"As
the Raise Turns: Ten Thousand Dollar
Jeff"
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH
PART
VI: THE BUDGET SHOWDOWN
He’s
received a big raise and bonus. He also
received a big Christmas bonus, got a fat
car allowance and now has intimidated his
employees, trying to find out who are my
sources of information.
Of course, I’m talking about
“Ten Thousand Dollar Jeff”
Emory, the City Manager of Lincolnton.
Coming up on Friday, the budget retreat
begins for the city. And I’m
planning on being there from start to
finish.
I’ve done all I can in the first
five installments of “As the Raise
Turns” to both foster discussion and
outrage at the greed exhibited by both
“Ten Thousand Dollar Jeff” and
the members of the City Council who voted
for his raise (Larry MacHovis and Les
Cloninger, with Mayor Black breaking the
tie).
Now it’s time for the city employees
and taxpayers to turn up the heat on
“Ten Thousand Dollar Jeff.”
It’s time to show him that the
citizens and workers in Lincolnton mean
business, that we care how the City
Council is throwing our tax dollars away.
A business owner friend of mine put it
best at a Chamber of Commerce event
Thursday night.
“The time for shaking hands is over
now,” he said. Amen.
Let’s pack the house at City Hall
this coming Friday and Saturday starting
around 8:30am, and Sunday starting after
church. Let’s watch every penny the
city plans to spend this next fiscal
year. If the city employees pressure city
government, maybe they’ll get more
this upcoming fiscal year.
Is “Ten Thousand Dollar Jeff”
going to raise our taxes? How about our
fees? And will he cut services? How much
are we – the taxpayers and the city
employees – willing to pay to
continue to subsidize “Ten Thousand
Dollar Jeff” through future raises
and bonuses that we all know he’s
going to get….while city employees
continue getting little or nothing.
How much are the city employees willing
to sacrifice while “Ten Thousand
Dollar Jeff” continues making more
and more money?
My guess is, not much more.
By showing up over the weekend in droves,
we are showing that first, we care.
Second, we’re tired of having our
hard-earned dollars wasted on “Ten
Thousand Dollar Jeff” and his
“Ivory Tower,” which is his
office in City Hall. Finally, maybe for
once, the City Council will get the
message.
We’re not going to take the greed
and arrogance anymore. And that message
can be communicated to the entire City
Council this Friday by filling the seats.
“As the Raise Turns” has turned
out to be the most successful
“factorials” I’ve ever
written. And there’s only one reason
for that success, contrary to what
“Ten Thousand Dollar Jeff”
believes….
I’ve told the truth about the entire
issue from start to finish. Wish
“Ten Thousand Dollar Jeff”
could as well.
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