Bain-Blog

Sunday, April 15, 2007

State budget forums

State Representative Gordon Hintz has scheduled five state budget workshops, each focusing on one of the "big five" state programs. The schedule is listed below.

UW System
April 30, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Reeve Memorial Union 227 A&B

K-12 Education
May 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Oshkosh Area School District Administration Building

Medicaid
May 21, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Oshkosh Senior Center-Willow Room

Shared Revenue
June 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Location TBA

Corrections
June 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Oshkosh Public Library

I commend Rep. Hintz for organizing the forums, something he talked about during his campaign. I look forward to attending them and learning more about the state budget.

-Bryan

posted by Bryan L. Bain at 4/15/2007 05:09:00 PM

24 Comments:

  • How about the Healthcare crisis??


    If the private sector is fiancing healthcare costs at an average of 80% paid by the company and 20% paid by the employee.

    If private sector unions are struggling to survive and remain viable at the threat of jobs moving as healthcare is too costly.

    How can just PUBLIC SECTOR unions remain with such lucrative 95%-5% healthcare plans?

    The folks who PAY for those plans (property taxpayers) are seeing their wages eaten up as they must contribute more to their healthcare plans each year.

    How do we solve this problem? We need real constructive discussion. We just can not continue to pretend this major crisis does not effect the taxpayer.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 16, 2007 12:27 PM  

  • Medicare and other healthcare topics should be a primary concern.

    So how do we fix the heathcare crisis in Oshkosh? Lets start local. Yes I know its a national crisis, and I think everybody agrees it is the topic of most concern among just about every American. Some American workers have no coverage at all. Some have almost 100%. Some seniors are forced to choose between precscription drugs and food. This is a tragedy of enormous consiquences. As an Oshkosh homeowner, I want to know what my city council plans to do to address healthcare costs at our local level.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 16, 2007 6:07 PM  

  • Anonymous 12:27 and 6:07, enough already with your repeated, worn out messages. I think I have figured out your problem. I notice you post at all hours of the day and night. Are you unemployed or underemployed and that's why you begrudge the city workers their benefits and decent wages? Or are you having trouble getting a better job with better benefits? Maybe it's because you're stuck in a rut with the same old mantra and can't be taught new tricks. That doesn't make someone desirable for hire either.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 17, 2007 11:13 AM  

  • Next time you pay your property taxes, here’s something to think about:

    Your property tax payment funds 95% of healthcare costs for city employees!
    Yes, you pay 95% and the employee pays 5%.

    After you write that check to the city, go home and look at your own policy and see how much you pay verses your employer.

    Now here’s the fun part…...go back to work the next day and ask your boss to pay 95% of your healthcare and see what he says.

    Remember, city employee compensation is all about “comparables”. Why should you pay anymore for healthcare than a city worker does? Your job is just as important as theirs!

    Aren’t comparables awesome!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 18, 2007 7:42 AM  

  • The answer to your question is simple. Employers most always pay more than the employee. If you don't like it, move somewhere else.

    Since you like to compare things, we can also compare your messages from blog to blog to blog and see you have a one track mind and an audience that no longer cares to hear your blahblahblah. What a bore you are. Go get a better job or get a new place for your diatribe, but most importantly get a life.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 18, 2007 9:29 AM  

  • It's pretty clear 7:42 has no comprehension of med-arb laws. If he/she did they would not make such outlandish comments as they do.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 18, 2007 10:07 AM  

  • One question I have about all this is who's the boss and whos the employee? In most worlds the workers don't tell the bosss what to do.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 18, 2007 10:13 AM  

  • That’s a real good idea. Somebody should have them check into places like Bemis an Truck an places like that. Those are this towns biggest plants and both them places don’t have a 95-5 plan for medical benefits. I just started working at Bemis an I thought they had a awesome plan but it aint no where neer 95-5. I say the mayor or sombody should maybe compare to that an see whats what.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 18, 2007 10:27 AM  

  • It's "and" not "an" and your continual coplaints demonstrate your inability to learn. You have no comprehension of med-arb laws. If you did you would not make such outlandish comments as they do.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 18, 2007 11:14 AM  

  • I’ve been a regular reader of Mr. Bain’s blog but I haven’t said anything yet. I voted for Bryan and I think he’s a wonderful council representative and I also support Jess King. I truly think Bryan has the best interest of the citizen and taxpayer at heart when he makes a voting decision. As I look at all this discussion on medical plans I see that a person continually wants this conversation stifled. I can’t understand why. I have learned a lot since I’ve been reading. I never knew that Oshkosh residents paid 95% of city medical plan. That does seem very excessive. My husband recently attended the Oshkosh Truck job fair. He hopes to land a job at one of the many Oshkosh Truck plants. I’ve always thought of Oshkosh Truck as the premier employers in Oshkosh until I saw the city plan. Now my opinion has changed. I think the City is the premier employer in Oshkosh. Now I know why my taxes are high and climbing. Mr. Bain I’m sure has much more information on this than I do, and I have full confidence in him and his ability to look out for the taxpayer’s financial welfare. And I think who ever is attempting to stop this information from being published should be ashamed of yourself. My opinion is that if you want to stifle information, you must have something to hide! Good luck on your new term Bryan!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 18, 2007 12:16 PM  

  • It's not a case of wanting discussion stifled. It's a case of the discussion being old and at the moment there is nothing that can be done about the contract. What part of that do you not understand?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 18, 2007 5:04 PM  

  • It would be great if cut and paste dude would take the conversation to Kent Monte's blog. That is a good home for this time weary discussion. I'm sure he'd appreciate the comments.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 18, 2007 6:08 PM  

  • 5:04 and 6:08
    Mr. Rude.

