Harp Orders 3‑Day Furloughs

"we need to be role models in demonstrating our support of sound fiscal responsibility."

What? Really? The City's government has done nothing but demonstrate fiscal irresponsibility. I know that she inherited a mess from the previous administration, but the current administration has done little to mitigate the damage and continues fumbling around for an immediate solution, when, in reality. New Haven's revival will require a radical change in municipal organization and management.

So, perhaps the mayor should be recalled and a new administration (and maybe board of Aldermen) be voted in?

Seriously, how much will 3 days x 36 people realy save the city? Maybe 50k max. Hard to believe this will really help the budget crisis.

The Smell Test Notes:

I'd like to know how 3 days of leave adds up to 21 hours. Shouldn't it be 24, or do our city workers only "work" 35 hours a week? If they're working 35 hour weeks instead of 40 like everyone in the private sector, shouldn't they be earning 12.5% less and getting 12.5% less in pensions and benefits?

Oh, no!

An indication Mayor Harp is planning to run for another term?

This is so funny it left me speechless.

Gee this action is so perplexing I challenge myself to comment on it..

But here goes....
According to the Harp letter (enclosed) it states that there is a sizable employee concessions line item.
However a review of the budget page 2-26 Dept. 402 (hard copy) shows that line item as a minus($3.6M for FY 18/19. So what is sizable about that???.
In contrast just a month ago the Alders approved a ten dollar tax reduction for an unauthorized raised preferred by the Mayor... https://www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/mayor_raise/

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that per the attached, that the budgets of the listed departments be reduced as shown, for a sum total of $483,172 dollars, the amount granted in unauthorized salary adjustments, and that the sum total be used for mill rate reduction and transferred into the Mill Rate Reduction line.

www.newhavenindependent.org/index.php/archives/entry/city_notice_executive_salaries_amendment

I am more than a little perplexed in understanding the Mayor's simple minded games here and in other instances.

Raised our taxes: Raises for some: Took money away from the NHFD for uniforms for her staff (one of whom was arrested). And now you want employees to give up 3 paid days? How about reversing the ridiculous raises?

The mayor's plan will not save much more then $50k. Here's a plan:

• Furlough all employees for one week. Break it up over one year.
  
• Savings will be over 2 million
  
  In addition, switch to a city manager form of government and hire a professional to run the city with the mandate of a balanced budget.

I doubt that 3 days of unpaid leave for managers will match the pain of people struggling to find an additional 11% to pay their property tax, in addition to their auto tax and high priced parking meters.
Commentators here have contributed many excellent and workable ideas; none of which will be implemented.
We really need the Guilty Party to return and cheer us up.

3 furlough days is equivalent to approximately 1.15% of a full-time annual wage. Given that these employees received far larger raises recently, this should not be considered a concession, but rather a slight decrease to the outlandish increase in salary the mayor gave to them.

All I have to say is how can you miss what you haven't received yet, let me show you. So if you received a raise of 12,000 dollars and it hasn't been a complete year of receiving it then your missing nothing. It's just another shell game by the city but just wait until they ask the unions to give back concessions that's the people who will feel it. Let's say a city worker makes 50,000 they received a 1,250 dollar raise but a two day furlough would be at least a 1/3 of their raise. So who's always the biggest loser the little guy that always does the work. That's not leading by example here she goes for getting where she comes from again.

My tax increase will cost me more than this BS furlough paid for by taxpaywrs.

"we need to be role models in demonstrating our support of sound fiscal responsibility."

Is that a joke? Because if we are to follow the examples this administration sets we'd be robbing from Peter to pay Paul while lying about it the entire time....