El Monte's budget deficit goes up, again
It started as a mere $400,000 budget deficit in El Monte.
Then it ballooned to $4 million. But after a series of cuts, the city was able to bring that number down to $1 million.
Now, that deficit has skyrocketed again, because of a $2 million dip in sales-tax revenues. Reporter Rebecca Kimitch chronicles the financial troubles in a story in today's paper.
According to Kimitch, the city now needs to "shave an additional $3 million in costs" from its already cash-strapped buget. El Monte Police Officers Association President Brian Glick said the city plans on laying off 14 to 17 officers.
Other workers might get caugt up in the storm, too.
I want to know one thing,please tell me how much money is paid out in retirement out of the general fund? MMMMMMM 6 million? Who makes 100% of the salary, 85% seems more like it. Please someone tell me the real numbers.
Stop making the cops rich. That will help the problem alot.
Don't expect the council to do anything though. They know who they work for and it is not us residents.
The El Monte Police took a pay raise not to long ago. Now they have to face the chopping block. They can thank retired Chief of Police Weldon for the lost of their jobs. He threw them under the train tracks and never looked back. What a self centered jerk.
Ex police chief Weldon runs the Campaigns for them and he makes sure that the police union donates $10,000.00 every time and also they need to report it right after elections, so people donot know whats going on..He was named chief even though we had more qualified persons, because he knows how to put campaign signs and run them also...Last time the police got a raise was right after elections in november 2007 and the $10,000.00 donation we are paying one million dollars a year more in salaries, so you can see it is a good investment...Emily, Gomez, Barrios and Gutierrez received the orders to vote for this raise and "REPEAT", they received the orders from Weldon and the union...Now you know why we are in this mess.....No Leaders available...
This news does not surprise me one bit. Now that Ishigaki is running for mayor, Gutierrez is out of the picture. Let's see who gets money from the El Monte Police Pac. It is all up to Chief Weldon and his rank and file. Hopefully Ishigaki gets his blessing.....and $10,000.
El Monte has a bigger issue. Most of its tax monies comes from car dealers. In the last year we seen Ford, Chevy and Dodge close its doors. We also have tons of small dealers that most are laundering fronts and have special "cash" sales El Monte has done little to nothing to attract new business to the area. Most of its residents go out side of the city to shop. We go to Rosemead, Arcadia, Baldwin Park and West Covina. It's unfortunate that the growth of this city is non-existing. I hope one day we are able to keep our shopping dollars in El Monte.
Now going back to law enforcement.. When I first moved to El Monte it had just been named one of the safest cities to live in by the FBI.. So what happen???
"So what happen??"....well obviously overpaying our officers hasn't improved the crime situation according to your assessment of the situation. maybe we'd have more resources to attract new development if they were NOT being sucked in the police department black hole to pay for big salaries and lots of useless toys for the PD to play with. Didn't the city just spend a bundle to renovate their building too? Didn't we just fork over several thousand dollars so they could distribute a propaganda book on the "history of the el monte pd"? You want to talk about waste.....Mr. Teapot please meet Mr. Black Kettle.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE, I really want to give a great big shout-out to the REDLANDS PD for stepping up for their city and helping with their budget. That's not just leadership it's heroic leadership.
http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/news/local/Redlands_Officers_Willing_to_Accept_Furloughs_20090219
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-redlands19-2009feb19,0,1917767.story
What a shame that other officers in other communities were bad mouthing the Redlands guys for caring about their communities. Wonder if the El Monte POA was one of those agencies.
The City Council wants to tax us more. Forget it. Tell them to take a hike.
NO NEW TAXES IN EL MONTE....be warned council. If you put more taxes on the people right now, the people will vote you out of office.
You work for us, not the police union, not the fire union.....YOU WORK FOR US.
This is just plain dumb. More taxes, in a recession.
Council get some psychological help. You'll need it.
We already pay the two school district taxes plus the sewer tax...
You haven't even started getting money from the new sales tax....
Now you're letting a bunch of thugs from the fire union stampede you into putting more taxes on us
GET REAL.
NO MORE TAXES
This is just plain dumb. More taxes, in a recession.
Council get some psychological help. You'll need it.
We already pay the two school district taxes plus the sewer tax...
You haven't even started getting money from the new sales tax....
Now you're letting a bunch of thugs from the fire union stampede you into putting more taxes on us
GET REAL.
NO MORE TAXES
Where were the 4 councilmembers last December 2007 right after elections when they were told by finance Director that it was no money to give the police a payback raise of 24% over 3 years. The order was given by the puppet master at that time "Weldon" to give the raise and no questions asked because him and a few cronies ran the elections for them...We need to attend the meeting tonite and let them know how we feel about a new tax when this raise is costing us One million dollars a year...Councilwoman Wallach was the only one that voted about this raise..
It's time for the El Monte Tea Party to start. Let's get this party started.
Come to the City Council tonight and say.
No to new taxes
No to more ballot schemes
NO NEW TAXES IN EL MONTE. Please City Council...no more taxes...no more ballot schemes...no more letting public safety unions tell you what you should or shouldn't do.