How Is Villaraigosa Gonna Close The City's $300 Million Budget Gap? Create New Fees and Taxes!
Zuma Dogg just got done reviewing the City's annual budget and either Big ZD made a mistake, or Villaraigosa doesn't know how to do a budget.
According to the calculations I just did in my head, the City of Los Angeles is $300 million behind on the budget -- and counting. (Total budget=$6.8 billion)
Of the $625 million in City utility tax money, around $300 million comes from DWP shady user taxes.
First, there's loss of over $30 million in "water transfer taxes".
And, there's the loss of $270 million in cell phone excise tax which was declared illegal by the Federal government. (No more excise taxes.)
Illegal fees applied in the past are not only lost, but perhaps a lawsuit for DWP to pay back years of lost amounts of illegal billing.
That dumb-jackass of a mayor Antonio Villarashmosa is now going to have to ask all 45 departments to cut by 5%. (Except for his travel and "entourage" budget, which MUST be increased! So don't look there. $300 million is 5% if total budget.)
LOW RESERVE FUND, TOO -- AND THE TIMING COULDN'T BE BETTER
With only $120 million in the reserve fund, there is nothing to make up the deficit.
And if I remember correctly, the City of Los Angeles is REQUIRED to keep 2% of the total budget in a reserve fund. $88 million is the required minimum you can have in the fund. Currently, the City has $93 million in the reserve, but they need $128 million.
Being DESPARATLEY close to the bare minimum in the reserve fund (the City's savings account, Villaraiogsa has no way to meet City emergencies!!!
So I think I'm gonna give LA Shitty Council a call, and see if there are some new and creative ways to think of some new fees and taxes to create.
BOTTOM LINE:
Everyone, please paypal the Mayor some money for the City because it is $300 million short this year, and a savings account about as sparce as Big ZD's. So PLEASE be careful, cause if there are any emergencies, too bad...no hay dinero! So Janice, Richard, and other Councilmembers, please add new fees and hike taxes to help cover the deficit. The mayor has a lot of hiring and flying to do!
AND IF ANY READERS HAVE SOME GOOD NEW FEES AND TAXES WE CAN STICK THE CONSTITUENTS WITH, POST THEM AS COMMENTS ON THIS THREAD.
I'll start with one: "Air Access Fee". Not to be confused with "air rights". There is a lot of air contained within the city limits that people use each day for things like breathing. We charge for water and other natural resources. Why just give away City air. So I would start there.
FEATURED COMMENT
Anonymous said...And when/if the real estate market declines are they doing next year's budget based upon this year's property tax collection? Forget about any reserve! This city is an Enron. Garcetti and others should stop bragging about what a great bond rating we have. If I were a Wall Street analyst, I would give this city a D rating!
zumadogg@gmail.com
ZumaTimes.com
Labels: mayor antonio villaraigosa
Posted by Zuma Dogg @ 9/18/2007 05:40:00 AM
33 Comments:
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Check your numbers. There has to be hidden money for retroactive salary increases.
http://www.seiu721.org/LA_Workers__Dedicated_to_Making_Their_City_Great.aspx
Personal income tax sounds like a great idea!
And when/if the real estate market declines are they doing next year's budget based upon this year's property tax collection?
Forget about any reserve!
This city is an Enron. Garcetti and others should stop bragging about what a great bond rating we have. If I were a Wall Street analyst, I would give this city a D rating!
Thank YOu Zuma for once again showing us the incompetence of the idiots in this city. First why didn't Steve Hymon report how many city cars each council member has and how much gas they spend each month. Those field staffers abuse those cars. Add Antonio's 26 city cars how much is that costing us? Then the over $15 million in special event waivers that are for more corporate companies then non profits. What about the $160 MILLION in traffic fines someone forgot to collect. What about the $40 MILLION on an elephant exhibit that only 1 elephant is at!! What about all the illegal marches in the last two years and how much has that cost yet none of the idiots press or council want to say the price. Then council is refusing to say that illegal vending is AGAINST THE LAST WITHOUT A PERMIT. Get a damn permit and its fine but illegal vendors are making thousands of tax free cash yet council morons say nothing.
