What Does Bare Bones Really Mean?
Once upon a time I understood "Bare Bones" to mean no meat left, down to the barest essentials. Some of you remember way back when you went to buy a new car there was the "bare bones" model that you added extras too, I remember getting ready to buy my very first brand new car, a 1964 Ford Fairlane. The dealer said he could get me a real great price. $2,100.00 was the base price then I added a radio, two outside mirrors, a four speed in the floor and the ultra powerful 289 V8 and before i knew it the cost was over $3,000.00. What a shocker so I tried to order the bare bones model and was told there were none available and I would have to pay extra to get the basic model.
The point is I learned very early on that what's often advertised as "Bare Bones" many times actually cost as much as the luxury model after the smoke clears.
Last year the county adopted a budget, that no one was allowed to question in the required public meeting, it was described as "Bare Bones". Everything had been cut to the very bone and some were cut tot the marrow. When questions were asked in committee meetings about how could there be such extreme, advertised at least, cuts yet the total money was higher than the year prior?
Assurance after assurance was given that there was nothing left to cut, even when a list of proposed cuts was offered and rejected,
In the 13 March issue of the Pulaski Citizen it was stated that amendments were required by the school and other departments that required no new money. This was discussed in the recent Budget Committee Meeting but no one asked the question if there was no new money and the budgets had been "bare bones" how did they have so much money to move around. Here's an example The School Board asked for amendments for such items as $17,000 for a new mower at Richland; $150,000 for consultants and 150,000 for contracted services; 75,000 for distance learning, 45,000 for a speech pathologist; 50,000 for bleacher seats; 85,000 for bus drivers now add to that the lose of a reported $456,000 in state funding and you have a total of $572,000.00 in new spending coupled with a loss of $456,000.00 and that's a total of $1,028,000.00 in changes to the school budget with no new money. Now I am not questioning whether the need exist for these items, I suspect they probably do. What I am questioning is how in a "Bare Bones" budget did they find more than a million dollars to spend on non budgeted items?
Now, understand as we come closer to the adoption of the new budget some departments seem to be in a hurry to spend the excess money from this years "Bare Bones" budgets. Proposed $22,000.00 in bonuses for Highway Department personnel, $88,000.00 in the Ambulance Department for turnout gear and remount of a chassis. Again I am not questioning the need for these things only the appropriateness of such spending when the county is basically broke and these things could easily be budgeted for in the new budget if justified. As long as departments are allowed to proclaim "bare bones" budget when everyone know better, then that extra creates a rash of last minute spending to get rid of the excesses so they can come back next year and declare declare their desperate need for more money because they spend all their "bare bones" money last year.
The point is I learned very early on that what's often advertised as "Bare Bones" many times actually cost as much as the luxury model after the smoke clears.
Last year the county adopted a budget, that no one was allowed to question in the required public meeting, it was described as "Bare Bones". Everything had been cut to the very bone and some were cut tot the marrow. When questions were asked in committee meetings about how could there be such extreme, advertised at least, cuts yet the total money was higher than the year prior?
Assurance after assurance was given that there was nothing left to cut, even when a list of proposed cuts was offered and rejected,
In the 13 March issue of the Pulaski Citizen it was stated that amendments were required by the school and other departments that required no new money. This was discussed in the recent Budget Committee Meeting but no one asked the question if there was no new money and the budgets had been "bare bones" how did they have so much money to move around. Here's an example The School Board asked for amendments for such items as $17,000 for a new mower at Richland; $150,000 for consultants and 150,000 for contracted services; 75,000 for distance learning, 45,000 for a speech pathologist; 50,000 for bleacher seats; 85,000 for bus drivers now add to that the lose of a reported $456,000 in state funding and you have a total of $572,000.00 in new spending coupled with a loss of $456,000.00 and that's a total of $1,028,000.00 in changes to the school budget with no new money. Now I am not questioning whether the need exist for these items, I suspect they probably do. What I am questioning is how in a "Bare Bones" budget did they find more than a million dollars to spend on non budgeted items?
