TAMPA - Budget cuts next year will eliminate 138 Hillsborough County government positions, with Parks and Recreation and libraries taking some of the biggest hits, according to figures in County Administrator Pat Bean proposed budget released this morning. The jobs are being cut to comply with forced property tax rollbacks mandated this year by the state Legislature.
About 58 fulltime positions will be eliminated in Parks and Recreation, including maintenance workers, umpires, and arts and crafts workers. Library Services will lose between 43 and 44 positions. The county will also cancel constructions plans for seven new libraries.
Other big hits: The Central Brandon Fire Station will lose 21 positions and Public Works will lose 19 jobs, including wetlands mitigation and infrastructure assessments.
I feel bad for the employees laid off but I am happy to see the government finally cutting back some of its excess. This is good news. This is the price paid for the rampant spending over the last 5 to 10 years. Unfortunately I’m sure that most of the positions will be rank and file when in actuality it’s the higher level administrators that need to be cut.
the mayor could save someones job by giving up that raise she got just resently,, city does nothing but whine and collect our money only to tell us their broke,, bet ole billy bob could come in and do a better job of managing things
I feel bad for the employees laid off but I am happy to see the government finally cutting back some of its excess. This is good news. This is the price paid for the rampant spending over the last 5 to 10 years. Unfortunately I’m sure that most of the positions will be rank and file when in actuality it’s the higher level administrators that need to be cut.
I hope to see much more of this type of news.
Yes it usually is the people who actually do some work that they get rid of and keep the suits who don’t do anything.
I feel bad for the employees laid off but I am happy to see the government finally cutting back some of its excess. This is good news. This is the price paid for the rampant spending over the last 5 to 10 years. Unfortunately I’m sure that most of the positions will be rank and file when in actuality it’s the higher level administrators that need to be cut.
I hope to see much more of this type of news.
The only good thing about the current course the country is on, it that the basket cases that make comments like this are only a few catastrophies away from being the star show!
I feel bad for the employees laid off but I am happy to see the government finally cutting back some of its excess. This is good news. This is the price paid for the rampant spending over the last 5 to 10 years. Unfortunately I’m sure that most of the positions will be rank and file when in actuality it’s the higher level administrators that need to be cut.
I hope to see much more of this type of news.
The only good thing about the current course the country is on, it that the basket cases that make comments like this are only a few catastrophies away from being the star show!
Nice nonsensical comment. Looks like the Hillsborough county school system failed you. Guess we should throw more money at it.
The bottom line is that the largest employer in every city/county should not be the government. People need to start taking some personal accountability instead of constantly leaning on the state and federal government. I wonder if you have even read the county and city budgets. You would share my “basket case” mentality if you took an objective view of some of the garbage in the annual spend.
Another point to ponder - Supposidly this tax cut totals approximately $15 Billion on this go round. With about 15 million Floridians - this works out to approximately $1,000 per person.
My tax cut works out to about $70 - which means $930 of mine is going somewhere else. Who is the somewhere else - the Rich and the Corporations.
It’s a shame anybody has to lose a job to satisy whe whims of Republicans who love the Rich.
I don’t own any property in Florida, so I am with the MAJORITY of people that live here because most people don’t own property. It’s sad but I believe that Hockeyray is probably right. The wealthier portion of the people who live here are the ones who will truly benefit from this tax cut. I am definitely in favor of a smaller government, but it has to be done fairly (yeah right). I’m going to try to keep a sharp eye on who or which departments receive the pink slips. I’m definitely no expert on taxation, but it seems like a cut that would have helped EVERYBODY that lives here would have been more beneficial (sales tax % maybe?). Oh well, I actually kinda liked Crist until he showed where his true loyalties lie. By the way, I’m definitely not a “liberal”, more like a moderate. My home state has become such a mess.
Another point to ponder - Supposidly this tax cut totals approximately $15 Billion on this go round. With about 15 million Floridians - this works out to approximately $1,000 per person.
My tax cut works out to about $70 - which means $930 of mine is going somewhere else. Who is the somewhere else - the Rich and the Corporations.
It’s a shame anybody has to lose a job to satisy whe whims of Republicans who love the Rich.
As I’ve asked before, how many folks do you know that work for poor people? I just heard that Florida is third in the country in start-up business, where someone who aspires for greater things sets out on their own course for prosperity.
Hockeyray, money is not a zero sum figure. If Joe Dokes is making a hundred thousand a year, it does not mean that he is taking your share of the wealth. You have every right to step out there and claim your own portion, and it can be done without stepping on anyone’s toes, or robbing them of their share of the American dream.
I started a business in a spare bedroom with nothing but an idea that I could do what I do better than I was seeing it done elsewhere. Apparently I was right. You are certainly entitled to think the same thoughts and have the same ambitions. Believe me when I say this. If you become wildly successful honestly and ethically, you have taken not one red cent away from what your neighbor, or the person at the convenience store puts in their pocket.
Another point to ponder - Supposidly this tax cut totals approximately $15 Billion on this go round. With about 15 million Floridians - this works out to approximately $1,000 per person.
My tax cut works out to about $70 - which means $930 of mine is going somewhere else. Who is the somewhere else - the Rich and the Corporations.
It’s a shame anybody has to lose a job to satisy whe whims of Republicans who love the Rich.
As I’ve asked before, how many folks do you know that work for poor people? I just heard that Florida is third in the country in start-up business, where someone who aspires for greater things sets out on their own course for prosperity.
Hockeyray, money is not a zero sum figure. If Joe Dokes is making a hundred thousand a year, it does not mean that he is taking your share of the wealth. You have every right to step out there and claim your own portion, and it can be done without stepping on anyone’s toes, or robbing them of their share of the American dream.
