After weeks of doling out boatloads of money to greedy bankers and listening to the mainstream media bitch and moan about wall street taking a beating, the impact of their bogus "economic crisis" finally hits the streets.
The mainstreet massacre begins in earnest...
Patrick to cut 1,000 jobs from state payroll
Will slash budget $1b; local aid is left intact
By Matt Viser Globe Staff / October 16, 2008Governor Deval Patrick [of MA] said yesterday that he will eliminate 1,000 jobs from state government and slash the budget by more than $1 billion, reacting to the national economic crisis with sweeping cuts that his administration called the worst single round of midyear budget rollbacks in state history.
The reductions will be spread across almost all sectors of state government, biting deeply into state university campuses and community colleges, the state's health insurance programs, and dozens of social service programs - from assistance for at-risk teens to services for the mentally ill and the elderly.
The cuts range from a hit of nearly $300 million on healthcare spending to the elimination of letters to residents simply reminding them to get their driver's licenses renewed.
Thus far, the governor is sparing local aid to cities and towns and funding for urgently needed bridge repairs. The list of cuts, even targeting populations like disabled adults and the blind, is notable because the reductions come from a Democratic governor who has made protecting disadvantaged populations a core theme of his administration.
"I know you are anxious. There is real cause for concern. But not for panic," Patrick told state residents during a State House briefing televised live late yesterday afternoon. "Just like families all across the Commonwealth, the state government is feeling the pinch."
The governor struck a tone of sympathy for the pain people will feel because of the budget cuts, but he also sought to portray the crisis as manageable and under control.
"People will feel these cuts in certain services," Patrick said. "Expect longer waits at the Registry of Motor Vehicles; expect less community policing patrols; expect slower permitting approvals; expect less frequent maintenance of our parks and open spaces."
In short, expect ordinary Americans to get screwed worse than they already are...
And Massachusetts is not alone...
Massachusetts and states from New York to California have been forced to revise budgets approved just months earlier in response to the national meltdown in credit markets, plummeting stock and real estate values, and an economy that appears to be tumbling toward a recession. Patrick said the state's job reductions will be accomplished by making a combination of layoffs, not filling open positions, and encouraging current employees to retire.
"Appears to be" is the operative phrase in an economy based on lies.
New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn yesterday warned city residents to brace for deep budget cuts, some of which she said will "sting badly," as the city and nation continue to reel in an anemic, unpredictable economy.
"It will not be easy," Quinn said. "It will not be pain-free. "
The city is facing projected deficits of $2.3 billion for 2010 and $5.2 billion for 2011. The shortfalls are expected to worsen given losses on Wall Street, where the city earns 20 percent of its revenue, she said.
To raise revenue, NY plans to roll-back property tax reductions and start bombarding residents with commercial advertising on garbage trucks and city sweepers.
Using the city's vehicle fleet as advertising space could draw up to $10 million a year, city officials said.
Quinn said companies would line up to buy the space.
"You walk around this city and cabs and buses are wrapped in advertising," she said. "Well, why shouldn't garbage trucks and street cleaners also be wrapped in advertising as a revenue-generating opportunity for the city? "
To avoid descending into fascism, you beaurcratic ditz!
But hey, who's complaining? That's the plan.
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UPDATE: MD Budget cut by $300 million
Submitted by qrswave on Thu, 2008-10-16 09:12
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One has to wonder how much fat is in their budget.
At the Fire Department i worked, for a number of years i was responsible for setting a budget for our CGM's--Combustible Gas Monitors.
Damn near every year, I'd get a reminder--verbal, of course--from a Division Chief to jack up my budget at least 5% over what was really needed.
That way, at the end of the year, the Fire Chief would be able to return around 5% of the money allocated to the Fire Department back to the City Council. Why, is what I asked several times, my comment was that it seemed disingenuous.
The reply was usually to do it and don't make waves.
Except a lot of years, that money was never returned to the City.
If the Chief got a bug up his ass about some fancy new piece of equipment that he just had to have, he'd transfer money out of one part of the budget to his pet project, using some BS about safety.
Usually, the City Council would approve the request, since they trusted the Chief.
Does Massachusetts' budget have similar fat?
They'll cut the budget where they'll get the biggest screams from, all in an attempt to squeeze some more bucks out the public.