Rising costs push California cities to fiscal brink

**bijou** · 07-12-2012, 12:09 PM

Facing the same financial stressors that pushed San Bernardino toward bankruptcy, cities across California are slashing day-to-day services and taking other drastic actions to skirt a similar fiscal collapse.

For some, it may not be enough.

San Bernardino on Tuesday became the third California city to seek bankruptcy protection in the last month and, while no one expects the state to be consumed by municipal insolvencies, other cities teeter on the abyss.

PHOTOS: California cities in bankruptcy

"There are likely to be more in the future, but it's hard to know, since a lot of struggling cities may manage to work things out,'' said Michael Coleman, a fiscal policy advisor for the California League of Cities. "Some cities may not go into a bankruptcy, but they may dissolve. They may cease to exist.''...

More: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,2433019.story

**Madisonian** · 07-12-2012, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by bijou

Facing the same financial stressors that pushed San Bernardino toward bankruptcy, cities across California are slashing day-to-day services and taking other drastic actions to skirt a similar fiscal collapse.

For some, it may not be enough.

San Bernardino on Tuesday became the third California city to seek bankruptcy protection in the last month and, while no one expects the state to be consumed by municipal insolvencies, other cities teeter on the abyss.

PHOTOS: California cities in bankruptcy

"There are likely to be more in the future, but it's hard to know, since a lot of struggling cities may manage to work things out,'' said Michael Coleman, a fiscal policy advisor for the California League of Cities. "Some cities may not go into a bankruptcy, but they may dissolve. They may cease to exist.''...

More: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,2433019.story

My guess is that the California federal congress critters are prompting this behind the scenes so that Obama will propose a California bail out, just like Chrysler and GM.
With that many electoral votes and the Hollywood liberal noise machine and a Congress that is only too happy to spend OPM, they will most likely get it.

**Rockntractor** · 07-12-2012, 04:52 PM

Should be reworded to excessive spending, over regulation and over taxing businesses until theyare bled dry and leave the state are pushing California cities to fiscal brink.
Now let's bleed all the fiscally responsible states and cities dry to bail them out.

**Bailey** · 07-12-2012, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Madisonian

My guess is that the California federal congress critters are prompting this behind the scenes so that Obama will propose a California bail out, just like Chrysler and GM.
With that many electoral votes and the Hollywood liberal noise machine and a Congress that is only too happy to spend OPM, they will most likely get it.

No way would the house go for that....Thank God.

Or i would agree if the EV were split between Romney and the magic negro

**Madisonian** · 07-12-2012, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by Bailey

No way would the house go for that....Thank God.

Or i would agree if the EV were split between Romney and the magic negro

I would like to believe that but history is not exactly on your side here.

**NJCardFan** · 07-12-2012, 10:24 PM

Why isn't anyone standing up and pointing to the fact that this is what happens when socialistic policies are implemented. This is liberalism 101. And all the taxation in the world isn't going to fix it. They can tax the populace at a rate of 100% and it won't make a difference.

**Gina** · 07-13-2012, 12:00 AM

I don't know if this has been discussed yet, but I saw this on the news a night or 2 ago.

Scranton mayor slashes pay for all city workers—including police and firefighters—to minimum wage

Cali might not be far behind.

**NJCardFan** · 07-13-2012, 12:55 AM

Originally Posted by Gina

I don't know if this has been discussed yet, but I saw this on the news a night or 2 ago.

Scranton mayor slashes pay for all city workers—including police and firefighters—to minimum wage

Cali might not be far behind.

Again, liberal policies at it's worst. And missing from the article is where the mayor slashed his own salary to minimum wage.

**Rockntractor** · 07-13-2012, 01:17 AM

This is interesting, apparently if you spend more than you bring in and you hire more people than you can pay eventually it gets you in trouble, who duh thought?
I bet they are way top heavy with administration employees too, watch them fire some chickens but keep all the roosters. This is the sort of things that happen when our people who make our decisions have degrees in LGBT studies, but can't do math

**Gina** · 07-13-2012, 01:18 AM

Originally Posted by NJCardFan

Again, liberal policies at it's worst. And missing from the article is where the mayor slashed his own salary to minimum wage.

Sorry I didn't post a better link. I saw this story on the news and the mayor did cut his own pay to minimum.
Looks like they may get some help.. what a mess. More of this to follow in other places I'm sure.

Pennsylvania offers to help Scranton mediate budget dispute

One day last week, Scranton had just $5,000 in the bank. Doherty, a Democrat, thrust the city into the spotlight on July 6 when he told firefighters, police and public works employees they would suddenly be earning $7.25 an hour, the state's minimum wage.

He also cut his own pay and that of city council members to minimum wage.

"I am very hopeful that the mayor will sit down with the council and negotiate in good faith," council member Pat Rogan said at the meeting. "This city council is not going to pass a 78 percent tax increase. There are many other ideas for generating revenue."