(3,000 Buffalo, NY) County workers warned of layoffs as hearings begin on

[UpInArms]

County workers warned of layoffs as hearings begin on budget

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20041113/1063295.asp

The administration of County Executive Joel A. Giambra warned 3,000 county employees Friday that they might be laid off; meanwhile, some lawmakers wrangling with the mess over next year's budget said they want to hear more about a sales tax increase.

Insisting the county can't make ends meet without ratcheting up the sales tax, Giambra has submitted a budget that would eliminate a wide array of services and idle 3,000 employees, most holding jobs not mandated by the state or federal government.

The "scorched earth" budget was intended to rouse a public willingness to let the sales tax in the county rise by 1 percentage point, to 9.25 percent, on transactions as of March 1. It would generate $109 million next year and $125 million each year after that.

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"Unfortunately," the letter said, "as a result of the failure of New York State to implement Medicaid reform or approve the "Medicaid penny,' your job would be eliminated effective Dec. 31." The letter discussed workers' options for continuing health insurance and the benefits available to those choosing to retire.

...more...

[Komrade _azul]

1. Thank god I have I have a job...

As the economy begins its eventual descent from deficit spending and war propaganda I am happy to have a job and the ability to eat.

[bemildred]

2. Willie Sutton knew to go where the money is.

Why do they keep trying to finance government on the backs of poor people?
(Well, we know the answer to that one.)

[JPace]

3. I lived in the Buffalo area for 15 years....

wonderful, hard working people there. But the area has never
recovered from all the factory closings years ago. They have
very high taxes and a crumbling economy. Many blame the
leadership as other cities who underwent the same problems
made the adjustments and are fine. Buffalo just gets worse.
I used to hate to read the newspaper everyday because it was
always doom and gloom as to the financial picture, always on
the edge of bankruptcy. This has been going on for many years.

[Yavin4]

4. Hey, NewYork Has A Republican Governor

Buffalo got the governor it wanted.

[oneighty]

5. High sales tax

sends people shopping elsewhere? No that would not happen.

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