Let’s listen in to Jerry Abramson’s morning press conference. The topic: Service cuts.
The video is courtesy of the Courier-Journal.
10:33 — Mayor says he worked hard over the weekend on how to get through the shortfall. He mentions the cuts already made, including the pay cuts to 33 or 34 members of his leadership team. It’s painful, he says, we get it.
It’s similar to private sector buisiness, except that 7,000 people are depending on it. And the media is covering it. awww.
Cuts will be effective 12/14. So there’s tiem to get ready.
1. No street and road re-paving for the fiscal year. There were 36 miles worth planned, saving $1.74 million.
2. closing libraries and community centers on Sundays. I will be inconvenienced. I’ll get over it.
3. closing Otter Creek Park in Meade County. This was always a waste anyway. Saves $180K this year.
4. closing Meagher Pool on Sundays and some arts group budget by half. Rationalizes that other cities completely abandon arts.
5. reducing money to GLI and Sports Commission. Good move.
6. cutting Neighborhoods. duh. Two positions are being cut. Wow! A Layoff.
Total of $3.4 million in announced cuts today.
Read the Rest after the Jump…
“Working hard to cut large number of layoffs.” Why?
10:40 - open for questions. How much have we done so far? “The only thing we have left is to make decisions with employees and capital projects.”
The C-J video has graphics — there will be no New Year’s Eve Celebration.
What else is there, you’re way short, asks Hebert.
Jer says more news is coming later this week. Departmental cuts are coming. We’ll make the ultimate decision to add up to $20 million by the end of the week.
Question: What if the unions don’t cooperate? That was Alcock. He’s pressing him.
Mayor says we have options. He’s cautious, avoiding the question.
Mayor says everything we’ve started is going forward. Future project are up in the air.
He’s not ready to say this is the end of cuts in services. Union has to participate. Brings up National City, PNC, and CitiGroup. Situation is not unique to any business or city. It’s difficult. We’re calling on employees to help us work through this as a community. Cheerleader stuff.
Andy asks about GLI — Jerry says we can’t stop investing in the community. There’s a question about Joe Reagan’s salary. GLI has lost $40K, and they’ll decide how to cut it.
Question: Who’s spared? Social services for non-profits are safe.
Then he says everything’s on the table, with respect to public services, i.e. police, fire.
We’ve gotten hundreds of ideas from employees. No layoffs yet in Neighborhoods, but no hiring either.
Jerry is still avoiding talk of layoffs.
It’s 10:55, and that appears to be about it.
Wait, there’s a question about the Water Company increase. Jer says, of course, he has nothing to do with the rate increase.
Finally, here’s the cuts direct from the official release:
* Eliminating street and road paving, $1.43 million
* Closing libraries on Sundays, $165,0000
* Closing community centers one day a week, on Mondays, $105,000
* Closing at the Mary T. Meagher pool one day a week, on Sundays, $27,000
* Closing Otter Creek Park in nearby Meade County, $180,000
* Reducing grants to arts group by 50 percent, $511,000
* Reducing funding to Waterfront Park and the Belle of Louisville, $92,000
* Reducing grants to economic development agencies, including Greater Louisville Inc., Greater Louisville Sports Commission and area business groups, $270,000.
* Eliminating funding for the Starfish swimming program, $90,000 (Jefferson County Public Schools leadership plans to recommend ending Starfish due to budget constraints.)
22 responses so far ↓
1 Carter Burger // Dec 1, 2008 at 10:57 am
Why was the issue of privatizing some departments brought up? Otter Creek Park and the Meagher Pool jump out at me here. How much money could be made with the lease of these and other areas.
2 Joel // Dec 1, 2008 at 11:01 am
3. closing Otter Creek Park in Meade County. This was always a waste anyway. Saves $180K this year.
yes, Rick could you provide more details? What does Jerry mean by “closing?” Permanently? Or seasonal? Or what?
3 rick // Dec 1, 2008 at 11:07 am
Jerry said that the city spent $500K per year on the park. He said the savings weren’t $250K because there were some expenses in winterizing. These cuts are for the fiscal year, through June 2009. In theory, that sounds like they could open the park back up in July if things get better. But don’t count on it. I remember Otter Creek being a weird asset for the city to have for a long time. I’m sure the city would love to sell it.
4 btucker // Dec 1, 2008 at 11:17 am
I wish we would have heard more on executive director positions and spokespersons. We may yet this week.
Didn’t the city have the opportunity to sell the park under Armstrong?
5 pevans // Dec 1, 2008 at 11:52 am
While I know cuts are inevitable, it’s disappointing that cuts to GLI, the city’s economic development engine are being made considering the initiatives they have made to bring businesses to Louisville. When they bring tax dollars into Louisville with new businesses and corporate data centers, a small appropriation from those tax dollars should be set aside to fund that group.
6 duh // Dec 1, 2008 at 12:30 pm
here’s a thought…dear GOD why don’t we quit the bull **** light up louisville. i had the misfortune of watching that on tv with my kids and have to say it was the most slap ass embarrassment on record. kudos to the kids for singing but other than the mayor SCREAMING into a MICROPHONE that negates the need to do so. How “green” is it to have light up louisville…how much is Eon U-S shelling out to counter the cost of electricity? is that MORE important than a pool being open, or a cop taking home his car? You idiots out there who elected Mayor Jerry the Sap for life, now for God’s sake hold him accountable.
