Derry cuts 3 firemen,,, it can be done!

[Dennis King]

I heard this on the news but there was no story in the newspaper to link to. To me, this is big news since it is so very rarely done. Well the good people in Derry are cutting back on their town staffing levels so it indeed can be done. We should be looking at a budget that is 5% LESS than last years. We all know someone who is out of work. I drove down Lawrence road and saw 6 for sale signs, now just how many houses do they have on that road 15,, 18, maybe 20, well it seems about 1/3 of those houses are for sale. This should really frighten us. I know people want to sign Kumbaya and say all it getting better but most experts are calling for a "double dip recession" and a "jobless recovery". These terms are new to me and I fear we will learn all too well what they mean.

We must accept this new reality, time to follow Derry's example, it will not be easy, letting people go never is, but so many of the taxpayers have had to experience this first hand.

[andysinnh]

The specifics are they opted to not hire open reqs - no layoffs were done. Just thought I'd add that to the discussion. And if they have to reduce any more they'll have to close one fire station since there will be inadequate coverage during the shifts. That level has some residents concerned should any additional staffing not be rehired. This is per channel 9 news.

[uscitizen03054]

I heard this on the news but there was no story in the newspaper to link to. To me, this is big news since it is so very rarely done. Well the good people in Derry are cutting back on their town staffing levels so it indeed can be done. We should be looking at a budget that is 5% LESS than last years. We all know someone who is out of work. I drove down Lawrence road and saw 6 for sale signs, now just how many houses do they have on that road 15,, 18, maybe 20, well it seems about 1/3 of those houses are for sale. This should really frighten us. I know people want to sign Kumbaya and say all it getting better but most experts are calling for a "double dip recession" and a "jobless recovery". These terms are new to me and I fear we will learn all too well what they mean.

We must accept this new reality, time to follow Derry's example, it will not be easy, letting people go never is, but so many of the taxpayers have had to experience this first hand.

Dennis, we must be prepared for the worst case economic scenario. This story calls that Merrimack taxpayers see a significant tax cut. If you don't believe me how bad the economy is, just look at what happened this week.

US retail sales fall unexpectedly, jobless claims up
REUTERS — 01/14/10
* U.S. retail sales fall unexpectedly in December

* New weekly applications for jobless benefits rise

[hdw]

I live on a street (Harrington Dr.) with twelve houses. Two are for sale, including mine, and one didn't sell so now it is rented. If I don't sell by May I am going to rent mine. Hopefully to several poor Haitian families or any other destitute people who can muster up enough people to pay the rent. Then I'll default on my loan; stop paying property taxes and see how long it takes for the government to evict the tenants. And I will be sitting on the beach at my other property in the Caribbean where I will be out of contact, out of sight and out of mind. Or just plain out of my mind. Instead of cutting taxes, I am all for spending more. Build build build, hire more town employees and keep raising town salaries. This is a great country we live in. Adios Amigos

[Jamie MacFarland]

I heard this on the news but there was no story in the newspaper to link to. To me, this is big news since it is so very rarely done. Well the good people in Derry are cutting back on their town staffing levels so it indeed can be done. We should be looking at a budget that is 5% LESS than last years. We all know someone who is out of work. I drove down Lawrence road and saw 6 for sale signs, now just how many houses do they have on that road 15,, 18, maybe 20, well it seems about 1/3 of those houses are for sale. This should really frighten us. I know people want to sign Kumbaya and say all it getting better but most experts are calling for a "double dip recession" and a "jobless recovery". These terms are new to me and I fear we will learn all too well what they mean.

We must accept this new reality, time to follow Derry's example, it will not be easy, letting people go never is, but so many of the taxpayers have had to experience this first hand.

Dennis,

Good points. ..However, a quick google search on the cuts shows Derry has a Fire Department total staff of, I believe 77, and the good people of Derry, as you call them, have Municipal Budget is approx 16 million more than ours. Yes, they are a bit larger town, probably not 16 million larger right? Their municipal budget, 2007 level(3 years ago) was 44 million vs Merrimack back then was in the high 20's. It would seem to me they may have more room to cut.

Personally, I would like to see the cuts, or at minimum, "Zero increase" for this year. That would be my hope. However, I don't think the TC has much control over the total tax bill. Do we have any control over the State portion?......You focus too much on Police and Fire. I would look away from Police and Fire and look at other departments. Could cuts be made in General Government? Some other departments? Also, if you take a look at how much the Town side of your tax bill costs, you are looking at a very SMALL fraction of your overall bill.