I started a business in a spare bedroom with nothing but an idea that I could do what I do better than I was seeing it done elsewhere. Apparently I was right. You are certainly entitled to think the same thoughts and have the same ambitions. Believe me when I say this. If you become wildly successful honestly and ethically, you have taken not one red cent away from what your neighbor, or the person at the convenience store puts in their pocket.
Starting a successful business from a spare bedroom honestly and ethically is certainlly a commendable accomplishment. Unfortunately - in today’s Corupt Corporate world - this is the exception rather than the rule.
I am merely stating the fact that I do not need the $70 this tax cut will provide me and Joe Dokes making six figures doesn’t need one either. I do not think honest, hard working folks working for the county & city need to lose their jobs, have their benefits and pay cut - so Joe Dokes making six figures can have a tax cut.
The city could start by laying off the guy who drives around town to tell people they put their garbage out a day early. I don’t need this service. There was a reason I put it out early.
Another point to ponder - Supposidly this tax cut totals approximately $15 Billion on this go round. With about 15 million Floridians - this works out to approximately $1,000 per person.
My tax cut works out to about $70 - which means $930 of mine is going somewhere else. Who is the somewhere else - the Rich and the Corporations.
It’s a shame anybody has to lose a job to satisy whe whims of Republicans who love the Rich.
As I’ve asked before, how many folks do you know that work for poor people? I just heard that Florida is third in the country in start-up business, where someone who aspires for greater things sets out on their own course for prosperity.
Hockeyray, money is not a zero sum figure. If Joe Dokes is making a hundred thousand a year, it does not mean that he is taking your share of the wealth. You have every right to step out there and claim your own portion, and it can be done without stepping on anyone’s toes, or robbing them of their share of the American dream.
I started a business in a spare bedroom with nothing but an idea that I could do what I do better than I was seeing it done elsewhere. Apparently I was right. You are certainly entitled to think the same thoughts and have the same ambitions. Believe me when I say this. If you become wildly successful honestly and ethically, you have taken not one red cent away from what your neighbor, or the person at the convenience store puts in their pocket.
Starting a successful business from a spare bedroom honestly and ethically is certainlly a commendable accomplishment. Unfortunately - in today’s Corupt Corporate world - this is the exception rather than the rule.
I am merely stating the fact that I do not need the $70 this tax cut will provide me and Joe Dokes making six figures doesn’t need one either. I do not think honest, hard working folks working for the county & city need to lose their jobs, have their benefits and pay cut - so Joe Dokes making six figures can have a tax cut.
Ray-
You make it sound like 6 figure income makes you rich....please. My wife and I combined make 120K a year, which is a good income and I am blessed, however you are dead wrong about this tax cut. I have a house that is worth about 500K and it’s nice, but I am not wealthy by any means.....but you want me to pay 10K a year to just live here? That is 1/12 of my income. Let’s add my property insurance, 3K and what I pay for federal Tax (19K) and Social Security (7k)...I am 40K in the hole and I still don’t own a thing. I don’t mind paying taxes, but not 1/3 of what I make.....not fair at all.
What services do we need to pay for? Garbage and Sanitation.....I pay for it on my water bill. The road....I pay the Tolls.....School and I have one child and he is not yet in the school system, but I don’t mind paying part of educating the children...it should be a society thing. DMV, I pay the taxes on my vehicle reg.....I pay for all the service I get...so my taxes are getting me nothing. How about people being responsible for their own services? Everyone want a hand out and if things don’t change....what will be incentive to educate myself, work hard...if I have to give it back to everyone that is doing NOTHING to better themselves.
You need to be clear on RICH buddy....cause I am paying more then my share. If I pay anymore RAY.....I may as well quit and let you pay for me to sit at home and produce more children then I can afford...right. Republicans suck.......but democrats will ruin America.....Work hard to pay taxes, don’t work and sit back and collect a check. That is what this counrty has become...land of the hand outs.....or I mean free. We need a new Government and Constitution.....our forefather did not envision idiot lawyers and ACLU...criminals have more rights then they should.....period. I honestly believe if the original fathers of this country could see what we have become they would be quite ashamed.
WHY ARE WE CUTTING THE LITTLE PEOPLE OUT HERE. WE HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY SETTING WITH ALL THESE BIG-WIGS THAT ARE BUYING 5 TO 20 MILLION DOLLAR HOMES . WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE PAY SCALE AND THE CONTRACTS WE PUT THESE PEOPLE UNDER. WE ARE PAYING CEAZY AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO DO NOTHING AND CUTTING PEOPLE OUT WHO ARE WORKING THEIR HARDEST TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE ...THANKS FOR listening ...
where do i begin, i also am in the 6 figure range but made a decision not to be house poor, i am pretty sure that you can still live where you want, and i gurantee that there is fianceing out there for you....i bought my house 10 years ago when i made 40k and have choosen to save for retirment, pay off my student loans and pay for college for my kids instead of keeping up with the jones....granite counter tops , hardwood floors and 62” plasma are great but they dont mean anything when we loose our community....according to the tax plan i will save around $300 but the are going to cut services at my local library , parks and community center.....and i cant help wondering where the short fall for school funding will be made up.....can we afford to have our kids recieve less education....
ask yourselves are you the person with a 2700 sqft house for a family of 3 , what does it cost to heat and cool? how about the large s.u.v. , gas at $3.00 gallon....... it is hard to demand finanical responibilty from our leaders when we buy like a 5 year old with a dollar.....spend wisely
