Another snow job observation....

So I went down to the North End Coffee Bar,at Main& Auburn, during one of last week's measurable precipitation events and saw the owner in the MUNICIPAL PARKING LOT, shoveling a path from some parking stalls to his shop entrance.

Got me thinking how, word is from the Chuckster's reports, LarryBoy takes his morning caffiene fix at the hipster "Octane" on the newly christened 'Main Streetscape'....

So I take my cup of joe and motor to the bustling center of town....

it was so strangely ABSURD!!!!!!!

There, patrolling those 2-$3million blocks, was a "City of Rockford" smaller truck, with what appeared to be a BRAND-SPANKING NEW SALT SPREADER AND PLOW!

And it wasn't dropping good old rock salt,no no no...it spread that blue top-dollar sidewalk salt,the GOOD STUFF....the J.R.Kortman and Octane customers were treated to a pristine 2 blocks,front door parking(BUT NEITHER WERE OPEN)

And to add to the Fellini-esque landscape, Main St.,both north and south of this vacant clearing-in-the-snowfall, were snow-covered wastelands...now THAT'S SOME EXCREMENT EVERYWHERE!!!

Couple things been on my mind....
THIS has been an ongoing saga....
MY opinion,the city workers on main streets do a good job, but the neighborhood plowing has really sucked since Rockford Blacktop stopped bidding and Rabine"... which has held the contract for the past couple of years..." took over.
So it's a shame "...Palka submitted the lowest bid in October but didn’t get the contract. She testified in court that she first was told she won, then heard a flurry of reasons why she didn’t: She failed to fill out the application properly, or she didn’t provide enough information, or her firm just couldn’t handle the job.
Palka has worked major contracts for the state but has never held a municipal snow removal contract. She says she can do the work and plans to put in a second bid....."

This city is so full of that shady bid process, always seems the city finds these "technicalities", remember the paver sidewalk deal?
for THIS...
"...A three-vehicle convoy led by Mayor Larry Morrissey honked horns and waved Friday morning as it drove down Main Street.
What used to be the downtown pedestrian mall, a two-block stretch from Elm to Mulberry streets, was open to drivers for the first time since 1975.....Portions of the road will be periodically closed as work is still to be completed as more lighting, landscaping and benches will be added by spring. In fact, the section from State to Elm was closed Friday after the mayor’s convoy passed...."


WHY BOTHER?
SHOWMANSHIP for LarryBoy and Dancin'Doug....
and check out the video...thought we had a NOISE ORDINANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh,and at the end of the vid,you know how youtube shows other clips below? Most are cities celebrating their new PEDESTRIAN PLAZA/MALL's in THEIR revitalized downtown....
Excellence Anywhere?????

Remember this post of mine,aug past????....

"...That's right CUSTOM manhole covers!!!!Now we'll hear about ' it's a separate fund',or 'they were ordered BEFORE we knew times would be tight' blah,blah,yada,yada....but BULLCRAP!!This administration has a penchant for spending top dollar on useless,"imaging" and "branding" and "trademarking" and really has no concern for "... us being able to sustain the best services at the best price.” "
So I'm watching those sub-contracted doofus plowdrivers for Rabine, and there appears that trademark of "Municipal EXCELLENCE",CITY OF ROCKFORD,with the sqigglyblue/brown stripes, on these big,white,magnetic signs, stuck on the pickup trucks....and what really made me laugh was knowing how LarryBoy is so...I don't know,"fastidious" about appearances,and this trademark Rockford logo is crooked on the rusted heap, something Uncle Remus maybe traded to Jethro Bodine for a pot of Granny's possum stew and a jug a 'lightning'...
and here that rolling-tetanus-delivery-system cruises back and forth,back and forth, around the crown jewel of Rockford hip urban living,Garrison Lofts....
now THAT'S some 'EXCELLENCE'....pass them vittles Ellie Mae....

Now, we all are THRILLED by this,huh.....
"ROCKFORD — Rockford MetroCentre officials on Friday accepted terms of a $2 million loan and a $500,000 line of credit from PNC Bank, the culmination of months of work to dig the downtown venue out of a financial hole.MetroCentre Authority board members approved the terms during a special board meeting at the arena. Earlier this week, Rockford City Council agreed to cosign the loan because the MetroCentre could not secure ample credit alone....."

I'm SSOOOOOO happy THEY agreed to let the city assume more debt on their behalf....
"...Treasurer Brian Peterson said the credit line gives the MetroCentre some breathing room and will allow officials to concentrate on scheduling the best shows and concerts instead of struggling to meet day-to-day financial obligations...."

Now I can't help but wonder...if the new IceHog-graphic Chevy HHR sitting in front of Dancin'Doug Mark's home is part of that "struggle"....

So LarryBoy got back....
"...In a news conference today at City Hall, Morrissey said government and business must play a significant role forging relationships with their overseas counterparts if places like Rockford are to get out from under the current economic stress and achieve sustainable growth.
Morrissey has been an advocate of developing relationships with business and government leaders around the globe with recent trips to China and Sweden, all while making connections with officials in Chicago and throughout the state.
“These subnational governments, these regions, are becoming more and more relevant players in our world economy,” Morrissey said...."
and there's some so quick to rally for him...
"...

Chuck Sweeny

Yeah, let's require mayors never to go north of Loves Park or south of Davis Junction, west of 'Bago and east of Belvidere. Let's see how that brings in the international business.

finny

Chuck Sweeny, I totally agree with you. The mind-set of some or should I say most of the people posting here is disgusting. If they could not complain, they would not have anything to say. Thanks for your comment, Chuck....."
Fine,bootlickers, but REALLY... he's been globetrotting since he got elected,we've got more "sister cities" than they can keep up with and what is there to show for it?
Millions in tax$$ giveaways to that Chinese company to destroy wetlands out by the airport and none of the promised jobs.
Larryboy talks all this 'government like a business' crap...where's the return on investment???WHEN'S the return on investment???



WHEN'S the return on investment???

So I'm just still just floored by the hypocrisy evident in the Rockford Register Rag....
see, when LarryBoy and Chief Chet LIE TO THE CITIZENS...we get excuses....
"...Winnebago County, with Rockford feeding it, has the highest crime rate in Illinois — again. There was a one-year break in the top spot in 2007 when Winnebago County saw a 12.8 percent drop and the city of Rockford saw its rate drop 14.4 percent, according to Illinois Uniform Crime Reporting statistics....
It was just last month that headlines touted serious crime was down 17.6 percent in Rockford, according to data released by the city. When less serious crimes were included, crime was down 8.1 percent from 2008...."

they go on with THIS kinda crap..."In 2006, when the department started using the system, Epperson said it would help him use more hard data and analysis and less anecdote and gut instinct to combat crime.

That’s the way police work should be done.

For the layman, however, the data may not be as useful, especially when it is not put in context.

If you’re confused, that’s OK. Again, the most important question is: Do you feel safe in your own neighborhood? In the parts of town you visit?"


Just SAY IT....LARRYBOY AND HIS CHIEF LIED!!!

