On Mon, 26 Nov 2001 16:21:01 -0500 j harmon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >By the same token, higher taxes don't necessarily result in improved >services. >JHarmon >Cleveland
True. What I believe is not factored in is that the population of our great State, in particular the urban areas, is constantly increasing. Some of this influx are folks like myself who eight years ago moved here and was gainfully employed (as was my wife) right away and began paying taxes to support the societal structure of the Metropolitan area. Some of the influx are vulnerable folk who come here from other countries, states, even other Minnesota Counties and require an immediate tap into the social service network. Nevertheless, population is increasing steadily. However, the municipalities, drunk on the wine of tax cuts and shrinking government, fail to recognize that with increased population, increased funding is needed to provide simply the SAME LEVEL of services afforded those already here. Instead of budgets relative to the increased costs associated with the same services provided to more people, they (administrators and elected officials) force departments and agencies to limit budgets to barely cover a cost of living increase to pay their current employees. Current employees are then faced with increasing caseloads and being able to provide services to more folks albeit in a slightly degraded manner. Not due to lack of talent or dedication to public service, but due to inability to manage a numerically unmanagable caseload. Truth be told, even as a County employee and Union member, we have told the employer that if you need to cut services - which we know will lead to layoffs - to properly fund the REQUIRED services, then we are willing to work with you to make these adjustments in the workforce. Just please stop heaping responsibilities on those that are current employees and ask that they "do more with less" and FOR less as well as try to keep up with those rascals in Saint Paul when they enact legislation that adds another layer of beaurocracy to our jobs thus causing us to not be able to keep up with not being able to keep up! *WHEW* Bob Velez Shingle Creek Ward 4 ________________________________________________________ The Best News Source On The Web - http://www.disinfo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
