GOOD NEWS! The Dept. of Predatory Code Enforcement gets big budget cuts.
Please click onto the COMMENTS for the story.
posted by Bob at Wednesday, March 25, 2009
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
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St. Paul cutting staff jobs, hours and salaries, Coleman announces
Inspections Department, mayor's office face layoffs
By Mara H. Gottfried
mgottfried@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 03/25/2009 12:50:17 AM CDT
Layoffs that loomed in St. Paul because of the city's dire budget picture are becoming reality, the mayor announced Tuesday.
Six Department of Safety and Inspections employees face layoffs and the mayor's office is eliminating staff.
Mayor Chris Coleman said Tuesday in a letter to city employees that he would "continue to be responsive to the likelihood of reduced local government aid" and had taken those steps and several more to cut the city's spending, including:
Cutting the hours of inspectors in the Department of Safety and Inspections;
Freezing department directors' salaries;
Reducing salaries in the mayor's office, including his own, by 5 percent.
Coleman had planned to make his complete budget-amendment proposal this month to the City Council, but his spokesman said Tuesday that he would be waiting to get a better idea from the state before moving forward.
With the state facing a projected $4.6 billion deficit over the next two fiscal years, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has proposed cutting $244.9 million in state funds that go to Minnesota cities and counties, known as local government aid.
St. Paul would lose $23.7 million under the governor's proposed budget and saw $5.7 million in cuts late last year. The city is projecting a $30 million deficit for 2010.
"The House and Senate have come out with their proposals to counter the Governor's and while we will see a reduction in local government aid, I am more hopeful that it will not be as deep," Coleman wrote in the letter.
A citywide hiring freeze continues. That and an early retirement incentive program that 49 people took advantage of has saved $3.5 million since the beginning of the year, Coleman wrote. The freeze is expected to save an additional $900,000 for each month it's in effect.
Coleman said he will send a budget amendment to the council today "to address some immediate concerns" in St. Paul's Building Permit and Business License special fund in the Department of Safety and Inspections.
"Due to the economic downturn, revenues are down dramatically and we need to take action immediately to bring spending in line with revised revenue projections," Coleman wrote.
With construction down and fewer people seeking permits for projects, the city projects revenue will be down 7 percent, about $500,000, this fiscal year, said Margaret Kelly, director of the city's Office of Financial Services.
The actions would include laying off six Department of Safety and Inspections employees and reducing 36 trades inspectors' weekly hours from 40 to 32. The reduction in hours avoids seven more layoffs, Kelly said.
The unions that represent city inspectors met and "they all decided to take a reduction in hours to preserve as many jobs as they could amongst their peers, but not without feeling some pain," said Harry Melander, St. Paul Building Trades Council executive secretary.
Coleman also is laying off employees from his office, but spokesman Bob Hume declined to say how many.
Department directors, council members and their staffs, and Coleman and his staff won't be getting 2009 cost-of-living allowances of 3.25 percent.
With the 5 percent cut, Coleman's salary went from $105,101 to $99,846 on Feb. 28. If he had taken the cost-of-living increase, his salary would have risen to $108,516, effective Saturday.
"I will continue to prepare for additional reductions that will need to be made to our current budget," Coleman wrote. "The timing of any action will be determined in the coming weeks based on what the final fate is for local government aid."
Coleman, other mayors, legislative leaders and hundreds of public employees from across Minnesota are expected to attend a rally in support of local government aid at noon Thursday on the Capitol steps.
Mara H. Gottfried can be reached at 651-228-5262.
They should disband the whole damn department.
Spare the rod and spoil the child!
Dump Mayor Chris Coleman and the city saves $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ by him not spending money that St.Paul doesn't have, they need to raise taxes next year or get rid of the city council $$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Is there any fair code inspector in St.Paul.
Cuts in DSI.
Cuts in the Mayors Office.
Mayor and remaining staff cut salaries.
COL frozen at last year.
Pay freeze across all department directors, city council and staff.
Folks, that's leadership. Not, 'Good News'.
I'm sure the slumlords are looking forward to letting their crap shacks rot but, with even less employees, it will be more complaint focused, which means even tougher scrutiny by the people in those neighborhoods of the slumlords. Probably can forget about the ongoing extensions and write up after write up. Shorter breaks for violations and higher fees.
You got what you asked for. Let's see how it works.
Eric
Hiring code enforcement personnel was supported by the claim they pretty much pay for themselves.
With their gestapo tactics and unquestioned support from city hall, they have destroyed the heart and soul of St. Paul.
They probably didn't cut key perpretators who's names come up again and again.
Their apologists do the same job as athletic supporters.
All smoke, Bob. DSI will NEVER be cut. This is going to be refunded through another way. This letter was only ment for the public to make it look like DSI is going to be cut and he is making the tough choices. These six DSI employees maybe laid off for a few weeks, but the plan is to then show the public the vacant buildings and the city council will be forced to refund the DSI program.
Chris has no intention of cutting Bob Kessler's department, but to grow this department.