Now, understand as we come closer to the adoption of the new budget some departments seem to be in a hurry to spend the excess money from this years "Bare Bones" budgets. Proposed $22,000.00 in bonuses for Highway Department personnel, $88,000.00 in the Ambulance Department for turnout gear and remount of a chassis. Again I am not questioning the need for these things only the appropriateness of such spending when the county is basically broke and these things could easily be budgeted for in the new budget if justified. As long as departments are allowed to proclaim "bare bones" budget when everyone know better, then that extra creates a rash of last minute spending to get rid of the excesses so they can come back next year and declare declare their desperate need for more money because they spend all their "bare bones" money last year.
posted by Allen Barrett | 7:40 PM
52 Comments:
GTC says:
Be prepared to have a property tax increase and/or a wheel tax imposed upon the citizens of Giles County. Mr. Barrett neglected to mention the $2.2 million proposed increase in the Highway Department 2012-2013 budget.
I am willing to bet that the Commission will pass a $25.00 wheel tax as well as increase our property tax rate at least 30 cents.
The fun will begin at this months Commission meeting and will come to a head at May's meeting.
Thanks for tis excellent explanation, Mr. Barrett. Surely people will realize the need for a Charter in Giles county in order for citizens to put a stop to this foolish spending when we have folks struggling to put food on the table. Dont these county employees and elected officials care?
Yeah, keep tooting that charter horn. The charter isn't going to magically cut the price of materials and needs. It also isn't going to make the state reconsider giving us the money. You have absolutely no idea how bad the charter would be for the county. I hope we get a wheel tax and a property tax increase. We have needed it for 4 years. The commissioners that are scared to put it into place are to blame for the financial mess we are in.
8:04 It is obvious that you don't give a damn about your fellow citizens and the financial burden that is about to be imposed upon them. Spend, spend, spend with no oversight or controls.
You are correct in saying that the Charter will not cut the price of materials. But, it will require a zero based budget process and multi-year financial plans to support any spending requests. Now what is so bad about explaning to all the citizens why a particular department requires a certain level of funding and justifying that spending level?
Or, do you want to continue to spend, spend, spend without any explanation or justification?
8:04 I have not read the Charter. How will it be bad for the County? I agree that funding should be justified. Is that bad?
Funding is justified now. Zero based budgeting is fine but it doesn't change the cost. The county still has to come up with revenue to properly cover those costs. I don't see how you think the charter is going to fix our budget. The charter will fail when these few that think they are so smart have to call for a tax increase and the citizens won't vote for it. Then they will be begging for us to vote for one. You can find out very easily why every department asks for the money they get now. All you have to do is call and ask or go by the Financial Management office and ask for a copy of the budget.
I can see that most of you aren't having to work with budgets on a large scale during these economic times. Costs are rising and tax revenues are decreasing. There is no magic wand to make it all better in a short amount of time. A tax increase is going to be required unless they start formally using the hospital money, which does not need to happen.
If you haven't read the charter or understand how the current system works, you need not make arguments one way or the other.
Is that why the County has over spent its revenue by $1.2 million per year for the past 5 years? Is that why the County has depleted its $6.5 million reserve when they did have a balanced budget five years ago? Is this why the County Exeutive fought to reinstate the cost cutting proposals presented by Ms. Garner last year? Not a single County office has cut their budget spending for the past 3 fiscal years; with the exception for two of the fee offices. The County Executive is leading the way by approving increases to her own office budget.
Do you run you household the way the County runs its finances? When you run out of money do you go to your neighbor and say ... Hey I am taking more money from you so that I can continue spending at the rate for which I have become accustomed?
Has the County looked into cost saving measures? Such as a consolidated garage where all county vehicles would be maintained? Consolidated office supply acquisition where we would buy in bulk and then distribute to individual offices? Request insurance proposals from all sources that insure County entities rather than taking Mr. Alsup's word that he is providing the most cost effective rate? Just to mention a few suggestions. How about you suggesting where we could save funds?
I understand how the cost are rising, but how is tax revenues decreasinmg? I thought the tax had been maybe staying the same.
Just wondering.
When we do not have economic development to expand the sales tax base then even though prices go up revenues go down.
Having those in positions that are qualified to work a budget would be nice but as Mr. Barrett has pointed out if you have money in a bare bones budget that can be moved around there has to be a lot of meat on that bone. If the money was asked for for one thing but is going to be used for another, just has to be moved, then was the original item that important to be included in the budget in the first place or was it just padding in the budget?
