01-24-2018, 12:54 PM
Where to begin. I don't see anyone "bitching' about the 34.6% increase for County Council, what I do see is that this County is being run on a daily basis, forget yesterday and don't worry about tomorrow, after all the Director of Finance, when asked about how the County was going to pay for all these budget increases said" there should be enough money". She's right, they will find the money from a real estate tax increase by the County Council, from a gas tax increase by the County Council and now a proposed GET increase. Salaries are primarily funded by property taxes. That 34.6% increase is not even fully burdened. Most benefit costs will also increase.
Might I remind you that for the last three years, Social Security recipients here in Hawaii received a 2.3% increase. Not per year, but for all three years. That amounts to about one gallon of gas a week. Many of those retirees have to live on what they receive after working all their lives. Might I also remind you that a member of the Salary Commission said" I think this (34.6% increase)is excessive, very very excessive".
This is what we get when we elect people who have NO LARGE BUSINESS experience. The County is not a little, home grown business, it is a HALF A BILLION DOLLAR a year organization that is being run by a Council with no large business experience.
Just wait, County Council will start wringing their hands, claiming that they can not control the system. Well. if that's the case they should not be in charge of a HALF A BILLION DOLLAR budget. It's time to fix the system that perpetuates a Friends and Family style business run from Oahu. It's time for the County Council to be swept clean. They have lovely smiles but they clearly are not capable of business management. None of this should be a surprise to the County Council they are in charge. It's their JOB to know what's coming. And to the contributor that suggest the person in charge of the Transportation Dept will be the next to get a raise, too late, she already did. Don't expect anyone who is running for reelection to take any action against organized Oahu unions that control salaries here. That's how their campaigns are funded.
They will tell us they will donate a portion of their salary increases which will amount to just about what the paper its printed on. These changes will not be rescinded, they are now part of our tax-them-to death system, and unfortunately that's is exactly what may happen to some people living here. The largest home rental group on the Island has already announced major increases in rents to cover the tax increase voted on by the County Council. But at least they took care of plastic bags for us.
Might I remind you that for the last three years, Social Security recipients here in Hawaii received a 2.3% increase. Not per year, but for all three years. That amounts to about one gallon of gas a week. Many of those retirees have to live on what they receive after working all their lives. Might I also remind you that a member of the Salary Commission said" I think this (34.6% increase)is excessive, very very excessive".
This is what we get when we elect people who have NO LARGE BUSINESS experience. The County is not a little, home grown business, it is a HALF A BILLION DOLLAR a year organization that is being run by a Council with no large business experience.
Just wait, County Council will start wringing their hands, claiming that they can not control the system. Well. if that's the case they should not be in charge of a HALF A BILLION DOLLAR budget. It's time to fix the system that perpetuates a Friends and Family style business run from Oahu. It's time for the County Council to be swept clean. They have lovely smiles but they clearly are not capable of business management. None of this should be a surprise to the County Council they are in charge. It's their JOB to know what's coming. And to the contributor that suggest the person in charge of the Transportation Dept will be the next to get a raise, too late, she already did. Don't expect anyone who is running for reelection to take any action against organized Oahu unions that control salaries here. That's how their campaigns are funded.
They will tell us they will donate a portion of their salary increases which will amount to just about what the paper its printed on. These changes will not be rescinded, they are now part of our tax-them-to death system, and unfortunately that's is exactly what may happen to some people living here. The largest home rental group on the Island has already announced major increases in rents to cover the tax increase voted on by the County Council. But at least they took care of plastic bags for us.
Paul Burns