COUNCIL APPROVES BUDGET BY PASSING $10 MILLION WORTH OF HEALTHCARE BILLS TO 2017Â
AFTER THEY TRANSFERRED $10 MILLION IN HEALTHCARE LIABILITIES THEY DECLARED THAT THE 2017 BUDGET IS BALANCEDÂ
On Monday, October 10th The Evansville City Council passed the $336 million 2017 budget proposed by the Winnecke Administration with much opposition from the public. Room 301 of the Civic Center was once again packed beyond fire code, with several members of the public pushed out into the hallway and into the overflow room where they could watch and listen to the meeting.
The nearly 5-hour meeting exhibited a gross display of bureaucrats vs. pee-ons. The public voiced their opinions loudly over the course of the entire budget process, but the agenda of the elite rolled right over the people despite their best effort.
Non-profit groups such as CAJE (Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment), along with the Evansville Police Department and the Evansville Fire Department filled the building in disapproval of the proposed budget which would cut non-profit funding by 50% and increase insurance payments for the EPD and EFD by an guesstimated range of 100% to 300%.
Michael Sides. President of the FOP requested that the vote be delayed as they had just gotten their information a couple of hours before the meeting, and had not yet had a chance to meet on the topic. Dan McGinn said that no one was interested in delaying the vote. Council President Missy Mosby defended the Council in a statement claiming, “We worked our tail-ends off on this. We got these family plan numbers down as much as they are. It’s almost a 50% deduction from first proposal.†But the crowd murmured in disappointment as someone cried out that it is still an increase in payments.
Adam Bigge stated that it was still at least a 160% for him. He went on to say that the first responders are at greater health risk in this city than nearly anyone else. He said that he had a 68% chance of developing cancer due to his job. He went on to explain about a fellow firefighter, Brian Webber, who had a ceiling fell in on him in a fire and now has a device in his spine that helps him manage the pain. He said, “What happened to him could have happened to anyone in this room, well these guys (as he pointed to the crowd behind him), but not you (addressing the Council). You do have an option… say No to this insurance proposal. We will continue to do our jobs. If u don’t do your jobs, you’re going to start losing a lot of people.â€
James Cohen II of the EFD stated, “I came on with three other guys, and I’m the only one left. They all left for jobs with better benefits and you’re trying to decrease our benefits even more. The people leaving these jobs are leaving from the top. These are the best and most experienced, but we are having to hire the least experienced people to take their spots.â€
Stanley Michael Ford, retired EPD, said that he was on the force for 33 years and that his deductible, with the new plan, has increased by 100%. He stated that his annual out of pocket expense is now increased by 400%. He also said “George Fithian is not telling you the whole story.†To that the crowd erupted. He also spoke out saying, that they didn’t receive their letters from Fithian until October 5th while the first meeting was scheduled for October 6th. He stated that there was no date stamp on the letter, and that Fithian was simply “trying to pull a fast one on us.â€
Several other first responders voiced their concerns at the podium, but all seemed to fall on deaf ears as the Council voted in opposition to the wishes of their constituents.
The city, trying to cover its own financial issues, was trying to find ways to pay for the astronomical healthcare costs of 2016 that ranges more than $24 million with an expected $10 million more in claims by the end of the year. With all of these budget cuts, it was the people that took the brunt of poor money management by the current administration.
Dan McGinn said, “We are just going to have to make some tough decisions. According to my calculations we would have to fire about four people in order to cover the debt. Do we fire four people? Do we fire four police officers or firemen? (He motioned toward the Council members) Or four of these people who are here for every meeting? I don’t want to do it. I don’t want to be the one to make that call.†A shout from the public rang out, “I pick the Mayor!” Another eruption of agreement come from the crowd.
In the midst of the budget cuts Computer Services expenses were determined to be paid by the Riverboat Fund, transferring $2.8 million in an attempt to whittle down the massive debt. The Council continued to make numerous cuts in various departments to make up for the huge loss.
But somehow, the Evansville City Council was still able to fund a $5 million project with Mesker Zoo. The penguin exhibit was approved with a 5-4 vote. The city would be responsible for half of the project at around $2.5 million and an initial investment of $660,000. While the zoo had no money to match the initial investment, the city was happy to oblige by picking up the tab.
Nevertheless, the city just couldn’t seem to find enough funding to lower the health insurance payments of the first responders who left absolutely disgusted by the votes of the Council. One officer groaned as he threw his hands up in the air, and walked out of the room, shaking his head in disbelief. Bottom line: The Council voted for the penguins, but against public safety.
The Homestead Tax Credit was attacked last. Homeowners received tax breaks from between 6% to 8% in years past, and Dan McGinn stated that he wants to do away with the Tax Credit. Connie Robinson stood up for the impoverished, but it seemed that most of the rest of the Council was completely out of touch with the struggles of the lowest tax bracket as Michelle Mercer stated that if the people can’t afford this small of an increase, then they can’t afford the homes they live in. Robinson about fell out of her chair.
No one seemed to factor in that the sewer costs are going up. Water costs are going up. Water hook-up costs are going up. Utility costs are going up. Insurance payments for the city employees are going up. Pay increases are virtually non-existent. And now homeowners are losing their tax break on top of it all. Ultimately, the tax-payers are getting the worst end of this deal, and most of the bureaucrats are either out of touch, or they simply do not care about their constituents.
At the end of the nearly 5-hour meeting, the budget was approved with a 6-3 vote, opposed only by Justin Elspers, Connie Robinson, and Dan Adams.
Dan McGinn and Missy Mosby both stated that we can’t just keep pushing this debt down the road into the next year, but that is exactly what they both voted in favor of doing… to the tune of $10 million in debt to start the 2017 year.