If anyone's interested, the City Council is voting today on destroying "obsolete" and old records, from around 1996 to 2001, of the Department of Transportation, LA Housing Department, and City Planning (Administrative Services Div). If passed, the boxes will be available for public viewing for 60 days hence.
For above, savings of about $100-200 per Department, according to agenda item description. WoooHOO!!!
ironically its probably $300 million that Los Angeles coughed up for dust mitigation on Lake Owens, after the City stole all their water in the 50's.
one wonders where the future demand for water will be met, especially given the rash of affordable and unaffordable housing being developed.
For above, savings of about $100-200 per year, per Department, according to agenda item description. WoooHOO!!!
THANKS TO OUR GANG BANGING CHOLO MAYOR FOR NOT DOING A DAMN THING ABOUT OUR TRAFFIC. ADD TO THAT WE LOST MONEY THAT OTHER CITIES GOT CAUSE ANTONIO DIDN'T GO TO LOBBY BECAUSE HE WAS WITH MIRTHALA.
L.A. has worst traffic; drivers lose 72 hrs a year
Tue Sep 18, 2007
By Joan Gralla
Reuters) - The Los Angeles metropolitan area led the nation in traffic jams in 2005, with rush-hour drivers spending an extra 72 hours a year on average stuck in traffic, according to a study released on Tuesday.
FREE MONEY!!! FREE MONEY!!! Reward payouts to be authorized by our City Council!!!
ITEM NO. (40) - Motion Required
07-0006-S14
CD 15 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE relative to a graffiti apprehension reward payment
for an incident of vandalism at Banning High School on May 21, 2006.
Recommendations for Council action, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR:
1. APPROVE the $1,000 graffiti reward payment for an incident of vandalism at Banning High
School on May 21, 2006.
2. AUTHORIZE the City Clerk to pay this claim from the Vandalism and Graffiti Trust Fund No. 870.
Fiscal Impact Statement: None submitted by the Los Angeles Police Department. Neither the City
Administrative Officer nor the Chief Legislative Analyst has completed a financial analysis of this report.
(Public Safety Committee waived consideration of the above matter)
Catch the taggers and either get killed or get $1000.
START BY GETTING RID OF THE MIDGET MAYOR FIRST AND ALL HIS GANG BANGING FRIENDS !!
ANGELINOS WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO WAKE UP?
Fresh money to come from $1.5 billion bond issue for street and sidewalk improvements. You heard it here first. Creates new jobs and more union members. A win-win except for the taxpayer.
......and campaign contributions to the Mayor and Council members.
Can we say "public-financed", rigged elections ??
10:35, if you're talking about the Cardenas/Smith bond for street and sidewalk repair, we heard about that a year ago.
Have to take you to task on the "win/win except..." comment.
The city is so far behind on street and sidewalk repair, there isn't even a good joke here.
The only viable alternative is to put out a bond. Sidewalks are on a 100-year repair cycle. The worst streets have to wait the longest for repair because of the expense (and the city's 80/20 policy).
Taxpayers, business owners and homeowners do benefit (greatly) from resurfaced streets and decent sidewalks. Ask any neighborhood council what one of the biggest complaints is about and it's usually street repair (and lack thereof).
If he doesn't raise our taxes, how are we going to pay your buddy Matt Dowd?
The one who's suing our fair city for all that bogus stuff you and him and Mike Hunt have cooked up in Venice?
Thanks for being so considerate of taxpayers, and fiscally concerned.
Maybe you can add up them numbers in the negative column.
I am a CPA.
I can certify that this analysis is brilliant and correct, and if Zuma Dogg ever wants a boring desk job,
my firm will hire him in a flash.
How about the millions in taxes from all the illegal merchants ?
Maybe the Mexican Mafia and their street gangs allies do a better job of collecting taxes than the city.
Jack you are the first environmentalist i have met who believes streets are a necessary part of a functioning city. Maybe there is hope afterall...
Red Spot,
Good idea there. Collect taxes from the gangsters who are collecting taxes from the street vendors.
Jack H., I stand corrected. So let me spin it this another way. Council doesn't spend money to maintain infrastructure and uses it for "other purposes". After time the streets and sidewalks become so bad the citizens are will to tax themselves for infrastructure, and keep the Council free-spending.