Tax revenue decreases when people stop spending money, stop paying property taxes on time, people lose their homes to forclosure and various other reasons.
Those cost saving measures you recommended would require the hire of additional employees and space to rent or purchase. I don't see where that saves money. Again, until you have managed a large operation you will never be able to see where practical application supercedes theory.
Actually I have managed large multi-million dollar operations and know exactly what it means to set a budget and stick to the budget.
We relied on customers to walk through our door to have operating capitol, but here is the kicker, when cash flow was slow we cut all unnecessary spending to make it through the lean times and did not give out bonuses. In addition we had maintenance schedules and replacement schedules for our equipment that was needed for the operations. When it was time to replace equipment it was already in the budget and earmarked and no need to shift money around and alter another departments budgets. That is competency in management of operations. In the private sector most department heads will not allow it because the bonuses were tied to how well they did their job and stayed with in their respective budgets.
When equipment was to be purchased we had qualified accountants that would compare our strategies to finance, straight out purchase, lease, or depending on the job rent. They helped us maximize our replacement costs or new purchase costs on equipment, land, materials ect. Then again we hired competent, educated, skilled employees that were qualified for their positions as opposed to being hired for being a fun person, I'm sorry best fit is the term.
If you are competent you can make a budget and stick to it, when you are not you make excuses. And
when emergencies come up a set amount of each departments budget was set as contingency.
But if there is that much extra money in the schools budget what is the budget being spent by. This is why the school system should have to submit a line itemized budget and stick to it.
When you hire skilled efficient employees you actually save money because you can cut the fat, or the dead weight employees. And no one in our government seems to want that because half of their friends and family would probably not have jobs.
8:04 For the umpteenth time the county does not lose one penny from the state if we have a Charter here. You have been told this over and over. How about you providing the law that says the county will lose money from the state?
Commissioners need to look at cutting the current budget. EVERY county budget is padded.
As for a central bulk purchasing area - I thought Garner was supposed to be doing that from day one. It does not require more employees.
You do understand that she does not have to do any thing she does not want. Did you not read her little insult to the taxpayers in the paper about her belief she does not have to follow procedures put in place by the commissioners.
We could petition for the county executive job to become part-time. That would save us about $75,000.
The Senioe Citizens are not getting increase in their Social Security check, their insurance is going up along with everything else
How do you think they should feel when they see county employees getting raise when they have cut back on food and medicine to have money to pay their property taxes?
They need a vechile to go to the doctor, grocery and drug stores.
So raise their property taxes and put a wheel tax on them.
It looks like the Federal Government thinks "to hell" with the seniors. Is that what Giles county Government thinks also?
It's easy for anyone with a good paying job to say let's raise taxes. If things don't soon change the good government jobs willo be gone too.
People have to be responsible and plan ahead. If they decided to be at the mercy of the government to get a paycheck, they have to take everything else that comes with it. It isn't my problem that some people don't save enough money for retirement.
8:04 sounds just like Tommy Campbell who has never seen a tax he didn't like are a spending bill he didn't vote for. The problem ain't to little money it's to much spending. Over five million spent over income during last five years. Ole Tommy talks a good game but when it comes time to vote to spend or raise taxes you can sure count on him, Holt, Woodard, Harwell, Cary, Jackson and Flacy to hold their hands up real high to say yes.
Here is a question someone might be willing to answer because I can not find anything but heads shaking when I ask it of the commissioners, or county executive. Why does Giles County pay over a hundred thousand dollars a year to recycle when other counties are making over a hundred thousand each year from their recycling programs.
How many people even know that the county has a recycling program or where the drop off area is? I know it's sort of hard to find on wet days because the mud has it all covered up and hidden.
How many people have ever actually seen the person in charge of the recycling program outside the courthouse?
When there is no accountability why should there be an expectation that anyone will be accountable?
Money has been wasted, bills overpaid, money has even been lost but what the heck as long as we keep it in the family it'll all work out.
Besides a lot of people could probably get by with less food and no medication. If they can't afford a wheel tax let em walk, after all what's a ten or twelve mile walk for an eighty year old, those tennis balls only have to be replaced on walkers every hundred miles and if the roads get littered with the bodies of old people they can be picked up with the dead cows and horses.
