Houston Organization of Public Employees Survey
This report is just misleading on so many levels.
“Volunteer days” seem like a money saving move for the city…err, YOU the TAXPAYER, except that private sector employers offering “volunteer days” actually pay the employee for that day off. Taking an unpaid furlough day versus taking a “volunteer day” means little to the taxpayer unless a “volunteer day” equates to an “unpaid” day off.
The survey report indicates over 90{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} of HOPE members and 80{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} of non-HOPE members answering the survey do not want to see other employees laid off and would prefer mandatory furloughs to layoffs. This is a sympathy ruse. Government employees LOVE layoffs, especially those constructed to pay severance and full benefits during the layoff; when the good times return they’re the first ones hired back with restoration of tenure.
1000 responses were received when employees were asked for ideas on efficiency and savings. According to this October 2009 assessment of City of
4. Thus, as of June 30, 2008, the City’s elected officials essentially had transferred financial ownership of the City from the taxpayers to the City’s employees, about 43.7{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} of who do not live in the City, according to documentation we have received from the City’s human resources department. Very troubling, 63.3{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} of first responders (police officers and firefighters) do not live in the City, versus just 30.0{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} of civilian employees, according to the City’s human resources department.
It’s not a stretch to suggest those employees living outside the city would not even be eligible to vote in the Mayoral and City Council races. Of course these employees would be in favor of higher city property taxes; the tax hike would not apply to them.
And let’s be clear, the “city” is YOU the taxpayer and raising YOUR property taxes isn’t a money saver to YOU.
Oh, that’s right; it IS a money saver if the czars think it’s THEIR money.
Lastly, government employees with pensions LOVE early retirements for the same reason they LOVE leaving government employ. When the good times roll again, they are among the first to be hired back by the government, citing “familiarity with procedures”. Government employees love retiring and running for office. The Houston Chronicle wrote this piece about a
Cry me a river.
I’m reminded of that scene from the movie “Goodfellas”.
Business is bad? Pay me.
