A Republican Actually Seeking To Cut Taxes AND Spending (Vanity)

Chris Stevens for County Judge ^ | 9/6/2006 | Chris Stevens for County Judge

[GulfBreeze]

For Release 12 p.m. CST

September 6, 2006

 

Chris Stevens for County Judge Announces Galveston County Budget Improvements Pursuant to Incumbent’s Request

 

 

Chris Stevens Scorned By Incumbent After Requesting Tax Relief

Galveston — September 6, 2006 — One week ago today, Chris Stevens appeared in Galveston County Commissioner’s Court and respectfully implored his incumbent opponent and the commissioners to reconsider the tax increase that they were preparing to foist onto taxpayers yet again. For his efforts and despite offering numerous budget reductions, he was scorned by the incumbent and called a hypocrite by the incumbent’s protege for not having been at the earlier tax hearings. The incumbent, visibly angered that he was challenged and that he did not get a unanimous vote of approval for his excessive budget, then scolded the lone dissenting vote on court.

It would appear that from their privileged positions they had forgotten that Mr. Stevens, like the rest of Galveston County, was working in regular employment everyday to support his family and to prepare to pay another egregious tax increase at the hands of the incumbent judge. The public hearings for the tax increase were set during the public’s normal working hours. It would also appear that either due to the incumbent’s own frequent absence from the budget hearings and his protege’s indifference to the plight of regular people trying to pay the tax bill on their homes that together they forgot the many pleas, requests and demands for tax relief made by other citizens during the tax rate and budget hearings. If they took other citizens with such base disregard, why would they have listened to Mr. Stevens’ suggestions?

None the less, the incumbent said that the whole month of September was available to make amendments and improvements to the budget and the tax rate. Therefore the Chris Stevens for County Judge campaign has prepared a list of the types of budget improvements (see below) that would go a very long way towards correcting the incumbent’s budget shortfall.

At this time $5.25 Million in savings is required to avoid another costly tax increase. If Galveston County wants to get its fiscal house in order after years of the incumbent’s mismanagement, we need a leader who understands that these are the kinds of tough steps that will be necessary.

 

Budget Crisis Not Without Cause - Should Not Be Rewarded

Two things are important to note. First, Commissioners and the Judge recently gave themselves very large raises. Now, despite repeated failures to hold down the county budget they want another raise. Leadership begins at the top. Chris Stevens is proposing significant pay cuts for the Commissioners and the Judge.

Second, the incumbent’s mismanagement of the new Justice Center and other capital projects is more than the total savings needed to avoid any tax increase at this time. The annual debt service on the $55 million in cost overruns at the new Justice Center is over $4 million. That alone is over 75% of the total shortfall and will negatively impact the county for the next twenty-three years.

 

Chris Stevens Sets The Standard For Leadership

As County Judge, Chris Stevens will represent all of Galveston County. Tax relief will occur only when county spending is brought under control. Solving the shortfall caused by the incumbent’s mismanagement will require downsizing and cutting unnecessary spending. Families live within a budget and often must tighten their belts to pay bills. County budgeting is no different.

“We cannot continue funding an overstuffed, out of control budget on the backs of families, single mothers, seniors, small businesses and others trying to pay their tax bill. We must make the tough choices that are in the best interest of the taxpayers and the county as a whole.” - Chris Stevens

###

For more information:

Chris Stevens, 281.948.6013, chris@yourtaxcut.com

 

For more information: http://www.yourtaxcut.com

 

