None of this is any fun.
When the economy is bad and public money dries up, government has to figure out a way to conform to a shrinking budget.
That’s Madison County’s situation. In their efforts to account for budget shortfalls, county officials have made missteps — such as increasing the county option income tax from 1.25 percent to 1.75 percent — but they’ve also taken some sound steps toward fiscal responsibility.
Monday evening, the County Council voted to impose unpaid furlough days for county employees to save enough money to keep the doors of the Madison County Government Center open and to avoid further layoffs.
Each employee will be required to take four days off without pay sometime during the next 36 business days. The immediate need is to cut $280,000 from the budget. Councilman Gary Gustin calculated that the county needs $70,000 a day to cover its payroll, leading to the stipulation that each employee take four unpaid days off.
Fake-cations. DOWOP (Days Off Without Pay). Whatever you want to call them, unpaid furlough days cut into people’s paychecks and create hardships for some who may be struggling to pay their bills anyway. But it’s a necessity in this time of financial crisis for local government officials to remember who they’re working for — the taxpayer, not the public employee — and to save money as needed.
The alternatives to furlough days — job cuts, wage cuts, etc. — aren’t very attractive either.
Anderson city government recently approved an employee package for next year that gives 14 holidays. The problem is that all of those are paid days off. Whether paid holidays are stipulated by union contracts or not, that’s poor management of public money.
Unpaid days off may cut into the services offered by the county, but at least taxpayers aren’t still paying employees for those days as if they were hard at work.
Editorials
Editorial: County’s unpaid furlough days painful but needed
- Editorials
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Editorial: Sentencing should be determined by judge most familiar with case
We should show concern about the handling of a criminal’s recent case under the Madison County unified court system, a concept where judges share resources to help reduce costs, avoid backlogs and move cases forward.
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Editorial: 911 consolidation good for county
When it comes to emergencies, a fast and proper response is sometimes the difference between life and death. Therefore it is important for 911 services to be coordinated for the best response time. It’s even better if those services are consolidated with one location fielding calls from multiple areas.
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Editorial: On Valentine’s Day, indulge in selfishness of volunteering
In the final analysis, we’re all selfish beings. Everything we do, at its core, is motivated by what is good for us.
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You Said It: About roundabouts, Mayor Smith’s firings, recycling, State of City address
The bottom line in Mayor Kevin Smith’s State of the City address Tuesday during the Anderson Rotary Club’s luncheon at Anderson Country Club was simple: To attract investment, you have to make investments. (Article published Feb. 4.)
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Editorial: Firings show inability to turn foes into friends
Politics is a double-edged sword.
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Editorial: Help celebrate city's strong black history
Many times we overlook the small achievements of residents long gone who made a better Anderson for those of us alive today. There is no better time to recognize and cherish those stories than during Black History Month.
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Editorial: Madison County needs vision for future tourism
Slot machines, gospel music, a beautiful state park and candy are all thriving as destination sites. Now is the time to explore a way to connect these valuable attractions and encourage new ideas.
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Editorial: AHS grad rates moving up, must be pushed ever higher
A diploma is a must, but it has to mean something. Anderson High School must do this the right way, not cutting corners and passing students through classes, but making them accountable for learning the subject matter.
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Editorial: With changes to program, why not begin recycling?
The public has to understand the importance of recycling aluminum and steel cans, cardboard, glass, newspapers and certain plastics. Besides minimizing a community’s waste, recycling saves energy, natural resources and the environment.
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Editorial: Reality returns after Super Bowl mania
While we loved what the Super Bowl did for our reputation, it’s time to get back to the real world. Let’s recap the lost week.
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