Photos
Blog
NewslettersCounty budget?
Submitted by classidiot on Thu, 2008-06-26 21:07.
Is there a place where the county budget is posted on-line?...I mean a line-by-line document that shows what each department received?
- classidiot's blog
- Login to post comments
- 275 reads
Here ya go, friend. This is all the old financials, going way back:
http://www.bcgov.net/council/councilcentral/Financials/County/legend.htm
I know it's not what you really want....the current budget and audit info. I'll ask around tommorow to see what I can get you. I've only seen physical copies of recent stuff, never anything online. It might be hidden in there somewhere, but I think it makes too much sense to have it digitally. The Puzzle Palace isn't fueled by sense.
How can some departments, like the Clerk of Court's Office give (huge) bonuses, clothing allowances, cell phone allowances and pay raises to county employees without County Council's approval or knowledge. I would think this would spread hard feelings and create turmoil among other county employees that have tenure and seniority. Aren't we all on the same team... it doesn't always seem that way.
How can some departments, like the Clerk of Court's Office give (huge) bonuses, clothing allowances, cell phone allowances and pay raises to county employees without County Council's approval or knowledge. I would think this would spread hard feelings and create turmoil among other county employees that have tenure and seniority. Aren't we all on the same team... it doesn't always seem that way.
what are you talking about? Sorry, I'm lost. I saw the article about a raise for all county employees, but nothing about "(huge) bonuses, clothing allowances, cell phone allowances"
Kind of changing the subject, but I heard that after the election that most of the employees were let go from the Clerk of Courts office. Some have been there for over twenty years. Does anyone have information on that?
Well, I'm not a county employee, but I hope to be in the near future, so I'm sure I don't have the full picture. And it's a huge document, so wouldn't be able to remember each detail. But I know that the Clerk of Court's Office, like some other Departments, have access to other, off budget, sources of revenue which sometimes are "discretionary", which I think means they can use them any way they want, or they're "earmarked", which I think means they have to use them a certain way. Sometimes this would be state or federal money, in the form of grants or direct payment for services, but sometimes it's money that department earns like interest. For the Clerk of Court, Elizabeth Smith made a good case that she'd used that money well, providing incentives for some of her people, which you mention.
Now, if I understand your concern, it's that employees in different departments get treated differently even though they're in the same paygrade. That's a lot to think about. My gut reaction would be to advise you to try to get a job in the Clerk's Office. Make yourself the best candidate for the job, and then when one opens up (I think there are two available now) jump on it aggressively. I would always hesitate before bringing someone down...I'd rather bring everyone else up.
But of course, issues of fairness and equality must be continually watched. Good luck.
Well, I'm not a county employee, but I hope to be in the near future, so I'm sure I don't have the full picture. And it's a huge document, so wouldn't be able to remember each detail. But I know that the Clerk of Court's Office, like some other Departments, have access to other, off budget, sources of revenue which sometimes are "discretionary", which I think means they can use them any way they want, or they're "earmarked", which I think means they have to use them a certain way. Sometimes this would be state or federal money, in the form of grants or direct payment for services, but sometimes it's money that department earns like interest. For the Clerk of Court, Elizabeth Smith made a good case that she'd used that money well, providing incentives for some of her people, which you mention.
Now, if I understand your concern, it's that employees in different departments get treated differently even though they're in the same paygrade. That's a lot to think about. My gut reaction would be to advise you to try to get a job in the Clerk's Office. Make yourself the best candidate for the job, and then when one opens up (I think there are two available now) jump on it aggressively. I would always hesitate before bringing someone down...I'd rather bring everyone else up.
But of course, issues of fairness and equality must be continually watched. Good luck.
How about a full time job, with a pay check that cashes at the end of the week, and healt benifits. That's an incentive in it's self! A raise on a more regular basis than damn near anyone else.... Those extra funds should be used for more useful things, useful to everyone not employees in the office. They want to spring for a coworker's birthday cake that's fine... But new 9west pumps? I don't think so