	Chris Stevens is advocating the following and/or similar budgetary changes. Budget savings opportunities are diverse: Reduce payroll by focusing on higher paid positions which may be redundant or under utilized then review down the pay scale. Hold department managers/heads more accountable and adjust their pay for performance. Demand better utilization of supply resources. Eliminate perks (excess travel, county paid cell phones, licensing fees for other than required positions, excess periodical and book charges) that do not heavily add to the accomplishment of department functions. Seek out and use more qualified vendors. Do not reward vendors for poor performance. The savings below are considered “gross savings” and there may be additional savings as well as costs of implementation, associated with any line item. Not all departments have been reviewed. Some numbers below may be based on the 2006 budget.
		Budget	Reduction
	County Judge Salary	$120,629	$12,063
	County Judge Auto Allowance	$8,400	$8,400
	County Judge	$1,200	$1,200
	Co. Com. Pct 1 Salary	$82,892	$8,289
	Co. Com. Pct 1 Auto Allowance	$8,400	$8,400
	Co. Com. Pct 1 Communications	$1,200	$1,200
	Co. Com. Pct 2 Salary	$82,892	$8,289
	Co. Com. Pct 2 Auto Allowance	$9,000	$9,000
	Co. Com. Pct 2 Communications	$1,200	$1,200
	Co. Com. Pct 3 Salary	$82,892	$8,289
	Co. Com. Pct 3 Auto Allowance	$9,000	$9,000
	Co. Com. Pct 3 Communications	$1,200	$1,200
	Co. Com. Pct 4 Salary	$82,892	$8,289
	Co. Com. Pct 4 Auto Allowance	$9,000	$9,000
	Co. Com. Pct 4 Communications	$1,200	$1,200
	Gross Savings		($95,020)
	County Clerk
	Items	Gross	Reduction
	Vacancies (2) Omit	$52,450	$52,450
	Supplies & Materials	$50,000	$5,000
			(-10%)
	Books & Per	$3,000	$300
			(-10%)
	Auto Allowance	$1,000	$200
			-20%
			($57,950)
	JP Court Reduction
		Number of JP Courts (9)	JP Court (-4) Gross Estimated Savings
	Combine 4 Precincts into Others	$1,925,800	($500,000)
	County Constables
		Constable (8)	Constable (-3)
	Combine 3 Precincts into Others	$2,289,900	($240,000)
	County Treasurer
	Item	Budgeted	Reduction
	Combine w/Auditor	$485,400	($250,000)
	County Auditor
	Items	Budgeted	Reduction
	Overtime	$20,000	$15,000
	Supplies & Materials	$20,000	$6,000
	Auto Fuel	$1,000	$300
	Education	$20,000	$10,000
	Travel	$20,000	$15,000
	Members/Dues	$5,000	$3,500
	First Asst Cnty Aud-AC	$73,578	$73,578
	Office Manager	$43,807	$43,807
	First Asst LT System	$70,032	$70,032
	Clerk (Vacant)	$10,971	$10,971
	Internal Auditor II	$42,738	$42,738
	Internal Auditor I	$36,497	$36,497
	Chief Accountant	$73,578	$73,578
	Accountant Supervisor	$60,389	$60,389
	Accountant II	$49,564	$49,564
	Accountant I	$38,720	$38,720
	Accountant I	$36,853	$36,853
	Accounting Technician	$26,476	$26,476
	Account Payable Spe.	$35,077	$35,077
	Senior Account Py.Tech	$31,003	$31,003
			($679,083)
	Director of Finance
	Items	Budgeted	Reduction
	Supplies & Materials	$5,800	$1,800
	Books & Per	$1,600	$800
	Education	$5,900	$2,900
	Travel	$4,200	$2,200
	Mileage	$8,000	$4,000
			($11,700)
	Director of Finance Rd Distr #1
	Item	Budgeted	Reduction
	Temp Help	$41,600	$21,600
	Overtime	$14,000	$6,000
			($27,600)
	Purchasing Department
	Item	Budgeted	Reduction
	Overtime	$5,800	$5,800
	Education	$9,500	$5,500
	Travel	$3,000	$1,500
	Purchasing Agent	$87,037	$15,037
			($27,837)
	Human Resources
	Items	Budgeted	Reduction
	Education	$50,000	$30,000
	Travel	$4,500	$2,500
	Auto Allowance	$1,800	$900
			($33,400)
	Information Technology
	Item	Budgeted	Reduction
	Temp Help	$23,100	$13,100
	Overtime	$31,900	$16,900
	Supplies & Materials	$509,200	$200,000
	Uniforms	$2,600	$2,600
	Auto fuel	$6,500	$3,500
	Phone Cellular	$170,000	$170,000
	Education	$110,000	$50,000
	Travel	$21,900	$11,900
	Auto Mileage	$9,900	$5,000
	Assistant Director (1)	$73,578	$73,578
	Project Coordinator (6)	$390,384	$390,384
	Senior Project Coor (1)	$75,416	$75,416
			($1,012,378)
	Facility & Mtce
	Item	Budgeted	Reduction
	Overtime	$20,000	$10,000
	Supp & Materials	$154,000	$54,000
	Uniform	$5,000	$3,000
	Auto Fuel	$12,000	$4,000
	Director of Special Projects	$91,888	$20,000
			($91,000)
	County Engineer
	Item	Budgeted	Reduction
	Auto Allowance	$16,400	$8,200
			($8,200)
	Beach & Parks
	Items	Budgeted	Reduction
	Temp Help	$100,700	$30,000
	Overtime	$10,000	$5,000
	Uniform	$20,000	$8,000
	Auto Fuel	$165,000	$40,000
	Advertising	$3,000	$1,500
	Education	$5,600	$2,600
	Travel	$3,200	$1,700
	Auto Allowance	$5,500	$5,500
	Park Planning (1)	$54,741	$54,741
	Operation Manager (1)	$42,764	$42,764
	Administrative Asst (1)	$31,022	$31,022
	District Supervisor (1)	$35,976	$35,976
	Electrician (1)	$28,807	$28,807
	Carpenter (1)	$28,807	$28,807
	Painter (1)	$24,840	$24,840
	Trades Supervisor	$33,407	$33,407
	Director County Parks	$83,295	$13,000
			($387,664)
	Gross savings		($3,421,831)
	Other budget improvers which haven't been broken down in detail:
			Savings	Increased Revenue
	Combining the CAD into the Tax/Assessors office to return accountability back to elected representation.		($1,000,000)
	Establishing a "Friends of Galveston County Parks" club and "Parks Corp Volunteer Group"		($100,000)	$100,000
	Apply same cost reduction methods as above to other non-law enforcement departments in the county.		($1,800,000)
	Promote interlocal agreements through out the county for equipments and workforce		($300,000)
	Institute a cash rewards program for money saving ideas from employees.		??
	Use local outsourcing whenever the private sector can offer long term solutions at a price cheaper than performing the same function in-house.		??
	Total Other Savings and Revenue		($3,200,000)	$100,000
	Consolidated Gross Budget Improvements		$6,721,831