Just a little update to the Larry/Chet/Lie....
http://www.rrstar.com/news/publicsafety/x687824447/Property-offenses-drive-rise-in-crime-rate
"...The recent release of the Illinois State Police Uniform Crime Report shows Winnebago led the state’s 102 counties in 2008 with 5,860 acts of crime per 100,000 population..... Almost single-handedly driving the county’s crime rate is the city of Rockford, which experienced a 10 percent spike in crime.
“What Rockford does, so goes the county,” said Karen Lytwyn, a former community researcher...."
Ah,but there's EXCUSES...
"Quarterly crime statistics have been presented at City Council meetings showing how crime has decreased this year over last year. However, it was not widely known by the public that crime in 2008 was up considerably over 2007 until the release of the uniform crime report.
“We knew what the numbers were,” Epperson said. “We track them on a daily basis. You can’t wait a year later to make adjustments.”
So he's been LYING TO US????
Say it ain't SOOOO LarryBoy!

So it doesn't seem THAT long ago,LarryBoy and ChiefChet were again crowing about their continual DECREASE in crime...
they were even pulling cops from the schools...
and then still down...

WHY does the media IGNORE the reality??
the GANG PROBLEM in Rockford is nearing critical stage, yet NO ONE...LarryBoy,ChiefChet, the RRStar dare tell the TRUTH....what DO we get?

"A data-driven approach to governing is helping the city improve everything from neighborhood lighting and pothole patching to graffiti abatement and parking enforcement, Assistant City Administrator Julia Scott-Valdez told members of a budget advisory panel today...."

Impressed??WOWED? then, with all due respect,
YOU'RE A BUNCH OF PINHEADS!!

So, I been battling the "bug" going round and haven't been posting in a timely manner, but there's actually a lot going on under the radar....

..."The Rockford Area Economic Development Council gave the development partnership endeavor $75,000 in May, and Rockford Local Development Corp. has pledged $10,000...."

That "deal" I mentioned in my last post seemed MORE LOADED but couldn't remember why...well...

"...Business was booming a year ago at Rockford Local Development Corp., the nonprofit agency that aims to boost the economic welfare of the Rockford area... expects RLDC to write off about $4.4 million in bad loans for fiscal 2009..."

Oh yeah...you know too, (looking back for the documentation) but THAT'S(RLDC) was the "holding" group for that $10 million the city set aside to buy those flooded homes that NOW they're trying to get federal money to tear down....
And of course, the RAEDC, another group of LarryBots, THEY get all kinds of OUR TAX DOLLARS....(They paid for LarryBoy's China trip, so he has the AUDACITY to claim "no taxpayer money was used)...

...legalese lying....

Well, FOR NOW, LarryBoy has stopped (publicly)hating on his employees...
His attention turns to his first love...that TAX DOLLAR BLACK HOLE he likes to call..........DEVELOPMENT!!!

"ROCKFORD — A new nonprofit group that aims to revive Rockford’s riverfront and older neighborhoods — and build an investment fund to fuel the rejuvenation — is asking two government agencies to chip in $150,000.

The Rockford Housing Authority board heard a pitch Thursday from members of the Rock River Development Partnership, headed by SupplyCore CEO Peter Provenzano. RHA board members liked the idea of a $75,000 contribution to the group’s effort, but withheld a formal vote pending a written agreement outlining responsibilities and expectations from both parties.

The Greater Rockford Airport Authority Board is considering its own $75,000 contribution to the endeavor, and a decision could come as early as next week...."

Now keep in mind... HE appoints the Boards....

AIRPORT AUTHORITY, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MEMBERS:

Bharat Puri, City Representative

Gwyn Gulley, City Representative

Pete Provenzano, City Representative(know how HE will vote)

HOUSING AUTHORITY

MEMBERS (City representatives):

Virginia Starks

Ricardo Cervantes

Chandler Anderson(Garrison Loft project manager,etc.)

Phyllis Ginestra

David A. Sidney

So SupplyCore(Provenzano's) keep on keeping on............

From My Stateline...
"

The fate of downtown Rockford's pedestrian mall has finally been decided. Main Street is being reopened to two-way traffic. But the construction is causing many downtown business owners to question their own fate.

Right now, it's nearly impossible to access the businesses along the stretch of construction.

"It sounds like it's been delayed and the street will not be poured until next year," says Chris Wachowiak, the owner of Kryptonite Bar. "That just scares the heck out of me."...

"You can reach it from say State Street this week, but not from Mulberry or Elm streets, and then it changes every few days," he describes. "It gets a little confusing and difficult to plan and advertise."...
Downtown Alderman, Doug Mark, acknowledges the challenge. But he believes the short-term pain will be worth the long term gain. He vows to do all he can to keep the project moving. "We need to stay on it, put pressure on it, make sure it gets done as soon as possible," he says.

But those who've invested in downtown, think more could be done to help them manage the loss of revenue.

"I spent $8,000 on fencing," Wachowiak says. "It's going to cost me a couple grand to replace it. There's no assessment for that. No assessment for the loss of revenue from not having a patio."...

So there it goes...more DOWNTOWN WHINING by LarryBots...and it SURE SOUNDS like they got their hands out,huh?
Now, I must believe this fellow has no sense of REALITY...we are in the midst of a RECESSION, pinhead, EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS is down...and recent history should have prepared the lot of them...how many other major road reconstructions have spawn similar stories...N.Main business district has never really recovered from tearing that up,(John St. to Auburn) and VERY RECENTLY there was the Kishwaukee access stories....deal with it, buddy. And Dancin'Doug is lying thru his teeth(unless, HE's really THAT IGNORANT!!!)
See, there was PLENTY OF EVIDENCE this project would take MUCH MORE TIME AND MONEY than the citizens were led to believe....remember the "underground vaults"???...they were NEVER SURE HOW MANY there actually ARE....they said 'couldn't be sure' of what they might find....matter of fact, HERE'S MO'MONEY(LarryFriend)....
http://www.ci.rockford.il.us/uploadedFiles/government/CityCouncil/Agendas/Archives/2009/cc9.21.09.pdf
"23. Alderman Beck read a Finance and Personnel Committee Report recommending the
Engineering Agreement Amendment: Downtown Streetscape be made to Homer L.
Chastain & Associates for an additional $52,042.00 for a total not to exceed cost of
$401,533.00 for additional design engineering and construction inspection. The funding source for this project is Sales Tax funds."



(Course, SOMEHOW, this will be BLAMED ON THE UNIONS and their wage freezes...)

Well...seems like LarryBoy kinda stepped in his own doodo...
he apparently pens this blistering attack on Ald. Carl Wasco , our economy, our state legislature, and past union contracts, snow storms and budget shortfalls , WHEW...
BUT,seems this diatribe was planned BEFORE good "Old TightSuit" Hayes came thru....
"ROCKFORD — The union representing nearly 300 union firefighters agreed to a two-year wage freeze Friday, ending a tense bargaining impasse with city officials..."


Matter of fact, though I didn't see the RRStar rag itself, a commenter online states, ".... I wasn't even sure I was reading the same article, as the one in the paper starts out with the mayor expressing gratitude to the firefighters union for the tentative agreement reached Friday. Nowhere in there is Carl Wasco's name mentioned. Did the mayor write two versions of this, or was this how the RRS chose to edit, and if so, why? Are online readers being baited by the construction of articles emphasizing personal attacks?...".

