuses plus yearly 3.5% cost-of-living increases, an employee who sticks around long enough could make much more than the market rate. I appreciate that the BoS’s work with these employees, and have come to adore them, but let’s not forget that the BoS’s are in the position of supervising. They are in charge, and, like it or not, they must make the proper decisions regardless their feelings.
Holding the salaries of these employees at the current rate for 2009 is a sound business decision. We are in a recession – negative inflation. When employees are given cost-of-living increases, it’s because inflation is present. Looking on the bright side, when an employee’s salary stays the same during a recession, he or she is fortunate! Many people are losing jobs and pay. Also, since TT employees never worry about their government going out of business, they’ve got true job security. Good fortune, again! Consider this: if a cost-of-living increase is always in order with inflation, why isn’t a cost-of-living decrease in order with deflation?
Hey BoS’s and government officials. Stop picking on taxpayers! We work very hard, are likeable, and are feeling unappreciated. We won’t be able to guilt you at the office with our long faces, but some of us are feeling oppressed by all the layers of taxes upon us: Township, School Board, County, State, Federal, purchases and savings, real estate, etc.
- A Pen