[GulfBreeze]

Hello fellow Freepers.

I wanted to encourage you all and hopefully garner your support. I'm not soliciting contributions (although they are givable at http://www.yourtaxcut.com/wst_page6.html) and I'm not soliciting volunteers (although you can volunteer at http://www.yourtaxcut.com/wst_page3.html).

I just wanted to encourage you that there are Tax Cutting Republicans left in the world that understand that SPENDING is a problem too.

So I have posted the above press release for your entertainment.

Of course if you are motivated to donate a little to help this campaign or you are anywhere near the League City/Clear Lake/Houston area and you want to help with literature drops or sign building, now you know how to do it!

Thanks For Your Patience Fellow Freepers
Chris

[TimesDomain]

What?!!? A real conservative republican? An anacronism these days.

[Orange1998]

Do you really think the County Judge will approve a salary decrease. Galveston is known for back room deals.

[thoughtomator]

Q: What do you call a Republican that wants to cut taxes and reduce spending?

A: "Candidate"

[GulfBreeze]

"Do you really think the County Judge will approve a salary decrease. Galveston is known for back room deals."

No. I don't. But you should see the look on his face when I tell them that he needs to do it anyway due to poor management.

[GulfBreeze]

Your a riot. ;o/

[stevie_d_64]

Chris is a good man! I've known him over the last few years to be a person driven by a passion to serve...

I fully support him for that position...

I just wish I could vote in Galveston County...

The best part is he'll roll in there like a CAT 5 and shake a few trees...And they don't want that, obviously...

Good luck Chris!

[GulfBreeze]

ping

[deport]

Good luck and may the winds of fortune blow upon the campaign.