Well, in LarryBoy's Empire, facts and HIS statements remain fluid,ever-adapting to his whim...
I still can't get over his continual "... We will have spent approximately $12 million of our reserves due to snow storms and budget shortfalls over the last two years...."
SO WHY DOES NO ONE QUESTION THIS $12million 'shortfall'? I'll tell you why...the LarryBoy pet projects...hockey team,MetroCentre,non-producing TIF districts, increased bureaucracy,etc.etc., are the REASONS plain and simple....And no one will tell the lil emporer he has no clothes!!!!!

Well, the WAR IS ON!!!!
"...“It’s an ultimatum everyone has been handed,” Morrissey said. “It’s an economic ultimatum, so the word might absolutely be appropriate.”....Ald. Carl Wasco, D-4, said he is concerned because the city intends to keep the share of property taxes that had been for garbage to spend on other expenses....Wasco said aldermen have sought alternatives or a compromise on the fee increase and layoffs, but nothing has come of those requests. ... “The answer we have gotten (from the mayor) is that, ‘If I have to, I’ll lay them off.’ We don’t have a choice, and if we don’t give him the $3, he will lay them off,” Wasco said. “It sounds to me like it’s his way or the highway.”..."
Gee, makes me wonder if Wasco's been paying attention to the last 5 years of LarryRule...
LarryBoy's put his mark (and thousands upon thousands of TAX DOLLARS) on every pet project he's unveiled, from that ridiculous city logo, n Center, Adam Smith, Cyndie Hall, Code Enforcement "cops" with the top of line wifi notebook computers,, Blackberrys for every two-bit supervisor, buying a hockey team, overspending on upgrades to the still un-finished MetroCentre,tearing out the Mall in the middle of a recession, MILLIONS of dollars thrown at "developers" for more unfinished downtown hip,urban downtown lofts,............sheesh where DID all the money go??
Those greedy unions...

So THIS was the biggest load of manure YET.....
"...Morrissey is reaching out to the community, recruiting bankers, accountants, developers, clergy and other private-sector leaders to advisory committees to help solve looming city budget problems. "...
the LarryLoveFest goes on and on, culminating with,perhaps the most ironically arrogant LarryBot..." Ryan Brauns, a sometime adviser to the mayor and a member of his budget advisory panel. “Will Larry ever be the most personable guy? Probably not,” said Brauns, whose family firm, Rockford Consulting & Brokerage, is paid by the city to restructure its employee health insurance benefits...."
An excellent look at the "advisory" committee was done by Stuart Wahlin at "The Rock River Times" not only does he show the many political and financial ties to many of these "experts" to LarryBoy and his campaign/policies, he also warns of this type of claptrap...."media" invovled in this committee..."media" as in The Register Star, Campaign Propaganda for the New Millennium !!!!
(And once again I wonder what useful purpose this bunch of LarryBots serve when Patrick Hayes has been all over proclaiming the 7% Solution????)
Ecelence...at 7% cut,baby....

A random realization I had overnite is when LarryBoy was at Council before he went to Rescue Rockford with Chinese investment, he made a big deal out of ' in my absence,Jim Ryan assumes all duties/responsibilities pursuant to my office...blah,blah,blah' but all week, especially on WNTA, Patrick(TightSuit)Hayes has been pitchman for the new NEGOTIATION TACTIC of the administration....EVERYBODY TAKES ROLLBACKS.... WalMart City Management!!!!!!

So there's some kinda crap...
"Community Development Department: Laying off five employees, ...that reaction time to weed enforcement would likely be diminished.(so it's becoming WINTER and weeds stop growing anyhowright? They don't bother to enforce codes at GarrisonMorrisseyLofts...weeds,debris,parking on gravel...plenty of FINE REVENUE untapped THERE.....)

Rockford Fire Department: Chief Derek Bergsten reports that overtime costs will outweigh the savings from laying off eight firefighters.... “Services to the citizens of Rockford will not be affected immediately as a result of the layoffs (because) the minimum staffing requirement is mandated,” Bergsten writes.(BRILLIANT Lar,brilliant...)

Human resources: Compensation and Benefits Manager Kim Ryan reports that one employee will be laid off Friday..... but will mean the work must be redistributed to other workers who already have a full plate, “particularly as we approach our busiest time of the year.”(not sure what THAT means...but hiring freeze been in place,most the other work has been contracted out) (LarryBoy's bud Brauns MAKES MONEY on employee insurance premiums!EXCELLENT!)
Legal department: Left vacant is a position that an attorney resigned in May in anticipation of cutbacks. The savings are estimated at $76,823. The department is down to seven attorneys from nine at the start of 2008.....(but keep in mind,this department's budget has nearly doubled since Legal Director Patrick Hayes came in...AND they too have done extensive outsourcing...)

Mayor’s office: City Administrator Jim Ryan reports that the mayor’s office is leaving three positions vacant....(Ah,but there's plenty other CREATED LarryBoy positions...oh,and I suppose those fabulous "savings"..." $265,749, including a receptionist, director of education and director of tourism."...include the $30-40k RAISE LarryBoy slipped to Adam Smith(remember HIM?)...and the director of tourism,Cyndie Hall,taking a retirement package, STILL GETS A CHECK FROM THE CITY under a different scam....word is Einar Forsman,previous City Administrator ALSO STILL receives "consultant "fees"....)


With these extreme sacrifices at these levels, just can't imagine how the city will function....
Ahhhh, LarryBoy's Empire!!!!!!

ROCKFORD — Mayor Larry Morrissey’s administration will lay off 30 employees this week in a sweeping reduction of labor across city departments,... The cuts are an attempt to reduce long-term, “structural” labor costs the city can no longer afford, officials said.

Gee,"STRUCTURAL",huh?....
like for instance....you keep hearing about those "unreasonable, union contract raises"...
what you DON'T hear is the non-union employees typically recieve TWO raises a year...first of the year they receive the 3.5%-4% increase( the same NEGOTIATED by the unions) BUT then in June/July they receive a "merit" raise....(they couldn't pull it off this year with the attention drawn to "fiscal responsibilities"....HOWEVER, do we hear that from 2007-2008 Patrick ("if everyone takes a 7%cut) Hayes saw his salary go from $119,600.00 to $131,476.80....
or Chester (we'll be fine with fewer cops) Epperson went from$117,416.00 to $$128,169.60....
and by the way...you also realize, don't you, that all these City Hall-types ALSO have pension plans the city pays into.... (and it's a PERCENTAGE of salary...higher the salary,higher the DOLLAR AMOUNT the City kicks in....)

Really intended to comment on THIS CRAP....
yesterday, so today works,huh?
"ROCKFORD — A path took shape today for a budget advisory group that’s awash in unfamiliar statistics but armed with considerable private-sector financial experience. Mayor Larry Morrissey’s City Budget and Finance Advisory Group met for a second time and brought some focus to its ambitious mission to find recommendations that would disentangle the city from projected budget deficits. Made up of more than a dozen financial experts and business leaders, the group was asked to come up with a report by the end of November.

At stake are not only city finances, but also perhaps what level of services, from police and fire to library and public works, is provided by Rockford...."

