Garganio & O’Brien Call Budget Process “A Mess;” Say County Government Still Too Big, Expensive

Mount Holly, July 2, 2009 – Pointing to spotty, unreliable revenue information provided by staff that made the county budget process “a mess” and lamenting the failure of the freeholder board to make the tough decisions necessary to dramatically reduce the size and cost of government for the long-term, Republican Freeholder candidates Bruce Garganio and Mary Ann O’Brien today outlined their plan to reorganize and restructure county government and called for that process to begin now.          

 The pair gave credit to Freeholder Director Joe Donnelly for moving the board in the right direction over the last two years in terms of cutting taxes and spending.  “Cutting property taxes two years in a row is a significant achievement, especially in this economy, and Joe should take great pride in it,” said O’Brien.  “It’s a good start, but we believe taxes can be cut even more next year with the proposals we are outlining today,” added Garganio.    

 Garganio and O’Brien said that the economic recession is forcing businesses and households to dramatically change spending habits and live within their means, and county government can and should do more along those lines.  That means making tough decisions, addressing real issues and taking political risks, not opting for the easy way out just because you can.          

 The Garganio-O’Brien Plan to Reorganize & Restructure Government would: 

1.    Conduct an Operational Audit of every job, program and service in county government.

2.    Make county employees pay for 20% of their healthcare benefits.

3.    Freeze wages for all county employees and request they give back three holidays.

4.    Request that the CWA and all unions come back to the bargaining table by July 15th. A more detailed description of the plan is available below.          

 “The days of government closing its collective eyes and hoping problems go away are over,” said Garganio, a Florence Township Councilman.  “So are the days of avoiding tough decisions for fear of offending special interests or exposing political patronage.  It’s time to take bold, decisive action to solve the problems we face and let the political chips fall where they may.  I am confident that Mary Ann and I are on the side of the taxpayer who is tired of hearing politicians talk about change, and actually wants to see changes some made.”          

 “County residents believe government is too large, it taxes us too much and spends too much of our money – and they’re right,” said O’Brien, a Medford Township Councilwoman.While, in one sense, it was nice to see the freeholders reach a compromise, it was disappointing to watch them take the easy way out just because an unexpected windfall of revenue fell into their laps.  That’s Trenton-style governing, not the model we should follow here in Burlington County.  Our elected officials can’t continue to take the path of least resistance.  They need to chart a bold course that confronts problems, no matter how bumpy that road might be politically.  That’s leadership, and that’s what Bruce and I will provide.” 

The Garganio-O’Brien Plan to Reorganize & Restructure Government 

1.   Conduct an Independent Operational Audit of County Government.

Garganio and O’Brien want an independent operational audit of county government.  Every job, from the County Administrator to the part-time clerk typist, should be reviewed based on the individual merits of the employee and their function.  Garganio and O’Brien believe county government can operate effectively with fewer employees than it currently has, but don’t trust the analysis done as part of the recent budget process due to the rash of flawed information being provided to them and the public during that process.  The audit would also review every program and service provided by county government to determine which ones work and which ones don’t.  The goal would be to identify and protect core services, while eliminating non-essential services. 

 “Across-the-board layoffs or cuts in services don’t make sense, and, at first glance, neither does having both a Treasurer and a CFO,” said Garganio.  “Through a comprehensive review by a reputable, independent entity, we can shrink the size and cost of government on the merits, while protecting core services residents depend on.” 

2.   Make County Employees Pay for 20% of their Healthcare Costs.

Garganio and O’Brien said that providing healthcare for county employees will cost county property taxpayers $22 million in the budget approved yesterday.  That cost has risen by roughly 30% in just three years, with even larger increases expected in the coming years.  Garganio and O’Brien said that with private sector employees being forced to pick up more and more of the cost of their own health insurance, it is only fair for public employees to do the same.  The current system in place at the county only requires employees to cover their own co-pays.  They contribute nothing else. 

“You will be hard-pressed to find private sector employees who contribute nothing to the cost of their healthcare benefits in today’s world,” said O’Brien.  “Asking employees to pay 20% of their healthcare costs will be a major savings for property taxpayers, while bringing the public sector more in line with the stark economic realities that have been facing private sector employees for some time now.” 

3.   Freeze Wages for all Employees, Request they Give Back Holidays.

Garganio and O’Brien believe that next year’s FY2011 budget should freeze wages for all county employees, not just those making over $50,000 as was done in the current budget, and request that they give back three of their fourteen holidays.  They believe that in times of great economic stress, everyone must share in the sacrifice. 

“In this economy, there needs to be shared sacrifice,” said O’Brien.  “Freezing wages for all employees and asking them to give-back a handful of holidays is more than fair.” 

4.   Request the CWA Returns to the Bargaining Table by July 15^th.

Garganio and O’Brien believe the CWA should honor their public commitment, and other unions should join them, in returning to the bargaining table by July 15^th, with everything on the table.  Garganio and O’Brien would like to see a collective bargaining agreement that includes the same wage freezes, healthcare reforms, and holiday give-backs being requested of non-union employees. 

“The CWA publicly pledged to Freeholder Director Donnelly that they would return to the bargaining table in good faith,” said Garganio, a union carpenter.  “They should honor that commitment, and so should the other public employee unions, no later than July 15^th.  Furthermore, everything should be on the table – from wages to healthcare to holidays.”