Letters to the Editor: Aug. 19, 2011

What I find unfair about the budget

To the Sun:
Let me set the record straight: I am criticizing more than the city’s payroll tax increase.
I find it unfair to the community that 72 percent, or more, of the multi-million budget goes for city employees’ salaries and benefits while only 28 percent, or less, of the budget is put back into the community.
For the record, more than $10.2 million is being spent on personnel services, meaning salaries and benefits for 138 employees.
I find it unfair that my household struggles to keep up with the cost of health and dental insurance while city employees are only paying 7 percent of their health insurance and 5 percent of dental insurance.
I find it unfair that through the city and county’s retirement package, 18.96 percent of a non-hazardous employees’ and 35.76 percent of a hazardous employees’ annual salaries are being paid into their retirement accounts by my tax dollars.
I find it unfair that with my tax dollars, I am expected to purchase coffee for at least three departments in this city at a cost of approximately $3,800.
I find it unfair that my taxes are paying for 265 $25 gift certificates for employee appreciation each year. One commissioner even stated “this is their Christmas bonus” and 94 of those gift certificates are for retirees.
I ask, is not their benefit enough?
Another thing I find unfair in this city is the word play being used on the public. So, the next time you read that the city commissioners did not take a raise again (two to three years), ask them to tell you that according to KRS statute when they do take the raise, they will have to go back and take the CPI rate for all the years they did not take the raise.
I find it unfair that longevity increases were recently given with the reasoning that they are an incentive to make people stay in Winchester. It is in the Personnel Code and adopted by ordinance because the city put it there.
I guess the people that won’t like what I have to say are the ones on the receiving end.
Debbie O. Rose
Winchester

City workers should pay more of benefits

To the Sun:
I noticed that under a letter, the editor asked us to comment on tax increases.
I also read previous letters about health and dental benefits city employees were receiving.
How could anyone at City Hall expect taxpayers to be able to sustain the health and dental benefits and not be extremely upset. City employees are only paying 7 percent of health and 5 percent of dental!
How many working class people have this unheard of luxury?
My goodness, does the city really think the taxpayers are happy with these percentages?
The taxpayers are sick of being told that the city gives these luxury benefits to keep good employees in Winchester. The taxpayers will no longer accept this excuse as the economy shakes and crumbles this city.
It is time to see real budget cuts. Even the U.S. Postal Service realizes they can no longer sustain these kinds of benefits and has finally smartened up.
I am not a happy taxpayer, and we need to see real changes such as employees bearing more of the costs of their health and dental insurance.
Jacque McCue
Winchester