Governor Lynch's shortfall inducing budget? *WITH EDIT*

Budget diary by Elwood (0.00 / 0)

http://www.bluehampshire.com/s...

---

by: JimC @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 11:05:23 AM CDT

Welcome Back JohnS (4.00 / 1)

The reason you don't read any hysteria here is because nearly every person who participates on BlueHampshire is a well informed citizen.

With the increases in education and the meals and rooms revenue distribution nearly every community will receive more funds this year than last. And those who are not, the decrease is not cause for any of the actions you site above.

2012 starts today.

---

by: Ray Buckley @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 11:11:51 AM CDT

With all due respect Mr. Buckley.. (0.00 / 0)

Somebody should inform the city manager in Claremont then.  Come April 1st he intends on layoffs.  Whether or not it's posturing, that remains to be seen.

"We Demand Rigidly Defined Areas of Doubt and Uncertainty" D. Adams

---

by: nonverbalcoma @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 11:23:51 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Check the facts (0.00 / 0)

Originially you claimed it was statewide "cities and towns" now you are clinging on to one community.

But here are the facts for Claremont:

The Governor's budget in its current form actually INCREASES support for Claremont by $2 million dollars FY 2009 / FY 2010.

Now, understanding that Claremont has had a Republican Mayor for years and a Republican city council I am not surprised to hear of problems in the city.

2012 starts today.

---

by: Ray Buckley @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 12:13:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

There are plenty of other communities (0.00 / 0)

There's a state meeting coming up on how to deal with the layoff and furlough battles.  I doubt that this meeting would be occurring for Claremont alone.

I am not clinging to one community.  I am engaging in what I am personally dealing with.

Why am I sensing hostility?

The mayor and council are not to my knowledge republicans.  They are very supportive of the Fire Dept.

The city manager on the other hand is definitely a republican.

Again, is this support going to help the municipal budget?  Is the "revenue sharing" gap going to be filled?

"We Demand Rigidly Defined Areas of Doubt and Uncertainty" D. Adams

---

by: nonverbalcoma @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 12:30:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hostility? No. (0.00 / 0)

Just frustration when folks appear (to me anyway) to make stuff up.

You initiated this diary with charges that Governor Lynch's proposed budget is causing chaos across the state, then pointed to Claremont.

I provided you with the fact that Claremont's state funding is INCREASED by two million dollars and you ask "is this support going to help the municipal budget?". Either I completely misunderstand your question or you misunderstand what I am saying.

A municipality has two choices with state monies; either pay for current services or lower property tax rates. So, unless Claremont is going to lower the city tax rate, then yes, the ADDITIONAL two million dollars will be used to help the municipal budget.

2012 starts today.

---

by: Ray Buckley @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 12:50:58 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well, what the manager is claiming in Claremont is (0.00 / 0)

that as proposed there is indeed more money going to Claremont schools.  Claremont runs on a calendar fiscal year, so they have to use "anticipated" revenue with the budget approval in Nov.  But that because of the suspended "revenue sharing" there is a budget gap.  We were 2 months into our budget when the governors budget came out. We're now 3 moths into it and spending at a higher budgeted rate than the state will be giving us.

The options as laid out by the manager are:
Raise the shortfall through upping the tax rate.

Cuts in the budget.(He's claiming that they can't make enough cuts)

Layoffs and/or furloughs.

Claremont has indeed been dysfunctional in the past, but things are getting better.  I hope that this is some ploy to mess with the unions.

"We Demand Rigidly Defined Areas of Doubt and Uncertainty" D. Adams

---

by: nonverbalcoma @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 13:04:08 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Eh? (4.00 / 2)

I'm not seeing the JohnSism in this diary. Is there a subtlety that I am missing?

---

by: JimC @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 11:33:47 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think that I'm missing something.....as well (4.00 / 1)

I've posted at DailyKos, though not a lot, I'm no troll.  In fact, I'm a union man and what you might call a "fire breathing liberal"

I'm currently engaged in a battle to save the threatened jobs.  I gave a small speech last night in front of the city council attempting to show how staffing cuts would hurt all departments.

"We Demand Rigidly Defined Areas of Doubt and Uncertainty" D. Adams

---

by: nonverbalcoma @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 11:38:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well I do (0.00 / 0)

JohnS posted half a dozen diaries or more blaming President Obama for everything under the sun.

Today "nonverbalcoma" makes a claim with a thread "Governor Lynch's shortfall inducing budget" is simply not true.

First he made a statewide claim then backed off to just the city of Claremont - which as I posted above is getting an ADDITIONAL two million dollars over the last fiscal year. So whatever the Hell is going on in Claremont is most certainly not the fault of Governor Lynch's proposed budget.

2012 starts today.

---

by: Ray Buckley @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 12:19:55 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Just asking (0.00 / 0)

I'm not going to play referee here, it would amount to hijacking.

---

by: JimC @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 13:11:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Question.... (0.00 / 0)

Is all the extra two million going to the city government in Claremont or is some of it going to the Claremont school district?

It's a round, round world - Stan Freberg

---

by: NHFlatlander @ Sat Mar 14, 2009 at 10:07:24 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

From what I've been able to find out (0.00 / 0)

It's going to the school.

Whether that's true or not is what I've been hoping to find out.  

