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The Bad News Report

tozmervo

By tozmervo
in Charlotte

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tozmervo Metropolis

tozmervo

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It's beginning to sound like Charlotte-Mecklenburg's financial situation is coming quickly to a head. I think the government has gotten along pretty well so far, all things considered, but a $20 million budget cut mid-year is pretty serious, and they're making plans for a full $95 million cut. The library is about to vote on cuts that would include closing 12 of their 24 branches. CATS is facing a fare increase in July, well ahead of schedule, and they may decide to reduce bus service instead. CMS is having more funds cut and will be letting more staff go. No department is immune, from the CMPD to Parks and Rec and Human Services.

At this point, while there are immediate budget cuts going into effect, its hard to tell just how bad its going to get. I expect there is an element of 'scare tactic' in effect, but it appears there are some hard choices coming before the year is out.

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WEM
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I work at Siemens.  Reports of this factory's death are greatly over-exaggerated. As stated, this rolling shutdown is part of the PG division's greater shut down.  The industry is experiencing a

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ah59396

Just, no.  We are all aware of your position on HB2, which is fine, you are entitled to it.  But losing the East Coast operation of PayPal and 400 new jobs is not warranting of a smiley face.  Get out

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People moving across state lines for jobs are not the exploited workers who require protections. Clearly there are tons of high paying jobs in the metro areas, which is a great thing about Charlotte a

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tozmervo Metropolis

tozmervo

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Posted (edited)

The library has officially voted to shutter 12 locations to close their budget gap. All 12 will close by April. 140 people will loose their jobs.

http://www.charlotte...-locations.html

  • Beatties Ford
  • Belmont
  • Carmel
  • Check It Out
  • Cornelius
  • Hickory Grove
  • Independence Regional
  • Morrison Regional
  • Mint Hill
  • Myers Park
  • Scaleybark
  • Sugar Creek

Edited by tozmervo
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dubone Megalopolis

dubone

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[Let's let sleeping dogs lie on the off topic discussion]

It is going to be interesting to see what gets cut. I think people can cope with fewer library branches, but when we start dealing with school layoffs and delays of new schools and other projects, it is going to get tough.

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PeytonC Unincorporated Area

PeytonC

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Sorry, veered off-topic for a sec. There are a lot of people upset about the library closures, as evident in local forums. Sure, they will re-open when things get better. I wonder how many more programs/ammenities will be slashed as a result of the budget crisis. Anyone hear of any major cuts to the Parks/Rec?

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ontap Whistle-Stop

ontap

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Sorry, veered off-topic for a sec. There are a lot of people upset about the library closures, as evident in local forums. Sure, they will re-open when things get better. I wonder how many more programs/ammenities will be slashed as a result of the budget crisis. Anyone hear of any major cuts to the Parks/Rec?

I don't think that any announcement have been made, but I know that they have been anticipating and planning some worst case scenarios. I would expect the cuts to be just as severe as with the libraries. Look for some rec centers to be shuttered and the remaining rec centers to reduce programs and hours. Time to get back to basics. Don't expect the county to sell the 2004 bonds either. Meaning no new park construction for the forseeable future. This includes prominant planned parks, ie Romare Bearden. This would be an ideal time for the county to sell the bonds earmarked for land acquisition and purchase land for future parks....I see this as a possibility even with the severe cut-backs....dirt will never get any cheaper. If the county can keep it's bond rating intact this would be a good strategy.

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Urbanity Burg

Urbanity

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I'm wondering if the library is really as bad as we are being told.

Consider this point in today's Observer:

The library board voted unanimously Thursday to close half its 24 branches and lay off a third of its workers after the county ordered the system to cut $2 million in spending by June 30.

It left many of us scratching our heads. The county has a $1.4 billion budget, and yet we stand to lose half our libraries over one-tenth of one percent of that budget?

It's not that simple, but the move sparks all kinds of questions. How can a cut of $2 million out of the library's $30 million or so budget force the immediate shutdown of half the libraries? How does Wake County operate 20 branches with half of Mecklenburg's budget? Did the library have other ways to deal with the cuts? Does the county have other options than to threaten cutting the library's budget in half next year?

http://www.charlotte...l#ixzz0ipMu0cDL

Now I myself gave $25 in reaction to the news, but the above quote isn't the first piece I read since the library closings were announced that made me questioned how does $2 million equal half of all the branches operating costs?

I want to be perfectly clear and state I know that the situation is bad and this is just one of many belt tightnening issues this city is going to have to face, but I'm also just wondering if maybe the Library isn't using a slightly questionable scare tactic instead of real budget crunching.

Edited by Urbanity
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dubone Megalopolis

dubone

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Wow, Moynahan will rent! That is pretty tragic news. Even Bob Steel who knew from his treasury days that Wachovia was the Hindenburg filled with hydrogen ready to explode bought a place here for his token year. This is terrible news about his commitment to this city, regardless of whether it is an open question on the headquarters.

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cltbwimob Burg

cltbwimob

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Give the guy a chance at least. Mr. Moynihan has already shown his commitment to the city by continuing donations to charitable organizations in the city, choosing 6 of 11 (or maybe it's 7 of 12) direct reports that are based in Charlotte with only 1 based in Boston and 3 in NY, and retaining the corporate HQ in the city, as well as having KL's old office.

Remember, before this announcement, he didn't have any property in Charlotte. My guess is that he probably was getting sick of hotel rooms at say $300+ per night. If he spends a lot of time in Charlotte, then it wouldn't take those hotel stays long to outweigh the cost of leasing an apartment. Furthermore, I am sure it sucks to have to sleep in a bed that everyone else has used night after night. Maybe he just wanted his own furniture to rest on. Who knows, though, he may just be waiting on buying a permanent residence.

Edited by cltbwimob
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krazeeboi Gigalopolis

krazeeboi

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The Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill area lost the most construction-related jobs in North Carolina during the past year, according to federal statistics cited by the Associated General Contractors of America. The area lost 10,300 such jobs, or 23 percent of its February 2009 total. That brings local construction-, mining- and logging-industry employment to 34,800 jobs, down from 45,100 a year earlier.

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49er Hamlet

49er

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It's a separate issue, but I thought the rate increase was excessive and ill timed. They could have gotten the merger out of the way first. The public perception is oh look, they merge and also want to jack up our rates. And 17%? I don't care what kind of development they are trying to finance, it's a huge increase for most folks to swallow. I'm starting to feel like they've become like the Netflix's and BoA's of the world who are truly out of touch with how tough times are for average people. To an executive, they probably can't identify with how big a $20 increase per month could be for some peoples wallets.

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