Elder abuse. Major narcotics. Community prosecution. These are just a few of the key units in the county district attorney’s office that would be eliminated if the office has to make $13.1 million more in cuts to help balance the county’s budget. Sacramento County District Attorney Jan Scully gave the Board of Supervisors a dire outlook Wednesday of how the public would suffer from proposed cuts to the D.A.’s office. The county’s most recent figure for its budget deficit is $180 million, sa... KathleenHaley thsas 2009-05-15T15:18:11Z 2009-05-15T15:18:11Z

As they should be. Tax Churches? Open the dialog! We need Government to run at LEAST as effectively as the average private business, and I cannot understand the resistance to that, other than unions who legislate and complell low performance. Pet peeve:Teachers should work full time. (real full time, like you and me...51 hours a week 50 weeks a year) Also, Government worker benifits an salaries should be indexed to the average worker in a similar position with a private company in the markets in which they serve. The benifit packages for most of these government jobs would make a criminal blush. I am a little touchy about this subject, as my rate of all taxs paid are about 60%, and I get NO support back from the govenrment, no gratitude, and only a constant beat of the drum to take more from me. I am getting very resentful of it. The government is hurting my family.

thsas 2009-05-15T15:18:11Z Steven Maviglio 2009-05-15T06:37:49Z 2009-05-15T06:37:49Z

This is the tip of the iceberg. If the initiatives dont pass on May 19th, this will look like nothing -- the cuts will be deep and across-the-board.

Steven Maviglio 2009-05-15T06:37:49Z Charlie 2009-05-15T05:53:05Z 2009-05-15T05:53:05Z

It's not scare tactics---it's real. We need to raise taxes---or eliminate programs. All this would mean---longer lines for any problems concerning city or county government , poor road maintenance----more potholes---more delays---more obvious poor people in the streets----need for more private charities to take up the slack---etc. etc. Pay cuts are needed---but then----tax levels will continue to go down. Government is never appreciated ---until it is gone----. Of course, we could tax churches----they get off scot free---hmmmm.

Charlie 2009-05-15T05:53:05Z thsas 2009-05-14T22:29:47Z 2009-05-14T22:29:47Z

Run all government departments like they are a private business. Salaries, (and many other catagories) , are variable exspenses. Vary them! Owners take no pay, or only living exspenses. All top leaders should take an immediate 50% pay cut, all middle managers should take a 25% pay cut, all other employess a 20% pay cut. All bonus programs are cancelled, no raises until further notice. Freeze the Company (in this case, the governments) retirement package contributions, and cut all employee benifits by 50%. . Cut all exspense accounts, absolutely no purchases can be made without at least a two level approval process, even when they are budgeted for. If an employee cannot meet the needs of the position, they are free to quit, we understand, and then we run ads for replacements. Renegotiate ALL contracts and agreements with all suppliers for lower costs. It is a recession, so receed. Require departmental deep-dive research into every aspect of the operation that requires man-power or spending money. Every deparment must present alternative plans for getting the work done with less and less money, with fallback positions. Any department that cannot prove its ROI would be required to fire all the managers of that department and invite them to re-apply for their positions. All sponsored events, picnic, and parties are cancelled. Overtime work may be required, but will not be compensated. This is how most responseable business have adjusted, 2 YEARS AGO! The Company must adjust and survive to be of value to anyone.

thsas 2009-05-14T22:29:47Z Jim Knapp 2009-05-14T18:32:44Z 2009-05-14T18:32:44Z

More scare tactics by politicians to rationalize more taxes.

Jim Knapp 2009-05-14T18:32:44Z rwneill 2009-05-14T04:07:50Z 2009-05-14T04:07:50Z

I like you're inclusion of Supervisor MacGlashan's Pollyanna-like fantasy that President Obama will ride to her rescue in shining armor on a gallant steed called 'Stimuli', showering the Board chambers with tens of millions of Obama bucks & bring an end to the insufferable headaches she is being forced to endure with all these dreary & dismal budgetary facts.

rwneill 2009-05-14T04:07:50Z