(Excellent services?maybe not so much ...)
And check THIS "...Meanwhile, the group noted a growing divide between the income of Rockford residents and city employees. The median family income of Rockford residents was $47,491 in 2007, the lowest in a group of eight comparable Illinois cities.

Committee members compared that statistic with what Rockford employees make. Salary and benefits for the average Rockford firefighter combined total $115,193 a year; for the average police officer, it’s $104,486 and for the average nonpublic safety city employee, $74,935, according to information provided by city officials. ..." nice littles apples to oranges, there "TightSuit"Hayes....
OOO,OOO, this is GREAT....
"...Cutting health costs
Advisory group members said wellness, risk management and safety programs could be a way to reduce long-term health insurance costs.
Ryan Brauns of Rockford Consulting & Brokerage said companies have encouraged employee participation in wellness programs that encourage healthy lifestyles, improved nutrition and exercise through incentives and even surcharges for not participating.
“What we would like to deploy is a reward-based system,” Brauns said....."(See the 'companies' well that's HIS and his daddy's and THEY MAKE A PERCENTAGE OFF EVERY INSURANCE PREMIUM....

(Coming next...COMMENTS on the story....)

Recent letters to the editor...
nothing to add....



The idea of reducing the number of firefighters and police officers should not even be under consideration.

Aldermen need to take a long, hard look at their responsibilities to the citizens of our city. In this time of continuing revenue declines, aldermen have a difficult and thankless job.

Nevertheless, it is the job they campaigned for, and now they make the difficult decisions.

This would be a good time for them to participate in a training session on the responsibilities of city elected officials and ask the citizens what their service priorities are.

Maybe they might learn how to prioritize city services and make those difficult decisions.

I hope we could agree that the top priority, at any time, is public safety. The community can understand and learn to live with slower snow removal, but delays in 911? Outrageous!

— Julie Elliott, Rockford
The city wants to lay off police officers and firefighters and cut back on plowing this winter while raising taxes. These are public safety services we’re told are Priority No. 1.

During the mayor’s first election campaign, he pledged to increase city services while not raising taxes. The city should give these groups the chance to reduce their budgets as was given the library folks before layoffs are done.

Rockford has the highest unemployment in the state and one of the highest crime rates. Unemployed people with reduced income equals increased crime.

Chief Epperson says the layoffs will not jeopardize public safety. If that’s the case, why weren’t more police laid off earlier to save money? So be it.

If Rockford can find money to build a riverwalk, which in large part is not even close enough to the river to see it, we should be able to figure this out.

The mayor and his staff will most likely never have a better chance to really shine as now during these tough times. Show us what you got.

— G. Lee Cecil, Rockford

Lotta EXCELLENCE going on, huh?....
Check it...
LarryBoy SLASHES basic city services cuz the city's broke BUT..."The Rockford City Council’s finance & Personnel Committee recommended an amendment to an engineering agreement previously awarded to Homer L. Chastain & Associates in 2008. Per the amendment, Chastain is to be paid an additional $52,042 for its work related to the downtown streetscape project,...
" AND "...Aldermen authorized the issuance of $2.7 million in general obligation bonds for “financing various economic development and government projects.”..."

Couple things to think about....
Remember LarryBoy's couple of "FORCED ANNEXATIONS"? THAT increased the city's property tax base,right?
And there's been recent news about citizens protesting their taxes and it's explained how assessments are from last year when real estate values were peaking,remember?
SOOOOO, does not logic dictated that the city's PROPERTY TAX take should be UP? We don't hear about that, do we....
Another thing...
Keep hearing how public safety wages and benefits are eating up 60-75-80% of the city budget, right?
So what's up with THIS?

City of Rockford, Illinois
2006 Budget -- Where The Money Goes
$225.9 Million -- All Funds
Other $14.6 Million 7%
Capital Projects $51.2 Million 23%
Human Services $21.0 Million 9%
Community Development $13.2 Million 6%
Public Safety $74.1 Million 33%
Public Works $37.5 Million 17%
Debt Service $14.3 Million 6%
(2005-$202.4 Million)
And THIS...

City of Rockford, Illinois
2009 Budget -- Where The Money Goes
$240.7 Million -- All Funds
Other $15.1 Million 6.3%
Capital Projects $51.7 Million 21.5%
Debt Service $14.1 Million 5.9%
Human Services $22.9 Million 9.5%
Community Development $12.9 Million 5.3%
Public Safety $81.2 Million 33.7%
Public Works $42.9 Million 17.8%

So look(there's these dandy pie charts at those links....LarryBoy LOVES pie charts and bar graphs), if Public Safety and Public Works on these reports total 50-51%...where do they make up their other inflated numbers???
Is the graphic lying (or are those lawyers in City Hall lying??)

YOU decide....

I want to watch the replay tonite of Mon.'s council meeting before I comment, but I caught some of Ald. Venita(LarryBot)Hervey on WNTA and see made claims I found hard to believe so I did some checking...
She played Defense for the LarryBoy Spend-all-you-Can Budget Process...' no one could forsee the current financial mess....
Now, I'm no accountant, but looking at the city financial information...from the 2007 budget
"...the last few years have been more challenging because of lower than anticipated elastic revenues as a result of the slowing economy....This five-year budget forecast indicates annual deficits for the entire period...."
Not much difficulty understanding THAT....
And THIS stuff 2007 CAFR..." The decrease is primarily the result of slowing growth in elastic revenues. Elastic revenues are those revenues that tend to change with economic conditions such as, sales tax, use tax, state income tax, and personal property replacement tax. As a result of a slow down in the state and local economy, revenue from sales taxes finished $1,485,778 below the budgetary estimate...."
Bullcrap 'couldn't forsee it'....DIDN'T WANT TO STOP THE DEBT TRAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

Layoffs and takeoffs.....seems LarryBoy took the next step in his union-busting program by having "Hachetman" Hayes penned layoff letters to at least 20 union employees.... (This pinhead concept that government can be run like a business is such a scam...inconsistent applications of "principles"...isn't there something about "return on investment" in business jargon? Most targeted layoffs recently hired fire and police (trained on the city dime)...great protection of AN INVESTMENT, eh?...
Meanwhile...LarryBoy leaves town... "traveling with delegations to China..."(Does he think he can outsource jobs to save the city from those pesky unions?)

Also notable... "About 1,000 people walked from City Hall to the Winnebago County Criminal Justice Center to show their support for Rockford police officers Stan North and Oda Poole and give thanks to all law enforcement officers...." Seems nowhere is there any mention of those self-proclaimed "community activist" LarryBots - THE WEAVERS....every news coverage ALWAYS seems to seek out their comments....hhhmmmm....don't suppose these NO.1 fans of ChiefChet's policies (their own Batman), beneficiaries of personalized police protection for their neighborhood, don't suppose they were ABSENT.....say it ain't so John....

"...Mayor Larry Morrissey warned that layoffs were possible as the city confronts a financial crisis. It wasn’t a bluff:.."
And so the "story" goes...wait, this is NOT a "news" story...it's plain and simple propaganda...this whole "layoff" bit was quite obviously a negotiating TOOL....
LarryBoy continues "...the unions could offer to accept a pay cut to save jobs."
Gee, didn't see THAT coming, now, did we?
The city coffers are SO BROKE, "...the council approved committee reports seeking authority to issue an additional $2.7 million in general obligation bonds for “financing various economic development and government projects.”..."

