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Tempe tax loss prompts city to ax 100 jobs
The Arizona Republic ^
| 28 September 2002
| Bob Petrie
Posted on 09/29/2002 2:42:22 PM PDT by SheLion
After a record 14 straight months of declining sales taxes, blamed partially on the city's indoor smoking ban, Tempe said Friday that it plans to cut 100 municipal jobs to make up a projected $8.2 million budget shortfall.
"I couldn't postpone the inevitable any longer," City Manager Will Manley said.
Besides the smoking ban, which has hit bars and restaurants hard since it was approved by voters in May, the city cites a slow economy, new retail competition in Chandler, and little growth in landlocked Tempe for the sales tax declines.
"Everything is down," said Rich Oesterle, the city's finance manager. "It's not just a function of one thing, (that) being the smoking."
The city has trimmed 25 positions since July 1, and will cut 75 more. Tempe, with a workforce of 1,700, will first try cutting jobs through voluntary retirements and attrition, but will start layoffs Jan. 2.
No positions would be cut among sworn police or fire personnel, Manley said.
If layoffs occur, they would be the first in Tempe since the early 1990s. People with the least seniority would be most likely to be laid off. Those laid off would not be terminated until June 30. The city projects just $57 million in sales taxes for 2002-03, down from $63.6 million two years ago.
Councilwoman Pam Goronkin hopes enough people leave voluntarily to avoid layoffs.
TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Culture/Society; Government; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: antismokers; butts; cigarettes; individualliberty; niconazis; prohibitionists; pufflist; smokingbans; taxes; tobacco
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1
posted on
09/29/2002 2:42:22 PM PDT
by
SheLion
To: *puff_list; Just another Joe; Great Dane; Max McGarrity; Tumbleweed_Connection; maxwell; ...
PUFF
2
posted on
09/29/2002 2:42:53 PM PDT
by
SheLion
To: SheLion
HAHAHAHA
3
posted on
09/29/2002 2:44:51 PM PDT
by
krb
To: SheLion
Damned Republicans!!
To: SheLion
ban smoking and raise cigarette taxes again dummy!!!!! that will surely fix the problem!!!
To: SheLion
Maybe if they bring in a few thousand more illegal aliens, it will help improve the economy there.....
WIPE THE SMILE OFF OF THIS MAN'S FACE.
VOTE THE RATS
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7
posted on
09/29/2002 2:48:24 PM PDT
by
terilyn
To: cajun-jack
ban smoking and raise cigarette taxes again dummy!!!!! that will surely fix the problem!!! We tried to warn them. They just won't listen. Now, 100 more people will be out of work. I don't think this is much to laugh at, like the previous poster, do you? This is really sad.
8
posted on
09/29/2002 2:48:35 PM PDT
by
SheLion
To: SheLion
Besides the smoking ban, which has hit bars and restaurants hard since it was approved by voters in May, the city cites a slow economy, new retail competition in Chandler, and little growth in landlocked Tempe for the sales tax declines.Just an amazing coinkidenk that it comes with the smoking ban, huh?
To: SheLion
That's what they get for trying to run some tin pot democracy where the wolves got to have the lamb for dinner.
10
posted on
09/29/2002 2:51:33 PM PDT
by
AAABEST
To: Just another Joe
Just an amazing coinkidenk that it comes with the smoking ban, huh? Joe, they have a "guilty conscious" maybe? Funny they should put THAT in the article, right? Must be a guilty conscious.
11
posted on
09/29/2002 2:52:01 PM PDT
by
SheLion
To: Just another Joe
Just an amazing coinkidenk that it comes with the smoking ban, huh? Even though that ban has only been in effect for almost 4 months, I think it was the nail that closed the coffin. Too bad.
To: Joe Hadenuf
Maybe if they bring in a few thousand more illegal aliens, it will help improve the economy there..... NOT! ;)
We don't want 'em. Besides, if we need any, we just fish 'em out of neighboring Guadalupe. They're there at our disposal at any time.
To: SheLion
the people may have voted this in, but then now that regular folks are being put out of work, 100 of them, their families and friends and everyone they know, just might have a ballot box revolution.....at least let's hope so.
To: SheLion
100 more people will be out of work. I don't think this is much to laugh at, like the previous poster, do you? This is really sad. I never consider it sad when public employees are fired. It makes me happy, I wish it would happen more often. I prefer to think that the former bureaucrats have been given an opportunity to become productive people who can help grow the economy.
BTW, I'm all for term limits for bureaucrats, too. Fed, state and local.
To: SheLion
And the state is considering eliminating the tax revenues it normally shares with the cities this year because of its own budgetary crisis. Its not looking up for Tempe...
16
posted on
09/29/2002 3:00:44 PM PDT
by
marajade
To: SheLion
Wow, I think I will move to Tempe tomorrow. The city has an $8 million shortfall, and the solution is to lay off 100 employees. Unless my math is wrong, that means the average employee is receiving $800,000 in compensation per year.
17
posted on
09/29/2002 3:01:49 PM PDT
by
CdMGuy
To: Virginia-American
"I prefer to think that the former bureaucrats have been given an opportunity to become productive people who can help grow the economy."
You need to spend the day with me...
18
posted on
09/29/2002 3:01:52 PM PDT
by
marajade
To: SheLion
Besides the smoking ban, which has hit bars and restaurants hard since it was approved by voters in May, the city cites a slow economy, new retail competition in Chandler, and little growth in landlocked Tempe for the sales tax declines.Could it be that BECAUSE of the smoking ban, the city has a slow economy since smokers don't go out as much therefore not as much gasoline being sold, not as many people stopping by the convenience stores on the way home from a bar or restaurant, or many other side effects of a smoking ban?
Retail competition in Chandler? Maybe the smokers are going to Chandler for dinner and a smoke afterward and then doing their retail shopping there?
Little growth in landlocked Tempe? Is there anywhere in Arizona that is NOT landlocked? Maybe there is little growth because no one wants to start a new restaurant or bar somewhere that won't allow them to cater to customers.
Just a few thoughts.
To: cajun-jack
Just what they (us) don't need: more people out of work.
20
posted on
09/29/2002 3:05:21 PM PDT
by
SheLion
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