    A very intelligent lady made a reasonable posting during the noon hour today. She was informed of some details she apparently had no knowledge of. Just because you choose to cover-up comments related to city worker benefits, please don't assume ALL OF US blog readers know about this. I've learned alot too and even more because "me thinks ye protests too much" I agree with her comments that it sure seems like you guys have something to hide and now I'm all the more interested in knowing more.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 18, 2007 7:42 PM  

  • Mr. Bain.

    Where can I find out more information about this? Is there a website that lists all city worker wages and benefits? I've watched council meetings on cable channel 10 for years and I've never heard this stuff discussed in any of those workshops.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 18, 2007 9:08 PM  

  • several months ago I found wages, benefits listed for all oshkosh employees. I dont remember where I found all that but I did post everything I found on several blog sites. I think this whole thing started when somebody posted that a city bus drivers starting wage in oshkosh was like $18 an hour and that was the highest anywhere around here. If Brian knows more I'm thinking he'll tell all us.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 19, 2007 10:19 AM  

  • Public sector wages, like private sector, are competitive and comparable wth each other in order to attract and retain the best for the money. Same with the benefits paid. Or have you not been listening when others have noted that some cities pay more than we do. Can we do better? Maybe. But at the moment the contracts are pretty much done deals and concessions on both sides were made. If you want more, lobby your state reps to change the laws, but that's not going to happen, especially when we're already losing talent to other states through things like brain-drain and such.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 19, 2007 12:54 PM  

  • we have some time until or next contract period to construct a plan which will lead to a more even handed fair healthcare benefit. The Oshkosh taxpayer should not be made to pay 95% of a workers coverage when no other comperable job in even the best manufacaturing plant has a plan like that. Comparables. Lets begin now so we have a plan come time to begin negotiations. We wait and then its the same old thing. If we make this a priority we can get it done and still give our city workers a nice pay and benefit package that the taxpayers can afford and like whats out there in the private industry if all the city workers lost there jobs and had to find new jobs in the private world.I thnik youridea of a new state law is a good one but I think the unions hold alot of the representative hostage with campaign funding an stuff.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 19, 2007 2:29 PM  

  • Heres what I don’t get. If Im a welder at a mathwigs here in town I can make so much an hour. Then if Im welding at Miller I can make so much an hour. The mathwig owners only have so much to be able to pay me and keep in business, same at Miller-except Miller is way bigger and makes more money.
    Same with citys I think. Ok if I work at the garage an fix city trucks in Oshkosh I make so much. An if I work in Appleton and fix the same trucks I make so much. Now what your saying is that both places have to pay me the same, cuz theyre comparable. Well what if the people in Appleton are richer and have more money that we have in Oshkosh? It’s the same way with Mathwig and Miller. You only got so much and then you can’t afford anymore. That makes common sence to a simple guy like be. Oshkosh is not a rich town. Ask anybody. We cant keep up with Appleton or even Sheboygan or Manatowoc Each city has its own group of people who live there an they only can ask them to pay so much. With all the school taxes were gonna pay if that new plan goes through and then the county wants more money wow it’s a real load is all I can say.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 19, 2007 2:58 PM  

  • I beg your pardon but I can't quite make out what you're saying with all those misspellings and wrong words.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 19, 2007 3:28 PM  

  • I think the guy is saying his taxes are too high.

    Increasing city employee contribution to healthcare costs will help lower his taxes.

    I think that's what he's saying, just a guess.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 19, 2007 5:19 PM  

  • Some people posting on this blog are always trying to steer discussion away from the healthcare benefits provided to our city employees.

    Well here are some statistics to think about when you're reading that we Oshkosh property tax payers fund 95% of city employee healthcare costs.


    Did you know:

    1. One in 10 of your neighbors lacks any type of healthcare insurance?

    2. Catastrophic health care costs are one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in Wisconsin?

    3. More employers are offering less health care coverage because of rising costs?

    All I can say is...
    1) We need healthcare reform in America
    2) Our city employees need to pay a more reasonable percentage of their coverage (ie 80/20)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 19, 2007 9:19 PM  

  • Yup and you are an expert at copy and paste. Plaigarism too. You're a broken record whose tune is scratchy.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 19, 2007 10:40 PM  

  • 10:40 said:
    "Yup and you are an expert at copy and paste. Plaigarism too. You're a broken record whose tune is scratchy"

    Notice, there is not one word in the statement above that justifies the high cost of healthcare coverage we Oshkosh taxpayers furnish to our very valuable city workers.

    The two goals stated:

    1) We need healthcare reform in America
    2) Our city employees need to pay a more reasonable percentage of their coverage (ie 80/20)
    ...are reasonable.

    No one "bashed" city workers. The comment was that Healthcare in America needs changing and we taxpayers should continue to press for a more reasonable ratio of healthcare cost sharing.

    I agree with that...who wouldn't??

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at April 20, 2007 6:53 AM  

  • Anonymous 9:08 p.m.-
    I asked the City Manager about public access to city employee salaries. He said the information is public record, but it does require an open records request filed with the Personnel Office to obtain the information.

    -Bryan

    By Blogger Bryan L. Bain, at April 20, 2007 8:34 AM  

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