Excellent! No cops, No firefighters, No public works...BUT plenty of "various economic development"....

Here's an excellent, in-depth analysis of LarryBoy's joke of a committee...
"...William Charles Development’s John Holmstrom III was named chairman of the ad hoc committee....Holmstrom contributed $700 to Morrissey’s campaign, as did William Charles, Ltd....

Appointee Ted Ross, retired vice president of finance at Sundstrand, contributed $31,995 to Morrissey’s campaign.

Fellow appointee LoRayne Logan, president of The Workplace and a Rockford Board of Fire and Police commissioner, contributed $9,962.45 to Morrissey.

The Workplace contributed $9,320 to the mayor’s campaign...Phyllis Ginestra, ... will serve on the board, too. Ginestra contributed $2,234 to the Morrissey campaign.

Rockford Consulting & Brokerage’s Ryan Brauns, also secretary of the Rockford Board of Election Commissioners, will take part as the city’s health insurance consultant. Brauns contributed $165 to Morrissey’s campaign....

Perhaps most disturbing, however, is that the president and publisher of the Rockford Register Star, Scott Bowers, accepted an appointment to the committee.

Although neither Bowers nor the local daily has political campaign contributions on the books, the potential for conflict in this arrangement is egregious....." Now keep in mind,these LarryBots

"...kicked off their work Friday morning...(Sept.11)
Members of the ad hoc committee, hand-selected by Mayor Larry Morrissey, plan to study and analyze the city’s budget and submit a report to the mayor with recommendations by late November...."
So, since this is such a pointless panel WHY NOT?
"ROCKFORD — City officials took the first step today toward laying off possibly 30 city employees.
The mayor’s office issued a release this evening to the media stating the city has given union leaders formal notice that “impending layoffs could come as soon as Oct. 2.”..."
So WHAT IN THE BLOODCLOT will the LarryBotPonyShow come up with in LATE NOVEMBER?
LarryWorld, Idiocy Everywhere!!!!

Wonderful perspective... a hand-picked group of developer/speculators, protecting THEIR slice of taxpayer dollars(especially TIF handouts), celebrate the end of the Labor Day week with an assault on the city employees providing the BASIC CITY SERVICES....priceless!
And so begins LarryBoy's stooge panel ...."Members of the ad hoc committee, hand-selected by Mayor Larry Morrissey, plan to study and analyze the city’s budget.. what city officials described as “uncontrollable expenses” — personnel and pension costs tied mainly to the public safety arena..."See, you got MoneyBags Sammuls feeding this hand-picked group the information LARRYBOY WANTS THEM TO SEE...and they point out the problems as LarryBoy SEES them...
I mean really, I feel like a broken record but I'm simply astounded that BASIC CITY SERVICES are the stuff people pay taxes FOR...the TIF bond debt, the hockey team, mall tear-out, luxury lofts and myriad other "special economic development schemes" that LarryBoy
has embraced since first taking office, THAT'S the drain on the city coffers they DON'T want people looking into....
" “We have built an organization that is unsustainable,” said City Administrator Jim Ryan. “It was built on the premise that tomorrow will always be better than today. ... History has proved that it hasn’t been.”..." EXACTLY!!!!!!!

So LarryBoy seems to be trying to stay low...but watching the Council on TV he sure seemed, oh, I don't know, preoccupied ?
See, I don't know if LarryBoy KNEW Rev. Jesse Jackson was going to speak....and can't see his reaction when the camera is on the speaker, but it sure appeared Jackson was decidedly focused on
Larry as he spoke....and by the time he gave his Officers'Report, LarryBoy showed none of his typical smooth phony concern....noticed he's upped the police presence last few weeks....I think he's SCARED!

(kinda ironic how he hates public workers until he NEEDS them)

After LarryBoy first was elected, it was one and a half, two years into his term before some started to question his "leadership" ("Coppergate",Jim Ryan's DUI, TWO "hundred-year" floods, remember?)
Through it all,the RRStar stood by their Man(sing it, Tammy) and, as the last election rolled around, the typical short-memory voter, forgot the spoiledbrat/narcissistic/developers'greed-feeding management the city had suffered for 4 years and apathetically re-elected LarryBoy.

And then, almost magically, we learn how, first the MetroCentre, then the city are facing impending financial disaster. But what we DON'T LEARN is how the spoiledbrat/narcissistic/developers'greed-feeding management the city had suffered for 4 years has CONTRIBUTED to this situation....borrowing million$ for TIF debt, adding lawyers and layers of upper-management,high-salary positions of questionable distinct duties AND necessity....while ignoring BASIC GOVERNMENT SERVICES...

Now, THIS attitude of refusing to adequately address the importance of FIRST funding these same BASIC GOVERNMENT SERVICES has really, in my opinion, greatly contributed to this current mess we're in....keep in mind, LarryBoy APPOINTS the Library Board that CHOSE to sink $4million into that east-side branch with disregard for STAFFING....likewise, the forced-annexations and Capital Improvement Programs increase engineers,supervisors,etc. but ignore the needed MANPOWER and EQUIPMENT to adequately maintain the growing city boundaries and new roads (w/Custom ManholeCovers!!)
The increased city area also stretches the city's PUBLIC SAFETY resources, with LarryBoy's attacks on both police and fire ignoring the reality that his "economicdevelopmentutopiahallucination" revolves around handing over millions in tax dollars to attract jobs,business and people to an increasingly LESS SAFE UNDESIRABLE PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK!!!!!!!!!!

And THAT'S the state today of LarryBoy's Empire.......

Doc Slafkosky stands on temporary pads installed along Main Street for the On the Waterfront celebration Sept. 4-6, 2009. The pads outside JR Kortmans, Kryptonite and Octane should allow some outdoor festivities that would have been severely hampered by the removal of the downtown mall without it. Originally the city had hoped to have the project substantially complete by Waterfront.

---

And so continues the special interest, ridiculous extravagant spending targeted for a few LarryBots during the city's "dire financial crisis"....(I have only seen those Custom Logo manhole covers on Main and Church Streets from downtown to the LarryLandLofts at Garrison)...

WHO PAYS? library staff, public safety, public works and TAXPAYERS!!

LarryLove....

"Morrissey said Rockford is a city in pain and needs its mayor to lead it toward healing. He also said he must remain unbiased and visible."
Gee,GREAT LarryBoy....way to step up....see, but as my last post noted, his remarks at City Council were NOT unbiased, his concern(you can put the lawyer into an elected office,but you can't take the ambulance-chasing, phony out of the lawyer)for the victim OVERWHELMED his snub of the cops...
For example, he says he discouraged and then turned down a group’s request for a march down State Street in support of police. (Another group of about 200 people marched down State Street last week asking for justice in the Barmore case.)

Enough for now....

