July 7, 2008
Fosters
ROCHESTER — Councilors’ recent discussion about their goals for the city and manager provided a sobering look at what can’t be done following deep cuts to the approved budget.
City Manager John Scruton said helping the economic development commission fill and redevelop empty space should be “dropped.” The council cut funds to set up a lease system with startup businesses downtown.
July 7, 2008
Fosters
ROCHESTER — An Effingham woman is claiming the local School District rescinded a job offer because she got the high school’s top guidance post over the wife of the School Board chairman.
Jennifer Murphy, who submitted her resignation from her current job after the offer, said she was so stunned to learn politics may be behind the reversal that she fired off an e-mail to administration reminding officials of the board’s conflict-of-interest policy.
July 7, 2008
According to the Rochester Economic Development Strategic Plan (August 2006, endorsed by the Rochester City Council and adopted by Rochester Planning Board), “In 2004, Rochester workers earned an average annual wage of $33,403 ($5,800 below the average wage within region), which represents a decline of almost $5,000 (13%) since 2000.” Additionally, as stated in the plan, “Rochester household incomes have not kept pace with inflation, while the region’s household incomes have risen faster than the rate of inflation.”
So, while having this important information, the Rochester City Council and School Board approved city and school labor contract unions that were outside the Rochester taxpayer’s ability to pay. In the City of Rochester and Rochester School Board Current Labor Contracts (June 26, 2008) document, you will see that current labor contract yearly wage increases have outpaced the average Rochester taxpayer’s ability to pay.
The contract document information also points out that there are three contracts (Para-professionals, Department of Public Works and School District Administrators) that have expired and that are currently being negotiated. We believe that it is very important that you contact all of our elected officials and let them know that they need to negotiate responsible contracts with these three groups. Continuing to approve wage increases that place undue hardship on the taxpayers of Rochester simply have to stop.
The Ability to Pay is always the most important determining factor when negotiating labor contracts. It’s not simple enough to look at what counter parts in other communities receive for wages and salaries. The Rochester taxpayers deserve and expect our elected officials to work in our best interest and not the best interest of labor unions who perform services for us, the taxpayer.
Please review these documents and contact all of our City Councilors and School Board Members. Tell them you want them to only approve wage increases that don’t create fixed costs we cannot afford.