[Dennis King]

Jamie, I just wrote a long explaination but it was wiped out when I deleted the large type feature and lost the whole document (only wanted one line to be large)
I do not have the time to repeat it all, look at my posts, it is all there, the cuts for school and other town cuts, I have made many suggestions. I think now is the time to have a warrant article to reduce the school and town budgets by 4 percent. Now back in the day, it took 25 signatures but now with the TC form I believe it will take 1250 signatures. Whatever the number, it is a lot more than 25 and having stood in the cold for 25 signatures (most people are not interested in anything going on in town), it takes several hours. The imperial TC made the bar so high so as to remove the power of the taxpayers so they can control all aspects of our lives. (Funny but look at the current TC and then look at the people who were on the committee who wrote these rules,,, hmmmmm)

I have been clear that we will have to accept changes in response times, services, convenience, and wait times. A 32 hour town hall work week, Nick doing the work for the double dipper in the tech support position, and one less patrol were some of my town suggestions, I have also detailed the school recs.

We are in dire straights, hopefully our town council will get on the ball with this but if not, we need to look at a petitioned warrant article

[lynn]

you do not need a warrant article, nor do you need 1250 signatures
The voters still have the power to do what you suggest - IF they chose to do so.
It is very easy - go to the deliberative session and get enough others who feel the same way
to go and you can amend the budget from the floor to reduce the bottom line by $X ( what ever 4% turns out to be)
and if the majority agree - that is what goes on the ballot
Now you need to convince enough people or hope they feel the same way to vote yes on the reduced budget
instead of no - leaving us with the default which may be higher.

We have lost none of that power

[Dennis King]

Lynn, I was looking at having the choice before all the voters. This way, they could vote for the full funded, the default or the 4% cut budget. At the Deliberative session, we typically have all the union workers and their family come out since they know it pays for them to be there (where else can you vote for you own raise). This is why I wanted the choice to be on the ballot but I know it is far more than 25 signatures so our power is gone because of the Town Council, many of whom, wrote these rules. I recall arguing against the mega high number but it was clear they really did not want to compete with the citizens for power. Sorry Lynn, but in reality, we do not have the power you believe. The average taxpayer who wants to cut the budget has to come out in vast numbers to overcome the core voter group of about 500 people who vote in lockstep for anything the town or school wants. Why, well they are voting for the raises for themselves and their family and friends. That seems wrong and certainly not something any of us taxpayers have a right to do. Maybe that explains why the teachers got a 21 percent raise over 3 years and why on average, municipal workers make 30% more than the average taxpayer.

I guess if enough people show, we could try you idea but most are fixing up their homes to sell them, out working the second part time job they were lucky to get (want fries with that?), at the soup kitchen for the first time, or at the bankruptcy court. Just look at the 6 homes for sale on Lawrence road!

Times are hard and we are in dire straights, I do hope enough hard working taxpayers will come out but fear they simply can not make it in enough numbers to counter those who will vote for their own raises.

[lynn]

you CAN do what you want at the deliberative session IF you have the support of the attendees.
And this is no different than when we had a BOS. And the audience is probably not much different than then either

The process to get something on the ballot that the TC does not propose is harder - but in this instance they
are proposing a budget so the attendees can do pretty much what they want once they get there.

[Dennis King]

you CAN do what you want at the deliberative session IF you have the support of the attendees.
.

Yup my point exactly!

[lynn]

AND MY POINT is that, that has not changed since the old days of true town meeting
thru the various iterations till our present form.
you not liking the charter is immaterial
those who care to show up at the meeting or election day get to have their voices/votes heard
you want to propose a reduction of 4% at town meeting feel free - it is allowed

[Concerned]

Mr. King never shows up to voice concerns in public.

[Dennis King]

Mr. King never shows up to voice concerns in public.

I suggest you go back and read the annual town reports, I have attended every deliberative session and have made many amendments over the years. One thing I am not is silent. Not sure who you are or what rock you have been under but I have a very active history in town and have brought petitioned warrant articles forward. Have you stood in the cold getting signatures?

Frankly, I was tempted to let this go as I loathe to get into conversations with people too cowardly to give their name. I have taken a lot of heat with my position on tax cuts this year but I stand by my position with my real name. This is Nat's site so putting up with attacks from anons is allowed; saying the name of the person who is destroying our economy and forcing us to make these cuts is verboten. I suggest this troll look up the prior DS minutes, wonder if he/she is on it but hiding in the shadows, we will never know

[Concerned]

Mr. King,

If enough people feel the same way as you, they would attend the meetings and the DS and voice their concerns in your support. Then they would do the same at the polls.

They have not.

People who want their voices heard will find a way to be heard.

Please do not attempt to speak for me. I will do that in my own way - with my vote.

[lynn]

maybe they will this year...