Well, LarryBoy really showed his disdain for city employees last night.
Whatta tool....he starts his remarks with all this care and concern for the shooting victim, his family, the Rev. JJ, the community....
but POLICE OFFICERS? Nah, didn't hear it...just some crap about the cops being tense, jittery, or some such bull.
He's been warned continuously by one public speaker,former cop and County Board member BRUCE ROBERTS that, despite all the cute charts,graphs, and assorted other statistical cosmic debris the city spews, CRIME IS UP AND THE STREETS ARE DANGEROUS...


and then this...
"...During public comments, Gwen Lashock, who had been a candidate for 3rd Ward alderman, encouraged the City Council to place a referendum on the ballot to raise revenue for the library and prevent cutbacks.

“Because of the economic crisis many of our citizens face, we need library services now more than ever before,” Lashock said. “I call upon the mayor and City Council to find the money to maintain services now and allow taxpayers to vote on a referendum to secure future funding.”

Mayor Larry Morrissey said state legislators enacted laws that are leading to significant increases in public safety pension costs that are crippling city resources. He said the state needs to take action to correct that situation and that he would not support a referendum at a time of high unemployment..."

So wait LarryBoy............?,!@?
Despite all the evidence given that library workers ARE indeed city employees, he refuses to allow a referendum because..." significant increases in public safety pension costs..."
Wait?now they are PUBLIC SAFETY personnel????

as I said, WHATTA TOOL!!!

Tough week for LarryBoy , huh?
"ROCKFORD — It was a night of civil discord at the City Council meeting today, with residents protesting proposed cuts in the library budget and others supporting fire Lt. Brian K. Watkins...."
AND there were signs about the Church School foreclosure, the RVC football team show...
Followed by...

Fatal shooting at day care

And the newspaper really helps muddy the water...
FIRST...
they tell what bad gut the victim was..."From 2005 to 2009, he had been charged with a number of crimes ranging from aggravated assault and battery of a peace officer, residential burglary, retail theft and obstructing justice. Many of the charges were dismissed, some because of plea dealings. He pleaded guilty to punching a Rockford police officer in the face while being arrested in May 2005. He was sentenced to two years probation.

Barmore also pleaded guilty to robbing a man’s home in August 2005 and was sentenced to four years in prison. He pleaded guilty to stealing clothes and miscellaneous items from Wal-Mart in 2007, receiving probation again. His 2009 case for obstructing justice, property damage and disorderly conduct was pending. ..."
THEN...
they paint they officers as trigger-happy loose cannons..."The two officers involved in the shooting death of a 23-year-old man this week inside a downtown church-based day care center have used deadly force before...."
THEN...
Chief Inept-erson is allowed to speak at the press conference..." “The information, in closing, that I have given you are primarily facts,”..."(THIS is why LarryBoy occasionally muzzles him...)
THEN...
" Today, the chief clarified his comments and called the events leading up to the shooting “the initial reports.” "
See,it's an interesting development....
"... The Rev. Kenneth Edward Copeland of New Zion Baptist Church said the meeting was sought by the Rockford Ministers Fellowship..."
Now,I'm quite certain this fellowship had a mayoral candidate forum before the election,and I remember finding it so ironic that the day BEFORE the forum,they endorsed LarryBoy...
Oh,and...

MAYOR'S MINORITY ADVISORY COUNCIL

MEMBERS:

Rev. K.E. Copeland
(seems to me he was in ads for LarryBoy's campaign,too)

So quite a swirling mess in LarryLand....
With all the rain these last couple days,he probably would almost be RELIEVED to have ANOTHER 100-Year Flood
to change the focus...

" “As mayor, I have one primary obligation: To deliver the best possible services at the best possible price, and the library shares that same challenge,” Morrissey said. “In a tough financial time, if we have to make cuts, the responsibility is to make cuts that will result in us being able to sustain the best services at the best price.” "

Can you believe his AUDACITY??
This guy is so arrogant when he's claiming to care about the YOUTH and, as THIS story relates, "All but one librarian assistant would be gone.... the assistants do the lion’s share of programming...." Yup, YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAMMING...
Storytimes
Early literacy has been identified as a critical factor in your child’s ability to read and write later in life. It’s never too early to start! Join RPL for a variety of storytimes for infants to toddlers and enjoy stories, finger play, crafts, treats and more.

Summer Reading Club

One Book, One Rockford
A community that reads together, stays together. Every year, Rockford Public Library selects a title for our One Book, One Rockford community-wide reading program. The selected title is read by book groups, neighborhood associations and families all over Rockford.

Computer Classes

RPL offers free classes on Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point and Basic Internet for the computer novice in both English and Spanish. Check out our computer class schedule by picking up a program guide or searching our online calendar for dates and times. Registration is not required for computer classes, but space is limited.

What's LarryBoy's RATIONALE?
"...much like the city is having to look for ways to save money in the delivery of public safety and public works services...."

SOOOoooo....
IF finances are so dire,how in the bloodclot can ANYONE justify THIS....

That's right CUSTOM manhole covers!!!!

Now we'll hear about ' it's a separate fund',or 'they were ordered BEFORE we knew times would be tight' blah,blah,yada,yada....
but BULLCRAP!!
This administration has a penchant for spending top dollar on useless,"imaging" and "branding" and "trademarking" and really has no concern for "... us being able to sustain the best services at the best price.” "

Remember this post....

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

....Mon. nite,LarryBoy announces a grant to hire more cops and tells about ANOTHER mayor that DIDN'T get a grant and so he tells him it's because ROCKFORD'S CRIME RATE IS SO HIGH!!!!!!

Well in a single DRAMATIC act, Chief Chet took it upon himself to end a CRIME WAVE!!!!

"

ROCKFORD (WREX) -- You see them on the street all the time, door-to-door vendors selling everything from candy bars to vinyl siding. Most people just say no thanks, but Rockford Police Chief Chet Epperson took it one step farther - and ended up in a physical confrontation...

the chief called the non-emergency line of the 911 center, then followed the man outside.

"I pressed the issue about what he was doing in the neighborhood," Epperson said. "At that point the person attempted to leave."

That's when things turned physical. Epperson wouldn't go into details, except to say he physically restrained the vendor until backups arrived...."

Thank God the streets are safe again....

You really ARE Batman!!!!

Interesting Council meeting last night....LarryBoy's Police & Fire Commissioner LoRayne Logan's re-nomination SHOULD have been read in....and it WASN'T.....
(HHHHHHMMMMMM)

But it revealed his"City Budget and Finance Advisory Group "

"...advice on how to cut expenses, increase revenue, maximize the city’s collective bargaining and help make inroads toward pension reform.....(Oh,good,THERE she is....
LoRayne Logan, The Workplace, president...also HERE...

Workplace	P.O. Box 4323 Rockford, IL 61110	$500.00 3/6/2008	Individual Contribution Citizens for Morrissey
Workplace	P.O. Box 4323 Rockford, IL 61110	$1,500.00 6/16/2008	Individual Contribution Citizens for Morrissey

Phyllis Ginestra, Draftfcb, director of finance

Ginestra, Phyllis

2187 Carrington Chase Rockford, IL 61114

$500.00 6/12/2009

Individual Contribution Citizens for Morrissey

Ted Ross, Sundstrand, retired vice president of finance

Ross, Ted Occupation: Owner Employer: Ted Ross & Associates	4815 Birch Ave. Rockford, IL 61114	$80.00 2/23/2009	Individual Contribution Citizens for Morrissey
Ross, Ted Occupation: Owner Employer: Ted Ross & Associates	4815 Birch Ave. Rockford, IL 61114	$500.00 2/27/2009	Individual Contribution Citizens for Morrissey
Ross, Ted Occupation: Owner Employer: Ted Ross & Associates	4815 Birch Ave. Rockford, IL 61114	$415.00 2/28/2009	Individual Contribution Citizens for Morrissey
Ross, Ted Occupation: Owner Employer: Ted Ross & Associates	4815 Birch Ave. Rockford, IL 61114	$7,000.00 4/6/2009	Individual Contribution Citizens for Morrissey

(HOLY BALLS!!)

