So that the local police officers don’t have to empty their own trash baskets, nor perhaps even lift a finger to clean the floor, our city spends $183,433.22 in budgeted funds each year to pay for two full time janitors, one of whom is the supervisor, and two part timers who work mostly for the combined 9 weeks of vacation that the two janitors rack up each year. This does not include any off budget expenses, such as retirement or benefits, which would double that number.
When I brought this up during a city council meeting, one of the council members laughed it off. ‘What, you want someone who earns $45 an hour to do something that could be done by someone for less than half that cost?’
Yes, I want the person who’s earning $45 an hour to get off their rump and walk their trash to the trash can, recycling bin, composting bins. I want them to occasionally pull out a mop and clean up a mess. Now if they want to pool together their money and have someone come in one a week and do that stuff for them? More power to them. Even if the city did it for them, the cost would hardly top $5,600 a year.
They can’t have all these lavish luxuries and additional employees without stealing more from citizens. And that’s where all these additional fines and penalties come from - massive waste of taxpayer funds at every level.
Oh, and as for the city councilman? He lost his reelecton bid as the video of his laughing was spread through the town. The police chief even carried out his own trash for 5 days - this year’s preliminary budget raises the cost to $212,000 for cost of living raises.
You should run for a position in your local government, dude. Seriously. This is what it takes.