Budget Crunch?

I guess that doesn't stop our CM from traveling out of the country for a CM conference, EH?

It appears the recession is over in B.T. Hiring freeze was not put into effect, and some employees got raises.

The employees that I have spoken with didn't even get their cost of living raises and have been told that they probably will not recieve them next year either. Their insurance went out the roof so I guess in a fair statement most of the employees in the Br.TN city system actually are making less this year.

Thats true for the majority I think. I just know of a select few in two depts. that got raises. Those two being parks and rec. and codes enforcement. He said it wasn't really a raise, but a small pay increase. Go figure.

The only people that got pay increases either got a promotion or obtained additional certifications that qualified them for the next pay grade, i.e Building Inspector I to Building Inspector II. This program has been in place for several years, and there were a number of employees in most every department that qualified for the pay increases during the year, and there will be more before the year is over. The City did not give any cost of living or merit raises.

As for the insurance. Insurance rates for the City did increase slightly, but only by a few dollars. In fact, the City offered a third plan this year, which actually offered a substantial decrease in premiums for those employees who aren't prone to go to the hospital on a regular basis. Substantial in like saving the employee about $120 a month for the family plan.

And BTW Guardian, what do you think of the new trash to fuel plant? Should bring something like 300 jobs to the City. But then, they are making ethanol, so I guess it is just another bar in disguise.

Dam ol man, make up your mind as to who you want to be. Just a poor employee that no one knows or the insider that knows and is envolved in everything. And your not being entirely truthful on the raise issue and you know it, shall we say, intimately. And the last I read, the fuel plant was going to hire 100. Which I think is great and I hope it does well. But I'm evidently not involved at the same high level of gov. as you are this week. But lets not get into opinions or how F O S I think you are. I have other observations right now.
Went to the Ballgame last night and our boys played a good game. They have had a great season and they are a super team but last night Boone just played a little better. Really do hate it for our guys.
After the game went over to the concert next door at Viking Hall. It also was packed and from what I got to see it was no wonder. It was a great show and everyone seemed to be having a great time. Afterward we went to Applebees for a late snack and it was packed with concert goers also. My question is, in these times of economic woes why aren't we having more of these events at Viking Hall? Considering the economic invironment we are in, this has to be a significant boost to Bristols economy. Ticket sales, parking, concessions, tax revenue from the city resturants, ect. Seems this would be the time to take advantage of every source of income the city has available to it. We have a civic center, use it. Looks like they're missin the boat again.