Same thing is happening at DWP, which will be issuing big bucks bonds for the next five years, to allow their free-spending ways.
That's one way to close the Budget Gap.
(from 10:35)
Sidewalks used to be the property owner's responsibility, not the City's. Look it up. The City didn't put in the sidewalks, home developers did. It's stupid to pay taxpayer's money to fix sidewalks. When did that start anyway? Street repairs are paid for by the state gas tax given to cities and counties, which hasn't been raised in a long time. Sales tax on gasoline was supposed to go to fix roads, but instead Sacramento stole the money to balance their budget. Every city has crummy streets- Burbank, Beverly Hills, Torrance- you name it.
Beverly Hills' streets are pretty good, but in the hills north of Sunset they're totally useless, since no one walks. I don't think there are a lot of sidewalks in the hills of L A, not in Bel Air or Brentwood, except in tracts where the developers put them and should be responsible.
9:05, personal income tax is NOT a great idea.
I would say that getting rid of ALL fees and business taxes would be a better idea, just as long as a 1/4 of 1% sales tax goes into effect. The best idea would be to get rid of the fees and taxes first, before the sales tax goes into effect. Business license fees would have to remain, but at a fixed rate, not at the rate the City currently charges. Certain other fees, such as taxicab licenses (for safety purposes), emergency service fees (ambulance services for example), etc. would need to remain in effect, but get rid of these dumb taxes such as taxing owners of single-family dwellings!
These DWP "fees" for additional cops calls for a referendum to override council and the mayor. Fees such as these are completely insane. We live in a city with a high cost of living, and these asylum-dwellers in council want to increase the cost of living??? I'd sooner recall 'em, they're acting as though it's their God-given right to rob the poor (middle class) and give to the rich (and I imagine they just want to "wet their beaks" while they're at it).
11.24
that 'bogus stuff' we cooked up goes by the name of The First Amendment.
its very simple, and only your City attorneys manage to make it complex so they can draw a pay check week after week.
The restrictions imposed at Venice are overly broad, but before that are vague in their language.
That's why its on tomorrow's agenda, to be repealed. So Matt Dowd won a point of federal law, filed numerous legal briefs, endured 18 months of derision at the hands of the City Councilman, was chilled in expressive conduct for 335 days, suffered emotional and actual personal damages as a result. Michael Hunt has been prevented from exercising HIS FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO EXPRESSION for over 500 days now, and is still banned from setting foot anywhere near venice Beach. He was harassed, arrested 24 times, jailed, prosecuted, convicted, banned, humiliated and his life and family were devastated.
All over something he told Bill Rosendahl from Day 1.
so we were right, we won,
the payout is completely deserved, and if anything this blog should be berating the City attorneys who got their ass kicked by dum dums Matt Dowd and Michael Hunt.
after all, they went to law school right.....?
just like Rocky.
so be angry, that this City Council let this venice issue go on for 520 days. don't say we didn't warn you. don't say Zuma Dogg didn't draw attention to our issue. here's what happened: they thought we were all deadbeats, they challenged us to sue, they defied all our attemts to communicate, and now David beat Goliath, so pay up chump.
simple as that. its the American way.
if you don't like it, leave.
Now, if Zumma and his Butt Boy Matt would pay taxes on their sales, we wouldn't have a deficit.
Actually, Mr. CPA know it all, and Mr. 3rd Grade Education Dog, there is plenty of money. The Delta is just the unfilled positions that every single agency (including The Controllers Office) leaves in to pad their budget numbers and get more money. JUst cut that out from everyone.
Later on, they will internally transfer the bucks around in their budget to balance everything out.
Go check it out Bat Computer Boy.
And, next time, learn what the Hell you are spouting off about before we have to teach you everything.
Go over and suck up to Zev some more, or, has he used you up and blown you off after having his way with yuo??
7:11pm=everybody's favorite political operative
Good evening 7:11pm (tips hat):
Forgive me for not removing my hat and bowing low with a flourish, but you are not yet confirmed as the GAAP Big Shot you think you are. You may, if you like, address me by my hereditary title of "Your Grace," savvy?