That is the scoop from the Coleman camp.
The damage has already been done by code enforcement.
It's predatory code enforcement of the last two administrations is largley responcible for the plight of the property tax base in St.Paul.
Their are not enough occupied properties left in the city to justify keeping DSI staffed.
I believe that a reasonable mayoral opponent could beat Chris Coleman on the property tax base issue that has largley contributed to the mayors raising of taxes and layoffs.
Anyone who even worked for DSI and got layed off should be thinking about how and why it is this way.
I have no sympathy for you and you can join the ranks of unemployed. Good luck !
I am still waiting for the mayor to take a pay cut.
NO bonusus either !
Jeff Matiatos
I feel I Should amend my statement that anyone in DSI who lost their jobs I have no sympathy for.
Perhalps there are a few employees there that do not like their job working there very much, and feel guilty enough for how they were forced to conduct themselves in a manner inconsistant with being fair or honest .
Hopefully those few of you will come forward after you have been layed off, and join in with those who have been made homeless and protest your employer.
To you few I say thanks.
Jeff Matiatos
I think I said this a month ago that DSI would be one of the departments to take a hit.
The office is funded by monies taken in for building permits and the rest is general fund monies.
I think the Cub I did may have been the most square footage of construction done in Saint Paul in one location during the last year. If that is the case, you aren't taking in a lot of money on new construction permits.
So, building inspectors get cut.
As to code enforcement, less employees mean a more complaint based system and more bitching from those who get inspected, when the guy down the block didn't.
JMONTOMEPPOF
Chuck Repke
Cut the City Attorneys, at the 25Mar09 Agenda, to hire outside counsel against www.hotwire.com for city tax base is Bizzare, even if they work on a contigency.
Bill and I are petitioning the Chief Judge Eric Magnuson re: MS2.724 to disbar Gerald Henderickson for conflicts,ethics in the Constitutionality of Ordance sec.18.01 Lantrys appointment of Marcia Moemond to deny "Judicial Review" is at War with the State & Federal Constitutions Abolish Moermond's Job
It's time the city face the facts. Inspections has been overrun with dead-asses for a long time. Put them in the place they deserve.
Chuck, your helping make the case against Coleman.
I would agree with you that the Cub you did was probably the most square footage constructed in St.Paul.
Why is that Chuck ?
How about that nobody wants to build here . Commercial or residential.
The word is out on this city counci and mayoral administration that supports and enforces property inspections abuses.
Under this kind of policy, don't expect much if anything more to be built here.
How about filling up all the vacant
downtown rental spaces ?
How about turning the old ADC Jail into those condos that were proposed years ago ?
This city can't get anything going or keep it's promisis and reverts back to taxing the citizens to make up for a poorly run and disorganized city administration.
Jeff Matiatos
Are you guys appealing your county appraisals? I am dumbfounded that my buildings continue to be appraised at 2x what I paid for them 2 years ago while similar buildings down the street are selling for 1/2 what I paid. The appraisals are a joke.
If investors all appeal their appraisals forcing home owners to bear the cost of the large gov't they continuously elect, maybe then we would see some "hope" and "change."
I am appealing my appraisals, are you?
Bill Cullen.
Bill,
Can homeowners appeal their appraisals as well?
Maybe the city faithful can make donations to finance themselves.
Of course homeowners can appeal their property tax appraisals. But, investment property values have fallen further (especially small properties like duplexes).
Bill Cullen.
I had a chat with the assessor last week. He told me that they didn't consider the foreclosure sales as part of the legitimate sales in the market so they don't use them. If this is the standard, then shouldn't they not consider when a brand new development goes in next door to yu that they then say raises your value and thus your payable tax amount?
Bill Cullen, get the www.review.news.com 18Mar09 re: 3 thous. delinquent taxes, pgs. 53 is the Eagles and Me, You bet Constutional Challenges of HS,MKV.based on Illegal Fees,Assessments by Lantry and her Appointment of Marcia Moermond re: sec. 18.01 Ramsey Dist. Crt. File 62cv-09-1163 Clerk Lynae K.E.Olson( who by the way is from Washngton Co) 651-266-2002, Your fight is with M Oswald ( Who came from Mpls)
http://sharon4council.blogspot.com
Cullen thanks for posting 1Apr09 Agenda, yet another Writ of Cert v. City St.Paul
Writ of Certiorari in the matter of Bee Vue and Lamena Vue, Relator, vs. the City of Saint Paul. (re: 393-397 Case Avenue)
Eric if you knew anything the system was complaint before Dawkins and he put the system it on crack once he got his grubby mitts on it.
And without these so called slumlords your homies wouldn't have housing.So sit back and shut the f up Uncle Tom.
Jerold,
I don't know you. I never said anything about you. I think you should check the class of the people you hang out with if they keep insulting you and ask yourself why do you continue to take it.
No need to call me 'a idiot'. Next time, you can be more on point if you don't victimize yourself to irony. It's 'AN' idiot, not 'a' idiot. Regardless, stop being one and stay focused on the issue.
Eric
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