Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 | The biggest problem with the city’s budget is the ongoing pension debacle. Nothing Mayor Jerry Sanders has proposed solves that problem. It’s like the city is the Titanic with the mayor at the helm, and we are heading full-steam ahead towards the pension iceberg.
The only way to deal with the problem is to declare bankruptcy so the courts can do away with the illegal pension benefits which the unions refuse to give up. Failing that, do as Independent Budget Analyst Andrea Tevlin suggested — have the non-union city executives earning over $110,000 a year take a 10 percent pay cut. This would be enough savings to cover the libraries. In addition, due to the downturn in the economy serially furlough the Development Services Department and the Planning Department.
This would result in enough savings to keep the recreational centers open and the beach fire rings in place.