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Austin budget crunch caused by massive police raises

Belatedly realizing the city's bloated public safety budget necessitates draconian fee hikes and slashing basic services, the Austin city council must now change course and "think first of the Austin taxpayers," said the Austin Statesman in a Sunday editorial. Police and firefighter unions must not be given the "keys to the vault" during meet and confer negotiations, said the paper. Here's how they described the budget impact of rising police pay:Under the proposed budget, branch libraries will have to close on Thursdays or Fridays, and the Parks and Recreation Department will be short staffed. Also, trash collection fees will rise 40 percent and water bills by 7 percent. But that picture will darken considerably if the police, fire and EMS unions continue to demand ? and receive ? raises above those given other city employees...continue to full post

Full post as published by Grits for Breakfast on July 29, 2008 (boomark / email).