“IS IT TRUE” FOR AUGUST 17, 2020

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We hope that today’s “IS IT TRUE” will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way.
City-County Observer Comment Policy is be kind to people. No personal attacks or harassment will be tolerated and will be removed from our site.”
We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated.  The use of offensive language and/or insults against commenters will not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.
IS IT TRUE that the Coronavirus pandemic and the deficit spending habits of elected officials have devastated revenue sources to the point that the financial pain will be felt for several years?
IS IT TRUE that budgets rely on funding sources? …it’s obvious that the City and County governments will not have the funding sources to pay for additional budget increases during times like these?
IS IT TRUE because of the down economic times the Evansville City employees will not receive a pay increase for 2021?
IS IT TRUE because of the serious cash flow challenges the City Of Evansville has hiring freeze for full-time employees?
IS IT TRUE we been told that the Old National Events Plaza and the Ford Center may be experiencing a serious operating deficit because of the COVID-19 pandemic?  …we wonder if this deficit will force the above businesses to either furlough or lay off their employees until things improved?
IS IT TRUE that government-sanctioned tourism agencies across the country are experiencing a negative financial impact due to the Coronavirus?  …that a quick internet search shows that many Convention and Visitors Bureaus all over America are experiencing numerous employee layoffs and furloughs because of the economic downtown caused by the  COVID -19 virus?
IS IT TRUE  we wonder if the Evansville/Vanderburgh County Convention and Visitors Bureau is experiencing a financial shortfall because of the COVID-19 virus?  …if the COVID-19 has taken a financial toll on there operating budget we wonder if they will be laying off or furloughing any of their employees?
IS IT TRUE that a friend of ours provided us with a copy of the Evansville/Vanderburgh County Convention and Visitors Bureau proposed 2021 budget? …this budget is scheduled to be discussed by the Vanderburgh County Council this coming Wednesday? …this chart clearly shows that the Board of Directors of the CVB is recommending that their employee’s salaries be increased between 11% to 88% in the proposed 2021 budget?  …attached below is a copy of salary requests in the proposed 2021 CVB budget for your review?
IS IT TRUE we hope that the administrative assistant of the CVB made a typing error when she posted that the Board Of Director want the salary of the CEO to be increased from $125,000 to $170,000 a year starting in 2021?
IS IT TRUE we been told that the Board Of Directors of the CVB also proposed that their Advertising budget be reduced by 77.03%, Community Relations funds be reduced by 75%, and the Special Events Grants be totally eliminated from the 2021 budget?
IS IT TRUE that we told that members of the Vanderburgh County Council will go over the proposed pay raises for the employees of the CVB with a fine-tooth comb because of the impending negative economic times facing them?  …if the Board of Directors of the CVB wants to give excessive salary increases to their employees they should spend their reserves?
IS IT TRUE we hope that members of the Vanderburgh County Council will ask how much money does the CVB have in their reserve account during the upcoming budget hearing?
IS IT TRUE we wonder who will provide the funds to move the CVB offices if they decide to move a new downtown location later on this year?
IS IT TRUE several people are finding it interesting that the salary of the CVB attorney isn’t referenced in the proposed 2021 budget?
IS IT TRUE we wonder why the CVB Board Of Directors is asking for $15,000 appropriations for incentives without giving a detailed explanation for this request?
IS IT TRUE we been told if you have any questions concerning the Evansville/Vanderburgh County Vistors and Convention Bureau proposed 2021 budget you could contact any of the following Board of Directors members for answers?  … the current board members are Joe Kiefer-II President, Mackenzie Black-Vice President, Alexis Berggren-Treasurer, Joshua Armstrong-Secretary. Ali Hashemy-member, Wendy White-member, and Rita Patel-member?
Today’s “Readers Poll” question is: Do you think that the Vanderburgh County Council should approve the proposed 2021 budget request of the Evansville/Vanderburgh County Convention and Vistors Bureau?
Please take time and read our articles entitled “STATEHOUSE FILES, LAW ENFORCEMENT, “READERS POLL”, BIRTHDAYS, HOT JOBS”, EDUCATION, OBITUARIES and “LOCAL SPORTS”.
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5 COMMENTS

  1. The news on Old National Events Plaza is very behind the ball. All employees 50 or older have been terminated, with the exception of one still remaining, over the last couple of years by the new GM that arrived a couple of years ago. Watch for a group age discrimination suit filing here.

    Part time daily workers were terminated in April. All but Director level employees that remained were furloughed in May and all but three were terminated about two weeks ago.

    I think you will find only a few beyond Director level at Ford Center with a comparable schedule.

  2. The news on Old National Events Plaza is very behind the ball. All employees 50 or older have been terminated, with the exception of one still remaining, over the last couple of years by the new GM that arrived a couple of years ago. Watch for a group age discrimination suit filing here.

    Part time daily workers were terminated in April. All but Director level employees that remained were furloughed in May and all but three were terminated about two weeks ago.

    I think you will find only a few beyond Director level at Ford Center with a comparable schedule.

  3. Do the Ford Center and the Old National Events Plaza still have outside cleaning and maintenance contracts with a firm operated by a long time politically connected person? Is this firm still being paid for services that are currently minimally required?

  4. WOW! The CCO has done it again.

    In the middle of a pandemic when smart and responsible business people struggle to keep their doors open and employee’s jobs alive we have this type of irresponsible decision at the CVB.

    Who serving on any member of a Board of Directors would recommend an 11% to 88% increase in salaries in times like these? The elected officials who appointed the people to serve on the CVB Board of Directors should be embarrassed!

    We bet you that the companies where the CVB Board members are employed aren’t doing this tpye of thing?

    Now I read that The Old National Events Plaza is allegedly terminating older employees. Maybe if the CVB would have hired someone locally we would have not had this problem. What a mess!

  5. Requesting a 36% raise during a pandemic when business is way down is bad form.

    Most businesses next year will offer little or no salary increases.

    The incentive line item should be changed to disincentive. The percentage decrease in the CVB hotel tax this year should be reflected in the 2021 budget.

    Performance should be rewarded and non-performance should be factored in as well.

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