Authored by Mike Shedlock via MishTalk.com,
Union contracts are at the heart of the problem. Chicago coming up.
Full Blown Crisis
Please note L.A. city budget shortfall grows to nearly $1 billion, with layoffs ‘nearly inevitable’
L.A.’s financial problems exploded into a full-blown crisis on Wednesday, with the city’s top budget official announcing that next year’s shortfall is now just shy of $1 billion, making layoffs “nearly inevitable.”
City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo said Mayor Karen Bass’ proposed budget, which will be released April 21, will close that gap, but it will require difficult “cost-cutting decisions.” He warned that the severity of revenue declines and rising costs has created a budget gap that makes layoffs “nearly inevitable.”
Szabo, in his presentation to the council Wednesday, attributed the city’s financial woes, in part, to increased spending on legal payouts, which have ballooned over the last few years. Tax revenues have been coming in much weaker than expected — and are expected to soften further in the upcoming budget year, which starts July 1.
Pay raises for city employees that are scheduled to go into effect in the coming budget year are expected to consume an additional $250 million. On top of that, Szabo said, the city needs to put hundreds of millions into its reserve fund, which has been drained in recent months in an attempt to balance this year’s budget.
Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky, who heads the budget committee, said the council will need to look at the possibility of asking unions representing city workers to defer the scheduled raises or make other concessions.
“I think everything needs to be on the table,” she said in an interview.
David Green, president and executive director of Service Employees International Union Local 721, called Szabo’s remarks “short-sighted and irresponsible.”
“There’s no question that all of us are in shock with this number,” said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, who sits on the council’s budget committee.
Blumenfield predicted that city leaders would need to seek financial concessions from the workforce.
“Eighty percent of our expenses is labor,” he said. “If we are short more than 10% of our budget, the ‘math doesn’t math’ without looking at labor costs.”
Over the last two years, Bass and the council have signed off on raises and increased benefits for an array of unions — first police officers, then civilian city workers, then firefighters.
Anyone Who Is Shocked Is Incompetent
What’s happening now has been obvious for years.
Corrupt mayors get into bed with corrupt unions leaders then use budget gimmicks to hide the results.
The city exhausted its reserve fund to make the budget look balanced.
Then the city got a reprieve as did all the corrupt blue cities by Biden giveaways, especially the third round of fiscal stimulus that temporally papered over fiscal issues while stimulating the most inflation since the 1970s.
In response to the inflation, unions demanded bigger and bigger pay hikes on top of preposterous benefits.
The Big S Has Finally Hit the Fan
And I am pleased to report Trump will not bail out these irresponsible cities.
As long as Republicans hold the Senate, the same applies regardless of who in in the White House.
Chicago On Deck
March 13, 2024: Chicago Teachers’ Union Seeks $50 Billion Despite $700 Million City Deficit
If you live in Illinois, get the hell out before unions take every penny you have.
July 2, 2024: In Chicago There’s Under a 50 Percent Chance Police Show Up If You are Shot
Good luck in Chicago getting the police to show up if you are shot, stabbed, a victim of domestic violence, or any number of other serious crimes.
August 30, 2024: The Pending Implosion of Chicago Public Unions, No City is More Deserving
Chicago has a budget deficit of nearly $1 billion. Tack on another $2.9 billion for a proposed teachers’ contract plus an unknown amount for firefighters.
December 23, 2024: The Corruption and Incompetence of Chicago’s Mayor Has No Bounds
Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson stepped to new lows when his hand-picked board fired Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez without cause.
It’s time for a Chicago update on union contracts and pension funding.
I am openly rooting for a big-city economic collapse because it’s the only chance at reform with these clearly corrupt mayors.
But If Trump really wants to fix this, he needs to lobby Congress to end collective bargaining for public unions.
Unfortunately, the facts show Trump also panders to unions, especially the police and dockworkers.
Addendum
Please note “L.A. spent $160 million last year to collect $100 million in parking tickets. If that isn’t the best metaphor for this town I don’t know what is. Do something everyone hates and do it poorly.”
H/T @adamcarolla
Tyler Durden
Fri, 03/21/2025 – 15:05