3:28 You may get there someday.
You never know when sickness will hit and wipe you out.
As for living off the government. you sound like a Senator or Congress person. They take Social Security out of your check, so you are due it. If that wasn't given to the government so they could give to [eople that haven't paid in a person could but that in the bank for their retirement.
A member of my family had cancer several years ago. At that time you couldn't draw disability for six months after finding out your had cancer. So for six months no income, it took their savings. They had insurance but it didn't pay everything. Then what they hadn't alreadt spenr as taxes and minsurance went on the funeral took the resxt of it.
I think your post was disgusting and low down.
How many of our Commissioners are drawing their Social Security?
I guess 3:28 thinks you are living off the government too.
I know you can't make enough being a commissioner to pay your bills.
3:28 PM
A callus personality.
You guys make me laugh with your political crap. The older CONSERVATIVE people I know saved money and invested so that they don't have to depend on anyone to make a living. That is the difference between a liberal and a conservative. I can't feel sorry for someone that worked their entire life and didn't put any money away to retire. Unless you are dumb, which most of you seem to be, you know that you can't survive on social security.
I have no problem taking care of the mentally ill and children that are born into bad situations but I will never be happy taking care of people who don't want to help themselves.
I was thinking about the people that worked all their life, paid in Social Security and income tax. But their job wasn't a high paying job, so they didn't get rich. Maybe had several children to school, feed and cloths.
Those people deserve their SS and when sickness comes that takes their savings, it's hard to pay extra taxes. I wasn't talking about the ones that haven't tried.
7:46 Are you saying that shouldn't get their Social Security they paid in?
Some people leave a lot to their children, see they get a good education and they ge good jobs, but thet don't happen to everybody.
I have feelings for those less fortunate than me and I don't look down on them.
I hope you aren't CG because that would not be a very christian post.
Other places are laying people off because of not enough money coming in to pay all county bills. Properties evualtion went down and less income coming in.
It is making it harder, but what else can they do. But the bidget had to be cut.
Stop and think about the ballout the Federal Government gave these companies then they gave the leader a bonus. Did you approve of that?
9:10
Christian gentleman here, and I KNEW you wouldn't be able to refrain from taking another cheap shot at me. You just can't help yourself, can you?
I refer to myself as a Christian and a gentleman because of the lie allen barrett told on me. I'm sure he would like to forget this, but YOU keep bringing it up. As a consequence, it's making the both of you look bad.
6:05 Sounds like you are saying you was the one posted 7:46.
Look like CG done revealed hisself
at 6:05 about his 7:46 mean self.
Maybe the devil done made him do it.
7:46 What do say we should do with these old people drwaing Social Security and on Medicare, Drug D plan? Do you think they should be line up and shot like Hitler did the Jews?
They worked for their Social Security and when you become 65 the health insurance you thought you had changes to supplement and you have to go on Medicare, which doesn't pay like your old insurance did. All three of the insurances do have a premium coming out of you SS just like any other insurance.
They work and pay in SS, put some money in the bank thinking the interest will help them out in their old age. Well look at what interest s paying now. Some have even bought houses to rent and you want to raise property taxes on them. Plus they have to be kept up.
Doesn't the Bible say something about taking care of the needy?
I am angry that the Federal Government is paying some out of the SS that never worked to earn it. SS should be for the ones that worked and earned it.
Mr. Barrett,
The answer to your question of where is the money coming from is Equity or I believe they call it fund balance.
9:35 You left something. Those insurance don't completly cover all the bills for the doctor and medicine. Soon eats up your savings.
11:04 what question was that for the answer to be equity, the county has no equity and the fund balance is what's bare bones. That's the reason the Hospital Fund was raided without authorization.
Mr. Barrett,
I was refering to the School amendment.
9:06
Wrong. The only thing I have revealed about myself is that I am a Christian and a gentleman (male gender). In addition to mthat, I did not post 7:46.
Why is it that you insist on trying to stir up needless trouble?
You seem to ask for it. Why didn't you just say You didn't post 7:46.
I think someone said they hope it wasn't you. But you just had to get this thread changed to about you.
Everyone had been discussing the thread.
5:40
Wrong. All I ask for is that the badmouthing, name-calling, and troublemaking stop.
