Cnty Parks

[joeD]

As a native Missourian, my initial answer is obviously NO.

So, um, what was the question?

[Justin Spencer]

Let me guess, Joe do you work for the county?

[awhuber]

http://stlbeacon.org/voices/blogs/political-blogs/beacon-backroom/114255-nixon-steps-into-county-parks-controversy

Dont worry the State has excess park money to spend...

[3wt]

Tighten the belt kids. It's not "punishing" anybody, it's just life. Pretty well known fact that gov't workers of all types get a great deal on benefits and retirement. Also a pretty well accepted fact that gov't workers aren't exactly setting any records for working fast or efficiently. But hey, you can't get fired unless you do something really appalling, and you get promoted as long as you don't get fired for long enough.

So I'll restate it this way: I'd rather stop punishing the general public, and run the county like any other legitimate (non gov't) entity that exsists. Find the money through savings in the budget that is already big enough to do what we really need to be doing, including parks.

[skeeter]

Part of the solution to this mess would be to vote out Doofus Dooley, the incapable County Executive/Supervisor. His hiring of his political cronies, without interviews nor experience in their fields, cost County taxpayers over $170,000.00 annually in salaries and that excludes the cost of their benefits packages. How many seasonal County Park workers could be hired for that amount of money seeing as how they only earn $9.72/hour ?

STL County voters may recall the last election for County Executive when Dooley was being soundly defeated but remained confident and happy at his election headquarters despite the vote count. The reason was, as well reported on local electronic media, the North County vote was late ( I wonder why ? ) and that's where his support comes from in the form of block voting.

A recent Post Dsispatch article detailed the split in the Democratic party in STL County: http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/democratic-unity-fractures-in-st-louis-county/article_544623c2-0de9-5891-b4c3-2a33f5842389.html#ixzz1czhvhRtw

Apparently, Mr. Stenger would make a far more effective leader of the County if one insists on voting Democrat. Remember, Doofus Dooley also advocated the re-unification of ST. Louis County and St. Louis City and long-time residents know where that would lead. County Parks are a jewel to be treasured and enjoyed, not made a political football to extort more taxes. If you tow your boat with an SUV or a Pick-up, you are already a victim of higher Personal Property taxes due to the Dooley's assessor insisting that these vehicles are worth more than normal.

[Outside Bend]

I'm not categorically opposed to raising taxes, and if it were the only means of keeping the parks open, I'd pay additional sales tax (really I'd like to see a tax on developers- if you're bulldozing trees and naming streets after them, you ought to pay to preserve the county's green space. But that's probably a pipe dream )

It just seems as though this is being touted as the only way the county can possibly save money, and I simply don't buy it. There's been little discussion of furlough days, cuts to other departments, reducing salaries at the top, etc. Maybe those things have been discussed and I wasn't paying attention, but from what I've read and heard it seems like there hasn't been much exploration of alternative measures.

[aftersh0ck]

I know they are not closed now, just at one 4 days ago. Just schedueled to be if they cant figure out

a 20 plus million deficit. My taxes have gone up 500 in the past 4 years while the value of the house has gone

down, thinking the appraiser needs to get his eyes checked or slow down down enough to get a accurate number.

Next year im getting the walk through.

What would the situation be with the animals at the parks if it did happen, volunteers and donations?

As for the deer in the lincoln, seen worse, a friend used natures fridge for 2 days with a hyundai and the hatch did not close all the way. Funny watching him show up to work 2 days straight with the head hanging and the tongue sticking out and him driving around st.louis casual. Only have the mental picture to share.

[Smalliebigs]

I agree with Gavin 100%, they will never cut the inflated benefits or income of County Goverment employees. Which is happening across the board in every sector of the work place, instead they will always threaten some actions that will pull at your heart strings like closing or selling parks or cutting funding to disabled County residents. Lets face it St.Louis county is in a precarious posistion in a very bad economy.Pathetic leadership like Charlie Dooley dosen't help, with his block of leeches voting for him in North County he's good to go. The manufacting jobs that made St.Louis great are all but gone, it seems as though St.Louis County is going down the crapper with the city. Unless St.Louis re-invents itself real fast, urban sprawl will kill it and I can't say I don't blame all the people who have moved. I have remained but, it really gets old watching people like Charlie Dooley running St.Louis County. I use several St.Louis County parks, George Winter and Route 66 quite a bit.....they aren't closing.

When you take a job that is funded by tax revenue you should have to realize that the funds might change from time to time......but, it doesn't seem like we can make those employees accept that......see the state of Wisconsin

[3wt]

When you take a job that is funded by tax revenue you should have to realize that the funds might change from time to time......but, it doesn't seem like we can make those employees accept that......see the state of Wisconsin

THIS!!!

You should also not be allowed to collectively bargain with your government employer. Lets see, you get to vote in the boss, and then (wink wink) you get to go into negotiations with your new boss about better salaries or benefits (at the cost of your fellow citizens). And then your negotiations get taken into consideration and what do ya know, you get what you wanted from your elected buddy. It's a conflict of interest that even LBJ recognized (you know, that champion of conservatism...)

[exiledguide]

THIS!!!

You should also not be allowed to collectively bargain with your government employer. Lets see, you get to vote in the boss, and then (wink wink) you get to go into negotiations with your new boss about better salaries or benefits (at the cost of your fellow citizens). And then your negotiations get taken into consideration and what do ya know, you get what you wanted from your elected buddy. It's a conflict of interest that even LBJ recognized (you know, that champion of conservatism...)

If these jobs and benefits are so great why don't you fellas get them and then we would have much more productive government employees?