5/4/2011 6:51:31 AM
DownhillPBSO
Administrator
Posts: 28
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Just my humble opinion, but in times of massive budget crunching, if you are going to make others crunck, you need to crunch yourself. And MArlene Ross - If you are not responsible enough to manage your finances from your ordinary job, perhaps you should turn your control over to someone who is. If you can't manage your own finances, how are you going to manage that of a town? Steve Holzman should be doubly ashamed - he's a friggin attorney. Tell me he can't lose a few thousand dollars per year? These three are the reason our country is going to hell - everyone wants to make cuts, but not if it affects them. Suck it up, shameful leaders, and lead by example.
By Eliot Kleinberg Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Updated: 8:43 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Posted: 11:43 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Small TypeBOYNTON BEACH — A plan to cut commissioners' salaries and expenses 8 percent as the city struggles with its budget failed 3-2.
In the plan, Mayor Jose Rodriguez would have been paid $17,305 and commissioners $14,421 in the new budget year. Pay already was cut last year by 6 percent of 2009's amounts. The savings isn't significant, just $9,196.36 in a budget that this year was $68 million. But earlier this year, City Manager Kurt Bressner called for department heads to cut 8 to 10 percent across the board.
Hiring freezes are in place and more than two dozen people have taken buyouts or been laid off. "We as the civic leaders of the community should certainly show that we're also tightening our belts," Vice Mayor Bill Orlove said.
Mayor Jose Rodriguez suggested turning over the issue to workshops of an advisory committee that already has recommended more than $5 million in cuts. Commissioner Marlene Ross, who opposed the pay cut, said she hasn't had a raise in her day job "and it's hard for me to make ends meet. I don't want any pity. I'm a big girl." [YES YOU ARE. CUT BACK ON THE AMOUNT YOU NEED TO SPEND ON FOOD AND YOU CAN REDUCE YOUR SALARY]
Orlove responded that all elected officials understand that whatever stipends they earn never make up for all the hours they put in. Orlove bristled when Commissioner Steve Holzman called the proposed pay cuts "a symbolic grandstanding gesture politicians like to make to position themselves for their next election."
Commissioner Woody Hay said there's nothing behind his support of the pay cuts because he's on his way out due to term limits. Orlove and Hay voted yes; Rodriguez, Ross and Holzman voted no.
eliot_kleinberg@pbpost.com
Steve Holzman, Mayor Rodriguez and Marlene Ross - welcome to the Wall of Shame.
  
<em>edited by DownhillPBSO on 5/4/2011</em>
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5/4/2011 7:32:00 AM
Guest
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Oh my god! That chick on the right looks like that fat rat on Harry Potter!
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5/4/2011 11:18:37 AM
Guest
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YEAH BUT THE GUY ON THE LEFT (STEVE HOLZMAN?) LOOKS LIKE HES HIDING IN THE CLOSET AND AFRAID TO COME OUT. HEY STEVE - WHY DONT YOU COME OUT OF THE CLOSET? EVERYONE CAN TELL YOU ARE A FLAMINGLY BLATANT HOMOSEXUAL JUST BY LOOKING AT YOU.
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5/4/2011 11:21:22 AM
Guest
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PH AND STEVE - SYMBOLIC, GRANDSTANDING GESTURE FOR THE NEXT ELECTION IT MAY BE. AT THIS TIME WHEN WE ALL HAVE TO TRIM BACK AND YOU REFUSE TO DO SO, YOUR SELFISH GESTURE HAS MADE UP MY MIND NOT TO VOTE FOR YOU IN THE NEXT ELECTION. GET LOST PAL!
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5/4/2011 11:27:02 AM
Guest
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here we have another incomplete article written by a PB Post reporter...in 2010 this commission took a 6% cut (across the board on stipend & expense check/commissioner) + now, effective Oct. 1, 2011 thanks to a necessary & positive step by the legislature, they will be required to contribute 3% of their pay to the FRS (Florida Retirement System); seems understandable to believe that this is a reasonable enough of a pay cut at this point in time; these commissioners are paid a stipend, not a full salary---do we really want to have a system in place where only independently wealthy and/or retired individuals are elected officials because they are the ones who can afford to do it? how well do you want your elected officials to represent you and your life.
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5/4/2011 11:48:45 AM
Guest
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awwww... contributing 3% of your pay to the Florida Retirement System (FRS). How noble! When you retire, that FRS is multiplied exponentially, isn't it? I feel so bad for you for your woes; us regular people in ordinary private jobs are paying 100% of their retirement.
These commissioners are paid a stipend and NOT a fill salary because they DON'T do this full time. It's a very part time gig akin to being on the board of the local Moose lodge (except they don't get paid). You raise an interesting point. Should only wealthy people be allowed to serve as commissioners? That might not be a bad thing. I'm good with middle class people being on the board. It seems that if they made enough good decisions in life to not have squandered their money they should be able to run. The problem with poor people being in office is that they like giving away everything to everyone. That and they don't know how to contribute. You show me a poor person and I'll show you someone undereducated, lazy, no vision or all of those things - and is that who we want running our city?
If you are doing this part time in the amount of time you would have for a hobby, you should do it for free. I would.
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8/20/2012 1:44:22 PM
Guest
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It's amazing how the city is in a financial cris, looking to how they can save 5 million dollars next year. I thought the contract with the Sheriff's Office for police protection would have saved the city 5 million dollars. Now contract with PBC Fire Rescue and save millions more. It works, just ask Lake Worth, Wellington and Royal Palm Beach. They have no complaints. I guess the city commissioners just don't want to give up that little bit of power. GREED
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10/15/2012 10:57:29 PM
Guest
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this city sucks balls, and everyone that runs it, literally
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