Then we got this bunch...

Scott Bowers, Rockford Register Star, president and publisher

Janyce Fadden, Rockford Area Economic Development Council, CEO

They seem to have conflicts of interests in my opinion(shouldn't the paper stay OBJECTIVE? and RAEDC,seems they receive alot of city money...can't cut that,huh?)
And THIS guy.... Ryan Brauns, Rockford Consulting & Brokerage, senior consultant and city’s health insurance consultant

He's making money off EMPLOYEE Insurance Premiums!
(hard to tell where his take is hidden in the budget..CONTRACTUAL?OTHER EXPENSE?
Bet HE'LL suggest an increase in employees' contributions,)
Teamed with Jim Ryan, city administrator; Andres Sammul, city finance director; Patrick Hayes, city legal director

Reminds me a little of the S.S. Minnow..........
GILLIGAN!!!!





hhhhmmm

So I see that LarryBoy's "Break the Unions" campaign is officially ON....

"

As of 12:34 p.m., Thursday, the battle is engaged.

It’s framed very simply: Cut expenses (including but not limited to people, pensions, payroll, benefits) to match revenue; re-allocate existing resources to critical issues like education and infrastructure; and, hope tax revenue declines slow down so there’s no need for a tax increase.

Just after the chicken and mashed potatoes at the annual “mayor’s business speech” before the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Larry Morrissey laid out a no-holds-barred action plan for investing in the city’s priorities and critical needs — and for paying for it out of the current and future pockets of city employees, with an emphasis on union contracts.

Our community can no longer afford us, the mayor told about 500 of the region’s corporate, business and governmental decision makers. The “us” is clearly the police and fire unions, whose contracts are open and whose position continues to be: nope, we’re not budging very much..."

So then Linda LarryBot engages readers in comments, wherein she claims, NO,it's not about the unions....

Then, LarryBoy kicks in HIGH GEAR....

using the city website to continue the attack on city employees....a colorful charts and graphs statistical romp through time....useless predictions and meaningless comparisons....

YUP, I'm sold....get rid of the cops and firefighters....statistically speaking,there probably won't be any more crime,fires,or emergency medical needs in Rockford now that the downtown mall is gone and the MetroCentre is funded.....

Kind of an interesting week in LarryBoy's Empire....
FIRST...he paints the gloom and doom....
"Mayor Larry Morrissey hammered home his call for concessions in pay and operating costs from public safety unions Thursday as he painted a grim picture of Rockford’s finances during his “Mayor’s Business Luncheon.” "
But EVERYWHERE you turn,the "Savior of the City",(we've heard for the past decade) is the revitalization of downtown Rockford...
And who's the driving this effort??? None other than big-time LarryBoy contributors/influences the Provenzano's
yup,"...Joseph James Partners, a business entity established by brothers Peter and Matthew Provenzano to redevelop the building that houses the family’s logistics and procurement firm, failed to pay the note when it came due June 30, according to a lawsuit filed in Winnebago County Circuit Court last week....."(now I have it on VERY GOOD authority, ACTUAL establishing partners are JOSEPH(Morrissey)and JAMES(Provenzano) the patriarchs of these movin'/shakin'/land developin'/asset leveragin'/downtowncheerleadin' families)....
and see,they also own other downtown properties and they (ALONG WITH TAXPAYERS FOOTING TIF "DEVELOPMENT"FINANCING) are left with the proverbial "upside-down" mortgages typical in the real estate bubble-bursting aftermath.
Ya think THIS is tied up over the Provanzano loan-default????
"Mayor Larry Morrissey is working to put together a committee of aldermen and business leaders to study city finances, but he wasn’t ready to announce the committee members during tonight’s Rockford City Council meeting...The budget advisory group he is attempting to organize would offer advice to the city during the economic crisis...."
Do we NEED advice from THESE types of business leaders???

But see this buncha pinheads just cannot get it through their narrow minds that GOVERNMENT is NOT a business....taxes are paid under the assumption that government provides basic services to benefit the GREATER GOOD....all the well-intentioned fluff LarryBoy has introduced and continues to fund(riverwalk,hockey team,mall tearout,downtown loft-living, TIF after TIF after TIF) may be all well and good under other financial conditions,but THIS CRAP should be the first to go, not demanding public safety cuts as violent crime escalates,fires increase,etc.

Dijya catch the doublespeak this week....Mon. nite,LarryBoy announces a grant to hire more cops and tells about ANOTHER mayor that DIDN'T get a grant and so he tells him it's because ROCKFORD'S CRIME RATE IS SO HIGH!!!!!!
And then last evening,good old ChetHead is interviewed at the "National Night Out" gathering lying to the camera how his crime-fighting strategies are WORKING!!!!!!!!!!
And TODAY????

http://www.rrstar.com/news/publicsafety/x1558726848/Red-Chevy-Tahoe-sought-in-drive-by-shooting-investigation

and,a different story,
http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1331797480/Rockford-police-on-scene-of-shooting
and know WHAT???
THAT'S WEED&FEED AREA!!!!!!!!!!!

keep up the great job, Chief LarryChet....

Gee,I think it's time for ChiefChet to give another of his statistically meaningless presentations reassuring the citizens crime is down....
I happened HERE ...check it out...
Man attempts to rob Credit Union 1 in
RockfordMan arrested for multiple counts of sexual assault
Police identify suspect arrested in Rockford homicide
Unrelated Rockford shootings leave one dead, one wounded
Men on bikes rob man of wallet at gunpointNorth Alpine Mobil station robbed at gunpoint

Great job...then there was THIS...
"People who live and work near Broadway and Ninth Street are angry. They just found out for the first time that three women were raped in their neighborhood, over the past few weeks...."
see THAT'S the kinda thing we have reverse 911 available for...

of course,if you don't ACKNOWLEDGE crime,there's no problem,right?

So LarryBoy's anti-union mouthpiece is cranking up....
"...We know union contracts make it difficult for government officials to figure out where to cut. In the private sector, wage freezes, wage cuts, benefit changes, pension plans, etc., are quickly adjusted to match the revenue coming in. If the company’s not making money, you aren’t either.
Union contracts usually call for raises larger than what the private sector gets, no matter how bad the rest of us have it. If the company (the taxpaying public) isn’t making money, union members still are...."
REALITY CHECK....WHY is there no outrage over the increases given NON-UNION city employees....keep in mind,THEY also get the COLA(CostOfLivingAdjustment) unions' bargain for(3.5-4% the last few years) BUT they ALSO receive annual merit raises on top of this...(remember Adam Smith?...5-38% has been awarded recently)...AND, generally speaking, the salaries are GREATER to START WITH!!!!!
(I love to review "Tightsuit"Hayes' LEGAL DEPARTMENT budget...

