Poll Question

they need to start here! Do we really need 3 Deputy City Managers & 2 Assistant City Managers? Encore? Why doesn't City Council take a pay cut and save some jobs?

ADMINISTRATIVE ASST II CITY MANAGER $51,462 4/21/1980
ADMINISTRATIVE ASST II CITY MANAGER $49,337 12/17/1986
ADMINISTRATIVE ASST II CITY MANAGER $43,274 8/27/2001
ADMINISTRATIVE ASST II CITY MANAGER $38,446 6/11/2001
ASST TO THE CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER $102,555 9/15/1987
ASST TO THE CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER $77,250 7/17/1995
CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER $169,950 6/1/2007
DEPUTY CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER $151,805 10/17/1969
DEPUTY CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER $134,328 8/15/2005
DEPUTY CITY MANAGER CITY MANAGER $128,750 8/2/1999
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER $59,223 11/10/1986

http://hamptonroads.com/newsdata/salaries/city/chesapeake/city-manager

Looks like the plan is to cut the areas that citizens really need. Major cuts in Mental health and Substance abuse services?? Wow!

Why not do a combination of slight tax increase (since assessments have dropped) and some position cuts. I don't think more unemployed people are going to help this cause. The

Spend money wisely !

Submitted by B59 on Sun, 03/14/2010 at 9:13 am.

The issue of budget cuts should not be a burden of the tax payer. Council is not raising real estate taxes, so wherefore the City will have to lay off? Where is the accountability within our government to spend our money wisley? Where is all the surplus money when the housing market was at it`s peak and my assessment went up 30% in one year, causing my house payment and homeowners, flood insurance to increase. You see the citizen has to suffer every time there is a tax increase, no one is there the bail me out, when my house payment has increase over 100.00 per month ! I think all cities need to look at the people who make 6 figures ! There`s is a lot of waste at the top. None of those people will get laid off, it will be the blue collar worker once again to suffer! This is what is wrong with America, too much waste and too high of a salary! Is is a crime to even think about raising taxes during these times. I am sick of hearing about raising taxes. Cut taxes and start spending wisley !

Look into all departments

Submitted by Mark Burns on Sun, 03/14/2010 at 8:09 am.

Cut the budget, reduce redundancy and get rid of the no loads taking a pay check.

Tax Increases???

Submitted by Phil Lowe on Sun, 03/14/2010 at 4:59 am.

You are kidding right? I am cutting my family budget to the bone, why shouldn't government at all levels be required to do the same. Instead of saving all this money the governments were getting while the housing bubble was growing; investing in infrastructure and even saving some of it, they frittered it away on useless 'wants', tho I have to admit that Chesapeake hasn't been quite as bad as Virginia Beach and Norfolk in wasting money. Now that the bubble has busted, they all stand around with pockets turned out crying for tax increases. Good Lord, get a grip would ya?

And..........

Submitted by rickh81501 on Sun, 03/14/2010 at 1:54 am.

They need to sell some of the parked vehicles that fill the lot by the library. After the crew heads out for the day there's still a ton of them sitting there. If no one is driving them get rid of them. And then cut out some of the dead weight keeping the chairs weighted down in city Hall. Every time I go in there I see the same handful of people doing nothing.

Lay offs

Submitted by stevenm on Sun, 03/14/2010 at 12:57 am.

I see no reason that government employees should be retained in tough times. Cities should be run like businesses and not like families, which is what cities are to support. The needs of families come before the needs of the city. Teachers should be immune to lay offs, administrators should not be. Keep the staff, lop off the top heavy admin. in schools and government. Save that money!!!

Steven M You want Lay offs???

Submitted by Troubil on Sun, 03/14/2010 at 4:23 pm.

Good!!! next time someone breaks into your house, call a teacher. Next time someone sticks a gun in your fact and demands your money, call a teacher. Next time your house catches on fire, call a teacher. Next time you or one of your loved ones need an ambulance, call a teacher. Oh, I know, you claim to not need the services, and you are probably right. Do you have health insurance? Why, you are not sick now! Do you have life insurance? Why, yo are still breathing! Wake up! If you want to live in a safe environment you need to pay. If you don't want to pay, move to Portsmouth.

A combination may be needed

Submitted by Bob Farinelli on Sat, 03/13/2010 at 11:38 pm.

I think there may be a need for a combination of modest tax increases and some spending cuts. However, it must be remembered that it is hard for everyone these days; government, businesses and individuals.