A question for you, O gaap-toothed one, and perhaps you can answer in 10 words or less. (Dons mortarboard and gown and approaches podium) Given that budgeting is a function of accounting at its outset, would you say that this particular budget follows the principle of regularity? Mr. Dogg brings up a brilliant point in asserting that 2% be kept in the Rainy Day Fund. How does the proposed budget conform with the principle of regularity? (Throws the gaap-toothed genius a blue book and #2 pencil) Remember lad, 10 words or less, savvy?
And while we're on the subject of essay questions, take a gander at this one. With all sincerity, how will potential investors have the good faith required in order to purchase those DWP bonds with a budget that does not seem to employ that particular principle? (winks) Again lad, 10 words or less in LEGIBLE writing.
Oh, and one more thing. I don't see much in the way of prudence on the part of His Nibbs whose view of "as is" does not accurately reflect accounting reality. (Smiles) In 10 words or less, please address why it is that the "as is" reality that His Nibbs enjoys is not a prudent one.
(Takes off mortarboard and gown) Sots, I would be willing to wager that our gaap-toothed genius will most likely have a two word answer that contains two "u"'s, a "c" and and "f". I would also wager that Mr. Dogg could probably give me a 10 word response in a succinct and concise manner, savvy?
(Winks at Zuma Dogg) You know, the Black & Scholes Surf Team at UCLA could use a lad like you....
Ahoy thar, Captain Sparrow! I've been a bit busy belowdecks slopping about with a mop. Me first mate dids't leave a fine mess below - methinks he had one nip o' rum too many!
Methinks 7:11 be not the lucky one this night. His hat didst get pulled down 'round his ears and his plume doth look a bit sad after a run in with an anonymous post 'round on another thread!
Damn! I bethought me first mate was out cold! 'Scuze me a bit, Cap'n Sparrow, me duties take me elsewhar! Me first mate hain't much good whilst imbibing, but when he's sober, he's a first-rate first mate!
Methinks we meet again?
Good evening Lord Chapman (rolls eyes):
Oh bugger, a puking first mate does not make for fine company. He sounds like that certain public policy deputy that is easily had for a few beers at the Redwood. Poor sot, just when we thought he was safe enough to leave at the pub, he let fly on the barkeep. (Whispers) It's when they puke that they tell all, savvy?
(Motions to member of crew) Send a bottle of pink bismuth over to the Redwood and leave it for Lord Chapman. And send a bottle of Coca-Cola syrup as well. Between the two, it ought to at least dry the poor bastard out.
Cpt Jack,
LA City doesn't do ANYTHING that is "generally accepted", unless it is a rico/rackettering criminal that is doing the "general accepting."
Where's the CFO?
Cpt Jack,
LA City doesn't do ANYTHING that is "generally accepted", unless it is a rico/rackettering criminal that is doing the "general accepting."
WARNING
CITIZEN'S ALERT:
DO NOT INVEST IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES!!! THE BOND RATING IS ABOUT TO TANK. THE CITY'S BOND RATING IS ALSO TIED TO LAUSD. NOW DWP PROBLEMS WILL HELP FURTHER SINK IT.
(Don't think the City budget itself actually falls under GAAP though, does it? Just the
Aye, 'twas a bit o' a struggle, what me first mate swayin' 'round about resembling a ship's cargo shifting in it's hold in heavy seas. Methinks me first mate is safely tied down snug in 'is bunk! He'll be awake on the morrow feeling his head doth resemble a drum with many majors a-pounding 'pon it.
I thank thee for thine offer of the bismuth, but I didst lay in a goodly stock aboard me schooner for such times as these. Aye, even the castor oil doth work many wonders 'pon them what hath one nip than their hold can handle!
The deputy spewed 'pon the barkeep? What didst happen to the winsome wenches populating the bar at the last cloudburst to bless our pueblo early this year?
Methinks 7:11 hath eyes which lie to him - surely he hath read the budget of two years past, and thinketh it be this year in it's stead! Numbers do not lie to one such as the likes of me; I knowest the diff'rence 'twixt expenses and receipts; liabilities and assets doth hold no secrets from me.
The receipts be down this year, mister 7:11; liabilities be up. Run that 'round thy poop deck for good measure.
They do it with smoke and mirrors.
(7 words)
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