Crestwood looks to final budget approval for 2012 on December 13, 2011 (Please click here for he story in the Call.)
As it looks now we will have a balanced budget under mayor Schlink in 2012, and I for one applaud the budget committee for their efforts.
That said I do have one glaring expense that can and should be cut from the budget prior to final approval. What's that you say, well as you all should know by now the position of Public Works Director was filled by Mr. James Eckrich when he felt the need to step down from the City Administrators position.
So far so good as we didn't have to interview for an open position as he came from Public Works in the first place. Unfortunately when he made the move he retained 98% of his City Administrators salary and a TAKE HOME CRESTWOOD CAR. Well in 2011 and beyond we do not "stamp" plans nor do we review them in house anymore, so we really don't need an engineer in that position, do we.
I believe that his own words to the last Director ("We can get qualified applicants for $67,000.00") is a true statement that should be looked at very hard by the Board and the budget committee when the final budget is completed.
The take home car? Well in the last eleven months he has used $1610.00 worth of gasoline, $1140.00 worth of maintenance, and untold amounts for Insurance (FOIA form,) all paid by us. The mileage shown for the eleven months is way above the National average of 9-15,000 miles per year (over 18,000 so far,) and guess what were paying for it.
Please remember that Crestwood is a three square mils town, and that unless he lives in Columbia, MO. I find it hard to justify that sort of expense. In the real world you and I pay for our own vehicles and inherent expenses associated with them right? Well if you have a salary of $92,000.00 plus benefits I believe you should buy your own vehicle just like the rest of us.
So there we have two very glaring errors in judgement by the Board that can and should be corrected at the next budget hearing. Then, and only then will the request by Ms. Eastman for a bonus or increase be put on the table for consideration. What do you think?
Tom Ford
NO. 965
That said I do have one glaring expense that can and should be cut from the budget prior to final approval. What's that you say, well as you all should know by now the position of Public Works Director was filled by Mr. James Eckrich when he felt the need to step down from the City Administrators position.
So far so good as we didn't have to interview for an open position as he came from Public Works in the first place. Unfortunately when he made the move he retained 98% of his City Administrators salary and a TAKE HOME CRESTWOOD CAR. Well in 2011 and beyond we do not "stamp" plans nor do we review them in house anymore, so we really don't need an engineer in that position, do we.
I believe that his own words to the last Director ("We can get qualified applicants for $67,000.00") is a true statement that should be looked at very hard by the Board and the budget committee when the final budget is completed.
The take home car? Well in the last eleven months he has used $1610.00 worth of gasoline, $1140.00 worth of maintenance, and untold amounts for Insurance (FOIA form,) all paid by us. The mileage shown for the eleven months is way above the National average of 9-15,000 miles per year (over 18,000 so far,) and guess what were paying for it.
Please remember that Crestwood is a three square mils town, and that unless he lives in Columbia, MO. I find it hard to justify that sort of expense. In the real world you and I pay for our own vehicles and inherent expenses associated with them right? Well if you have a salary of $92,000.00 plus benefits I believe you should buy your own vehicle just like the rest of us.
So there we have two very glaring errors in judgement by the Board that can and should be corrected at the next budget hearing. Then, and only then will the request by Ms. Eastman for a bonus or increase be put on the table for consideration. What do you think?
Tom Ford
NO. 965
posted by Crestwood Independent at 18:10
2 Comments:
Tom, do you have an email address I can use to send you a private message? Thanks, MK
12:31 AM Blogger: I do indeed have one, in fact it's on the Blog.
tford60@earthlink.net
Tom Ford
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