LEGAL DEPARTMENT BUDGET SUMMARY
2006 2007 2007 2008 INCREASE
APPROPRIATION ACTUAL BUDGET ACTUAL BUDGET (DECREASE)
PERSONNEL $1,428,795 $1,699,405 $1,692,552 $1,813,925 $114,520

OVERTIME 0 9,000 9,000
MERIT PAY 25,543 27,448 1,905
SALARY ADJUSTMENT 33,816 30,450 (3,366)

Now THAT'S some TAX DOLLARS$$$$$$$$$$
seems to save money,MORE CITY EMPLOYEES SHOULD JOIN THE UNIONS....won't be seeing THOSE kinda raises.......

http://www.rrstar.com/homepage/x1543599838/Sagging-economy-is-libraries-boon-bane

So the economy has increased demand for the libraries,but with the twisted priorities in LarryBoy's Empire, our "education"mayor looks to cripple their budget...."... a $700,000 reduction in library funding."...
And in the past life of..."LarryBoy in his own words, for what it's worth -"
I frequently criticized the explosion in the number of TIF districts under LarryBoy, but Mr.RaoulDuke(I suspect THIS GUY) just scores a direct,on the spot observation/challenge in the comments following the story...
"Perhaps it's time the Library District, as a taxing body, grows a pair and starts challenging Larry's TIF districts from here on out. If they didn't play so nice with the administration, they could probably afford to pay their own pensions without depending on the city for it. Select businesses are being subsidized, while taxpayers aren't getting what they've paid for. District 205 needs every cent it can get, so it, too, should be saying no to TIF districts at a time when it's clear no one is going to invest in Rockford but Rockford.

Ask your mayor how many (TIF) tax dollars have been 'borrowed' from libraries, schools and other services that our taxes pay for, and what the return on that investment has been. Go on, ask."
Bravo,Mr.Duke,Bravo!!!

So we got all this gloom and doom about the BUDGET CRISIS

Arbitration ahead for police, fire

Last update Jul 22, 2009 @ 05:21 PM

ROCKFORD — Negotiations for new labor agreements with city police and firefighters are headed for arbitration.

MORE STORIES
Police union plans to file for arbitration (07/21/09)
Police talks delayed; fire may face arbitration (02/26/09)
Rockford's budget cut ideas scrutinized (01/24/09)
Police, fire, public works could face cuts (01/08/09)
$7.5M in cuts proposed as deficit worsens (01/10/09)
Back to square one on police, fire deals (01/01/09)

so I got thinking,then I started looking at the 2007 CAFR(most recent available)

And this on page 140 caught my eye...

Expenses 2006 2007


culture and recreation 7,613,866 20,566,355

in ONE YEAR,spending on this vague line item increased $13mill.

and

Program Revenues? $200,290 in 2006 increased to $201,187 after that $13mill. expense increase........

Some return on investment,huh? Great Job,Larry.........

That City Council is a TRIP!

New LarryBotLawyerVenita, I distinctly remember when that mall removal contract was being discussed, arguing we MUST take Stenstrom's HIGHER bid,because the lower bidder did not follow bid spec requirements,they are legal protection for the citizens....last night, she takes an absolutely OPPOSITE stance on the city-wide sidewalk bids....
'maybe our bid specs are too strict...HYPOCRITE

Found it very interesting that the RRstarLarryBotPressKit found two occasions to criticize/caution LarryBoy on his "AllMoneyDowntown,DamnPublicSafety/WorksAndRecession"flight plan for the city....
Here's the Chuckster, in defense of the library," ...Budget cuts may indeed be required in all city operations. That’s why I’m concerned over how we set municipal priorities. How does the city place a value on its libraries? Are they worth more than the MetroCentre? The Coronado? The vacant armory? The vacant Barber-Colman building? The vacant Ingersoll building? We taxpayers are paying for all of them.

Who decides what’s important? Morrissey has an ad hoc committee chaired by businessman Mike Dunn evaluating how entertainment tax dollars are spent. But where’s an ad hoc committee to examine the city’s overall priorities?..."


And the next day's editorial ...

"...The way Rockford aldermen see it, they boldly declared the MetroCentre a top priority by assuring an extra $5 million in funding for the next three years.
The way we see it, they may have acted rashly and illogically.
Their vote appears to have taken the downtown arena out of all further discussions. They locked themselves into a deal before waiting to hear what an advisory committee says — a committee they (and Mayor Larry Morrissey) created. That committee will now work with one hand tied behind its back...."

That committee was SUPPOSED to consider the Coronado,"On The Waterfront",the tourism/convention bureau...
...it's a little funny,you know, I remember when these things seemed SSSSOOOOO IMPORTANT,
....at one time,Waterfront was almost a symbol of Rockford "patriotism",if you didn't go,didn't agree it was the greatest festival in the Midwest,well you just didn't LOVE ROCKFORD!!!!!!!

And another thing,this concerning library funding really bugs me,is there anywhere BESIDES CityHall one can actually VERIFY
"...The library tax brings in about $6.7 million...."
with LarryBoy's penchant for diverting funds(keep in mind,at the end of last year,$10million from the General Fund was "borrowed" by the development fund )
could the city, in it's creative accounting tradition, be shifting some taxes intended for ONE purpose to ANOTHER??

City, state co-star in MetroCentre payday

Yup, the MetroCentre is now SWIMMING in tax dollars...(swimming,get it?... you did hear about the new entrance roof/gutter system,during one of the heavy spring rains,dumped hundreds of gallons of water into the luxury suites area)...
"After months of rancor, debate and an arduous accounting of the MetroCentre’s past and present budget woes, aldermen approved nearly $5 million more taxpayer dollars to the cash-strapped arena during the next three years.....(I think one problem is the PRESENT BUDGETS were NOT inspected very closely....now I realize $20mill doesn't go as far as it USED to,but, it's apparent to ANYBODY with a BRAINCELL that the renovation IS NOT COMPLETE and they are BROKE...) and throw in "... $4.2 million for physical upgrades to the MetroCentre. The state money, to be doled out over the next five years, will pay for infrastructure improvements..."and Epperson/Pirello/Luther/Provanzano laugh all the way to the bank....
Best part???..."MetroCentre Interim General Manager Brian Luther.But Luther stopped short of promising he wouldn't have to come back to ask the city for more money. That's a key objective for many council members."I don't want us to get into a position where we're making promises I mean we have a lot of work ahead of us," says Luther. "We still have to cut 300-thousand dollars of operating expense right off the top."
So they MIGHT NEED MORE MONEY BECAUSE they have to cut COSTS???????
BRILLIANT!BRILLIANT!! EXCELLENCE!EXCELLENCE!!!!
Interesting even the RRSTAR editorial board ,typically supportive of any Larry"Downtown is more important than ANYTHING"Boy urged ..."think it’s premature for the City Council to vote for a three-year deal to help finance the arena..."
"....The MetroCentre’s fate will be tied with the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, Coronado Performing Arts Center and On the Waterfront, other agencies that receive money from the city’s redevelopment tax...."

Because the torture never stops....