7 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Dec 1, 2008 at 1:48 pm
One could argue that Christmas lights of any kind makes our country look rather stupid to the world. It’s an incredible waste of energy.
8 Michael // Dec 1, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Otter Creek could be a goldmine if city ‘leadership’ had half a brain.
9 Catching Up With Post-Thanksgiving News « State of the Commonwealth // Dec 1, 2008 at 4:10 pm
[…] The Mayor Held a Press Conference This Morning, Everything’s Getting Cut (The ‘Ville Voice) - Ouch. […]
10 Zach // Dec 1, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Why not close libraries on a weekday rather than Sunday? After all, aren’t weekends when kids need them for research (or am I dating myself in a Wikipedia world)?
11 jrc // Dec 1, 2008 at 4:13 pm
How much did the Cordish deal hurt the budget? Seems we gave them 35 million and two weeks later the mayor is telling us were 20 million in the hole. How big a factor did this deal have on our budget? Would rather have police/fire/meaninful programs safe than worry about who’s going to put the 100th Applebee’s downtown in 12 years at Galleria 2.0
12 howiseeit // Dec 1, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Ditch the new arena,now thats a waste of tax payers money.Build a new prison they will come and make many more jobs than a stupid arena.What Idiots We have running this county,no wonder it went OBAMA
13 just saying... // Dec 1, 2008 at 6:48 pm
that’s right, blame people who DIDN’T want to see Old Man McCain or Sarah Lee Palin in office. Yep, you’re the smart one.
14 RLT // Dec 1, 2008 at 7:11 pm
I do not understand why the southEnd is always hit the hardest. People live in the southend go to otter creek because of camping. Where does all the money from fees for camping @ otter creek in october go towards. Every camp site is booked during the month of october. Funding for Greenwood boat park has been delayed. It seems we always have money to put into the waterfront park. HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE LOGIC
15 KEL // Dec 1, 2008 at 9:24 pm
RLT, please notice that funding for Waterfront Park was cut as well.
16 j // Dec 1, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Steve. I’m writing from Australia this month. Lights are up here all over the place… neighborhoods, downtown Sydney, giant tree, streets with wreaths, buildings change colors, already setting up for the fireworks on NYE. So, you got that one wrong at least from almost as far away from America as you can get. (What they don’t have here is canned pumpkin, and that is a bigger pain than one might imagine.)
17 btucker // Dec 1, 2008 at 9:45 pm
For the most part, Waterfront Park is complete. The “park” at Greenwood is a dump with a few pretty “coming soon” signs. So if Waterfront doesn’t get that extra $$ it won’t break anyone’s heart.
I think that was the point RLT was trying to make.
18 clark // Dec 2, 2008 at 3:10 am
The city has tried to swap out Otter Creek with Tom Sawyer State Park several times if I recall, but the state always has said no.
Mayor Jerry loves to have a lot of park land, but only as long as it is in the county!
19 Fire Abramson // Dec 2, 2008 at 5:34 am
Check out http://www.abramsonuncovered.com for more information of what Abramson has been doing to us for the last 23 years.
20 IFFY SAYS // Dec 2, 2008 at 10:52 am
With the idiots that voted for METRO GOV now the county has 60 million to belly up for west end firemen overtime ,new arena that nobody can afford to attend.Guess He can get OBAMA to bail us out sine Jefferson County voted for Him.With all the Dumba$$,s that live in Jefferson County Mayor Jere will be re-elected once again. His idea is that we should be the BIG APPLE of the south.The problem is most of usens hicks here d0n’t give a crap about NYC.Wish you all Liberals/Idiots would move there.What a shame Rose Kennedy didn’t believe in abortion.Redneck and love it,anyone have a beer and cigerette..no latte please.Long Live The USA,seems like she may be sinking.Like history our gun owning Redneck Forefathers will raise the American Flag high again
21 Save Otter Creek Park! « State of the Commonwealth // Dec 2, 2008 at 12:21 pm
[…] in passing yesterday during the Mayor’s Press Conference of Big Bad Budget Cuts (coverage from The ‘Ville Voice) was that Louisville Metro is planning on shutting down Otter […]
22 jtownjudy // Dec 2, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I know most of you could care less about what goes on in J-town, but wanted to pass along some info that we, the lucky recipients of OUR wonderful Mayor Moron’s newsletter said today. He advised us that all of our street paving projects that were scheduled are finished and more to come next year AND that the State has awarded us a $525,000.00 grant for Phase IV of the Bike and Pedestrian Trail System. Our storm water drainage projects have been completed on dozens of streets and renovating two stone arch bridges on Old Taylorsville Road have been completed. All city workers are being given a days pay as a bonus. Our mayor can still drive drunk, wreck city cars, abuse his wife and children, refuse a drug test (unless given by the company one of his right hand man’s wife works for), and never be arrested for any of it. My goodness, Mayor Jer needs to see what we are doing out here for all this prosperity. Nothing wrong out here folks. Good old boy network still survives.
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