TAXPAYER ALERT … TAXPAYER ALERT … TAXPAYER ALERT – this is not a test. In voluntary cooperation with this paper and to the dismay of local political leaders I have developed the “Warwick Taxpayer Alert System.” This warning will be followed by information and news to expose wasteful spending and irresponsible actions by city leaders.
Taxpayer Alert No. 1:
Upon being elected president of the City Council, Democrat Bruce Place stated that the most pressing issue facing the city is its finances. I agree.
The councilman, who professes to be a fiscal conservative, would appear to be the type of leader taxpayers need under these challenging economic conditions – a leader with the courage to develop and embrace bold initiatives to reduce the cost of government and balance the budget without increasing taxes.
Upon further examination of Place’s record and that of his Democratic supporters, councilors John DelGiudice, Raymond E. Gallucci and Donna M. Travis, we find that in the last two years, none has proposed any substantive legislation beneficial to taxpayers. In fact, they cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars with their votes to maintain municipal labor’s preferred health care administrator. Could it be they do not represent the interests of Warwick taxpayers because family members work for the city and receive these benefits?
Am I being unfair? Consider that recently Democratic Councilman Joseph J. Solomon has proposed legislation to impose a 25 percent cost-sharing on elected officials and other employees’ health care benefits and Democratic Councilman Steve Merolla has proposed legislation to reform the municipal pension system. Both measures could save taxpayers millions of dollars. Yet Place and a majority of his supporters rejected these reforms.
Furthermore, why would Place appoint Travis and Gallucci, who are not fiscally conservative, to the important finance committee? By removing Democratic Councilman Charles J. Donovan Jr. from this committee, after acknowledging the councilman had done a great job as chairman eliminating wasteful spending, Place demonstrated he was willing to compromise his convictions to obtain the council presidency and in a quid pro quo, provide all of his supporters with leadership positions on this and other committees.
What future tradeoffs can we expect? By maintaining the status quo and rejecting reform efforts aimed at reducing the cost of government, Place and his supporters, Travis, Gallucci, DelGiudice and Republican Steve Colantuono, put the priorities of special-interest groups in the city above those of the children, the elderly, homeowners and businesses who will suffer from program cuts and increased taxes.
Taxpayer Alert No. 2:
Mayor Scott Avedisian has targeted specific line items in his budget to help offset loss of revenue and reductions in state aid. They include cuts in overtime, contributions to pension funds, gasoline, streetlights, tree planting, mattress disposal and airport litigation funds. Once again, these one-time fixes do nothing to address the structural problems existing in the budget.
It is unfortunate the next round of cuts will most likely result in a loss of jobs when other alternatives are available. In December the Avedisian administration paid more than $161,000 in bonuses to employees for unused sick days. The mayor also vetoed legislation that would have eliminated health care buy-backs, saving another $30,000 annually.
“It is … the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours,” said President Barack Obama. How many jobs could be saved or city services restored if all employees declined sick pay bonuses and health care buy-backs?
Avedisian also has eliminated support to neighborhood Little Leagues, girls’ sport programs and groups such as the Gaspee Days Committee. Is it unfair to target children when no sacrifices have been requested from administrative personnel? I think so.
Apparently, Avedisian does not. When his finance director was asked if the mayor considered rescinding the 3 percent pay raise for administrators before targeting other cuts, he responded, “No.” Avedisian stated, “no one is happy with the cuts, but there are very few spots to pull the money from.” Eliminating those raises would save more than $100,000 – enough money to restore support for all these organizations.
In his first days in office, Obama recognized our national fiscal emergency and announced no raises for administrative officials. Days later Cranston Republican Mayor Alan Fung announced no raises for administrative personnel for the next two years. Brown University President Ruth Simmons just announced a freeze on salary increases for faculty and staff, to reduce administrative expenses. When is Avedisian going to ask his staff to make the same sacrifices?
If you discover wasteful spending or irresponsible actions by city leaders, e-mail me at cushmanr@cox.net. Your tip may well result in a future activation of the Warwick Taxpayer Alert System. •
Robert A. Cushman is a former Warwick City Council member and former chairman of the Warwick School Committee.
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