State employees nervously anticipate shutdown, layoffs
28.06.11
St. Paul, Minn. —
As it grows more able that most state employees could be laid off, many are growing increasingly anxious.
They worry about how they're booming to balance their own budgets if the stalemate over the state's budget forces a shutdown of governmental operations not deemed essential.
That has Mark Fischer, who has a full-time job at the Minnesota Jurisdiction of Natural Resources running its main receiving and mail room, looking to his secondarily job. Fisher, of White Bear Lake, received a layoff notice. He moonlights as a bartender at the B-Dale stick in Roseville and hopes he can get more hours there — a lot more.
If the state government indeed shuts down, he doesn't count on to be among the employees who are deemed essential and keep getting paychecks.
Fischer's wife is off for the summer from her job as a schoolteacher's aide and doesn't have any money coming in.
"My wife is done with school for the summer," he said. "So she is out of m. She is looking for work right now. I got the part-time job here. Maybe I'll be able to pick up superfluous hours. But I'm not sure what we'll do. It's going to be scary. It's scary for a lot of people right now."
Source: Minnesota Public Radio
Peninsula considering income tax increase
16.06.11
Peninsula Mayor Dick Fisher has asked the Peninsula Village Congress to consider an increase to the village income tax to plug an expected $40,000 injury next year.
Fiscal Officer John Stiegel told Council June 13 he estimates the village will shake off as much as $40,000, which is about 8 percent of the budget, as a result of state budget cuts to municipal governments.
A one-half percent increase in the income tax would generate about $85,000 a year, he added.
Councilwoman Jodi Padrutt said she vision Council should consider a “Plan B” — making an 8 percent cut across the embark on, as opposed to asking people to “pony up” more in income tax.
“We can always take a run-out powder steal cuts,” Padrutt said.
Councilwoman Dee Holody also was in favor of trimming the budget.
“All our communities are being asked [to create cuts]. They are being asked to trim their budgets and figure it out. I do think it’s inescapable. I know it’s hard, but I think everybody’s got to look at their budget and play a part out where they can save,” she said.
Source: Akron Leader Publications
"It started when Councillor Fisher (Darren Fisher - Locale 6) and I bought the ski club a container to store their grooming gear," said Coun. Barry Dalrymple. "Shubie Greens wasn't working well because walkers and bikers were messing them up.