You mentioned that I want this thread to be about me. Wrong again. Most of what I see on this blog are criticisms (personal attacks) about my Christianity and gender. How ridiculous. When that stops, I will gladly stop defending myself. If that happens, I believe this blog will die quickly. What a blessing that would be for Giles County.
then prove it and stop posting your nonsense 6:49.
6:49
Stop your whining, all you are doing is making yourself look like an immature cry baby who won’t shut up unless they get their way. Don’t you understand that people pick on you because they love to read your reaction? If you were mature enough to just blow it off and quietly grin to yourself and say to yourself “they are idiots” . But, when you keep mouthing off you make yourself look like a fool. Again, do what our Lord Christ would do … smile and walk away … quietly
7:07 (7:06)
Look at this from a military perspective. When the attacking stops so will the defending. Having served, I love and appreciate the value of peace. Christ does teach that we ought to turn the other cheek, and I believe His word. However, He also referred to a bunch of snakes as vipers. He was angry! I don't see a lot of "cheek turning" on this blog. Do you? I admit that I haven't done much of it either, and that's something I'll need to work out with the Lord. We all have to give account.
Hey, I have an idea. Instead of troublemaking and backstabbing, why don't we discuss Bible, ther love we should have for one another, etc? Would that not be better than maligning, name-calling, resentment, and jealousy?
8:05 AM Its not YOUR choice to turn this blog into a Bible discussion. That would be Mr. Barrett's decision. If that is what you want then you need to start your own blog.
8:42
I simply threw that out as a suggestion. Wouldn't that be better than all the hatred and jealousy?
11:49 This blog will never be free of emotion as long as you post. Start your own blog.
12:18
Sorry, but I feel this is where I need to be. Nice try though. Look at it this way. Emotion and opinion are hard to separate. Would you at least agree with that?
It's unfortunate that this blog has become a forum for judging one's Christianity and decorum.
Is there an issue you want to discuss, besides whether or not I am a Christian and a gentleman? Surely, you have more than that. If not, I would again make a suggestion that we discuss God's love for mankind or something of that nature.
12:18 You might as well give it up. I've tried to tell CG he just makes matters worse.
His way of posting is what makes a lot angry and disagreeing with him.
He's like a spoiled child wanting everything his way and going to make last post come hell or high water.
3:00
Wrong again. I just want the attaks, name-calling, and hate-mongering to stop. As I said, you stop the attacks and I will not have to defensd myself anymore. Could you agree to that?
Talk about people acting like spoiled children, what about this little group of quarrelsome people who either lost their election bids or their candidates did?
Poor ole person gets ITSELF so confused and thinks ITS writing to one person. Responds to me as if I just posted something, which I had not. What I find interesting is this person "feels this (blog) is where they need to be" so where would the poor soul go if WAB decided to close his blog? IT doesnt realize no one has any respect for IT.
4:1 I didn't loose a candidate in the elections. Won all mine except Sarah Palin. I just get sick of your winning.
I haven't called anyone a name just think you act like a child. Wish you would grow up.
The first few post on this thread was discusing the issue of the thread. Everyone didn't agree, but they were talking look what it has gone to.
Your turn so you can have the last post. I've said my peace. 3:00
5:38 (5:38)
You relaly should take breaks between your spewings.
really...typo...excuse me.
CG is a complete idiot and there is no use trying to reason with him. He's been convienced by his buds who laugh at him behind his back that a tax increase and wheel tax is what's really need for the county. He don't have enough sense to think for himself so he just follows around behind whoever butt his head is up at the moment. Sad, so sad to be so useless except for evil.
10:04
I never mentioned a wheel tax or property tax increase. You did. So who is an idiot? Stop lying.
The County Legislative Body will meet this morning at 9AM. Part of the business that will come before them are these amendments. Voting to support these items will be an endorsement for increased spending without controls or accountability. This will lead to an increase in the taxrate and creation of a wheel tax.
I tried to warn of this situation but people preferred to believe the lies rather than the realities.
I went to the meeting and understood Mr. Jackson say there was over three million dollars in the school reserve fund. Why is there so much, how could there be so much with such "Barebones" budgets he and the commissioners have claimed during the past few years.
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