November Skibum

The State of the City address by the Mayor was upbeat, informative and a real pat myself on the back (if any of them actually could) and see all the positive things we have done to improve the city while sugarcoating on how we actually got to a balanced budget. Think of it as a movie review where you only put parts of sentences like “Stupendous” “Riveting” “Balance Budget” when in reality that should have read “I can’t believe the stupendous srtupidity of the sheeple in this town, we should be riveting their tongues to the roof of their mouth to prevent them from voicing an opinion on how we invented a new oxymoron with ‘balanced budget” on the backs of the new city hires with no pensions and tourists and locals alike with two tickets to parkadice. This budget is not balanced with a realistic philosophy in mind but built for expected rather than projected revenues and expenses. Projected revenues and expenses for FY2014 totals $90 Million in revenue and $93.3 million in expenses. Hey, as long as I have checks in my checkbook I must have money in there. Nancy got it right in her budget report on page two of the report: “As noted above and described in detail later in this budget message, without long-term transformative change to public employee pensions and our employee and retiree health care benefit plan, fiscal sustainability is at risk. It is therefore not surprising that the largest expense of the city is personnel; salaries, pension, health care and other benefit costs. In FY 2014 these will total 64% of total general fund expenses with most of the burden going on the backs of the newest employees who are not willing to reduce their wages and other retirement benefits to fund a plan that they will not even be entitled to receive. “ Hey rookie, watch my back flip into the deep end of the pool while you do a belly flop in the shallow end, race ya to the bad guy. Currently the city has 170 employees with just over 800 in the program. Were number 1, were number 1: The City of South Lake Tahoe is one of the few cities in the state that offers retiree medical insurance to the spouses and dependants of retired employees at no cost-for life. The cities reorganization several years ago set us on the right path to fiscal sustainability and we must stay the course. I.e.: Thank You Dave Jinkins and Tony O’Rourke. Without a three step proactive approach with regards to the medicare-eligble retirees: early retirees: Active employees solicit own plan at lower cost. “Without these changes the city will have to implemented catastrophic only health care and seek legal protection for underfunded liability. Read between the lines on that one or better yet, ask Chicago and Detroit and don’t forget Stockton.

Mr Uhler. I will be here long after you are gone and forgotten. I would like to personally thank you for singlehandedly putting Christmas cheer out of business. Seems that after 23 years of raising money for the most neediest of our town through our 23rd annual toy run through town to raise money for toys and food it will be no more due to the lack of your support. The letter you wrote to the American Legion threatening them with lack of support or even showing up if certain members of our community show up wearing colors that represent a legitimate club that has supported this town before you got here and will continue long after you are gone. Please do me a favor and do not show up for Veterans Day, that day is for Veterans, not schoolyard bullies with a badge and badgitude to go along with it. BTW, I have my check all ready to go to your police union as I have had since 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 but this year I might give it to Christmas Cheer as they are short again for xmas turkey dinner giveaways. I retired a full Major which was a couple of pay grades above you there chief and if this happened on my watch, you would be in Az instead of Johnny. ACLU has a different take on this than I do and are waiting for you step in it.

Sign Of The Month: This one is at the liquor store by Keys Blvd. “We Now Accept EBT Cards” only problem is that’s also on the same sign for Bud Beer. I didn’t think you could buy alcohol with EBT cards, just a little misdirection. Other sign “No Stopping Anytime” got moved back away from the red light at the-Y-Thanks.

No Way would I want to see a current city council person try and run for County Supervisor, I can see it now….Parking Meters at Billy’s…HiWay 50 East reopening that run down piece of crap building…
Went into Starbucks at the Y to check out the remodel and I hope to Allah that chipped and peeling paint falling off the walls isn’t lead based..just a thought but keep your lid on.

As Usual: sltskbm@gmail.com

Later. Skibum. You can also look for us on South Tahoe Now and even comment if you’re a FB member.