"We Demand Rigidly Defined Areas of Doubt and Uncertainty" D. Adams

---

by: nonverbalcoma @ Sat Mar 14, 2009 at 21:19:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Honestly.... (0.00 / 0)

Can you please inform me then?  I've been able to gather that schools will have more than enough money.  Unfortunately while total funds may be more than ever, municipalities are looking at a shortfall.    

Why should I not be concerned with the threats in our city?  How can I assure our rookies that they're not gonna be cut loose?

"We Demand Rigidly Defined Areas of Doubt and Uncertainty" D. Adams

---

by: nonverbalcoma @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 12:00:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Other revenues may be off (0.00 / 0)

There have been some changes announced due to funds coming in from the stiumulus package. But, even in communites that are getting the same or equal funds from the state, there are still budget shortfalls due to decreased revenues from licensing fees, car registrations, etc., plus, costs have increased, such as medical benefits. In Manchester, for example, keeping the school district budget the same as this fiscal year will still result in school district layoffs because of increased costs.

I have to disagree when you say this is what Lynch created. This mess has been created by 8 years of the Bush administration, which led to this severe recession. The last time I checked, something like 45 states were having significant budget shortfalls, and many were looking at cutting revenue sharing or local aid.  It stinks, no question, but what the country's governors are dealing with a card that was dealt to them, not a card that they dealt.  




"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

---

by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 13:02:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree. (0.00 / 0)

The Bush years are what got me active in politics.  I canvassed and ran a tent in Claremont for Obama.  I was out on the ground to get Hodes a victory over Bass.  PFFNH ran hard for Shaheen as well.

The last 8 years have been painful and I am proud of our new President and will fight for him.  Obviously, states have a tough road ahead.  

That being said, I don't want to lose guys.  We run dangerously short already.

"We Demand Rigidly Defined Areas of Doubt and Uncertainty" D. Adams

---

by: nonverbalcoma @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 13:09:38 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Exactly n/t (0.00 / 0)

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

---

by: Kathy Sullivan 2 @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 13:42:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I had seen that, but it only seems to deal with the speculation. (0.00 / 0)

It this point, layoffs are about to transpire in Claremont.  With the restoration of the rooms and meals tax, there's a shortfall of just over $500,000.  All city departments have been short staffed since the 2001 layoffs.  

People are also being asked to do furloughs.  This shortfall is being placed upon the backs of municipal workers.

"We Demand Rigidly Defined Areas of Doubt and Uncertainty" D. Adams

---

by: nonverbalcoma @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 11:21:32 AM CDT

Details help (4.00 / 3)

I don't believe that this is trolling at all, and I'm wary of the echo chamber effect; hearing worries and questions is a good thing.

I don't have any deep knowledge of the city level budgeting to answer with, but if I can get a bit meta, I think the diary would have gone over with a more positive response if the worrisome details were included in the diary. "Cities are largely unwilling to increase property taxes to make up for the shortfall" is alarming but imprecise. Your later comment on Claremont's situation, though, was much more detailed and would have illustrated the point to show why you're worried:

Claremont runs on a calendar fiscal year, so they have to use "anticipated" revenue with the budget approval in Nov.  But that because of the suspended "revenue sharing" there is a budget gap.  We were 2 months into our budget when the governors budget came out. We're now 3 moths into it and spending at a higher budgeted rate than the state will be giving us.

The options as laid out by the manager are:
Raise the shortfall through upping the tax rate.

Cuts in the budget.(He's claiming that they can't make enough cuts)

Layoffs and/or furloughs.

This gives a specific problem, relates it to the initial worry, and shows how it relates to you in particular.

Not to go English Teacher on you or anything, but I think it was the vague and alarmist tone of the initial diary that provoked a sharp response, while your comments later on had more precision and depth.

Only the left protects anyone's rights.

---

by: RealNRH @ Thu Mar 12, 2009 at 20:38:44 PM CDT

That's why I thought it needed the edit. (4.00 / 1)

I'm certainly not used to having anything that I write responded to on a blog.  I definitely didn't think that the party chair would be responding.

Now if someone could respond to my/our particular problem and if we really need to worry about a shortfall, that would also be helpful.

"We Demand Rigidly Defined Areas of Doubt and Uncertainty" D. Adams

---

by: nonverbalcoma @ Fri Mar 13, 2009 at 19:17:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Great thing about blogs (0.00 / 0)

You never know who's reading your words. Though Chairman Buckley's been active on Blue Hampshire for some time now, working hard to stay in touch with New Hampshire's Democratic base, so it's not as surprising as it might be in other states.

I'm afraid I haven't got anything helpful on the Claremont budget situation, though, sorry!

Only the left protects anyone's rights.

---

by: RealNRH @ Fri Mar 13, 2009 at 19:33:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Well, I would contact Peter Burling (4.00 / 2)

Peter Burling of Cornish lives just up the road in Cornish but he is extremely knowledgeable about your local politics and the state. For over thrity years Peter has been a leader in your neck of the woods. Up until three months ago Peter was in the state senate and prior to that from 1996-2004 Peter served as the Democratic Leader of the NH House having first been elected in 1988. Reach out to him, he is very approachable and will be able to have the local insight that we do not possess.

2012 starts today.

---

by: Ray Buckley @ Sat Mar 14, 2009 at 05:55:24 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thank you. (4.00 / 1)

"We Demand Rigidly Defined Areas of Doubt and Uncertainty" D. Adams

---

by: nonverbalcoma @ Sat Mar 14, 2009 at 08:44:28 AM CDT

[ Parent ]