Double the Overtime
- Mayor Rahm Emanuel's 2014 budget more than doubles the amount initially set aside for police overtime this year, reflecting the increasingly high financial cost of trying to tamp down gun violence on city streets.
The new spending blueprint anticipates $71 million in overtime for police next year, compared with the $32 million the mayor budgeted for 2013 — an estimate the city rapidly blew past in response to a wave of murders and shootings that drew unflattering national attention.
City budget director Alexandra Holt predicted that much of that 2014 overtime would be spent on saturation policing efforts in so-called impact zones, mostly South and West side neighborhoods that have borne the brunt of the bloodletting. By the time 2013 ends, Holt estimated the city would chalk up more than $40 million in overtime for impact zone policing.
And while Rahm is doing this, he's slashing the aldercreatures slush funds....by $6,000:
- Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to deep-six a stealth City Council account that some aldermen used to put family members, campaign operatives and those with political baggage on the public payroll without detection until the Tribune exposed the practice.
The $1.3 million secret fund, which dates back decades at City Hall, is zeroed out in the 2014 budget proposal the mayor unveiled Wednesday.
The change, however, will save only about $6,000. That's because the money is being spent to create a council office of financial analysis and to beef up regular aldermanic expense accounts — which some aldermen also have used to hire relatives, lease office space from their own relatives and even lease luxury cars.
The idea is to make hiring by aldermen more transparent. Employees paid through the stealth account did not show up on the city payroll, but those hired through expense accounts do. The move also could help the city comply with a federal court order, known as the Shakman decree, that bans taking politics into consideration for most city hiring.
Those speed cameras must be way more lucrative than Rahm is letting on.
Labels: money questions
posted by SCC at 12:03 AM
55 Comments:
Smoke and mirrors! Keep working that VRI and keep ruining our pensions. All you young coppers aren't looking at the big picture.
Stop selling your futures! If we didn't work all that VRI Rahm would have to hire more officers.
And I can't even get a day off.
Why would Rahm hire more POs when there are plenty of guys foaming at the mouth to work VRI? Keep it up, guys! Rahm says thank you! Near-sighted morons.
"3,000 officers set to retire..."
Rahm and McAsshole are trying to destroy the CPD from the roots up. They want to get rid of anyone who remembers what we were and what real bosses and cops were like. All to run everything on the cheap so his pals can get rich.
Regester and Vote, if you are retired keep your address here and stay in the pension fight.
Cut the Obama housing, Obama phone, Obama heating and cooling, Obama cash cards, Obama baby sitting checks, Obama federal grants, Obama care, etc... If they are that desperate military will give you food housing medicare and a pension. As long as we give out free crap no one will be desperate enough to start making their own living and so loving off of the backs of hard working Americans.
14,400 extra per year if u do all 4 days every month.. That's Tuition then some
when the public turns and it will they [politicians] will flee like the Nazi's when it happened to them.
Woo-hoo! All my bills will be paid off next year if VRI continues! I made a big dent in them this past 14 months. I may celebrate and buy a new car once the bills are gone. My car is 11 years old now.
I see they have new money from some taxes and like usual, they can't resist the urge to spend it on new programs. Hey numbnuts, you buy a new car when the old bills are gone, not in anticipation of new money that may not even show up in the coffers. Making new expenses BEFORE the old ones are gone in anticipation of a windfall is how fools budget. Until the money is in your hot little hands, it doesn't exist.
This OT will probably end once Rahm is assured of re-election and the crime rate in Chicago bucks the nationwide trend of an uptick in crime. I can't wait for a few thugs to get their comeuppance from one of their concealed carry victims. That's how the crime rate will trend down. A few assailants getting blasted by a lawfully armed citizen just might scare a few of them.
We are under staffed. Our young patrol officers are working their days off for time and a half. That makes them worse officers on their regular days, tired, worn out and missing the family grow up. Any fool would know that.
The Mayor doesn't care. As taxpayers, you should. You are getting less for your money here. Your Department isn't what it can be. Many neighborhoods have been stripped of their officers. When is the last time you saw an officer on a simple traffic stop in your neighborhood? This is a nightmare for the pension system also. Overtime doesn't pay into the pension.
The Mayor doesn't care because he won't be here for the problems down the line. You will. Vote him out before he can do more damage.
14,400 extra per year if u do all 4 days every month.. That's Tuition then some
Again... a few crumbs for being a sellout.
Anonymous said...Smoke and mirrors! Keep working that VRI and keep ruining our pensions. All you young coppers aren't looking at the big picture. Stop selling your futures! If we didn't work all that VRI Rahm would have to hire more officers. And I can't even get a day off.10/25/2013 12:11:00
regardless of whether they hire or not, there is going to be no pension! People have different motives for working vri. Maybe you should work it and use that money to max out deferred compensation. Stop depending on the promise of a pension and start saving with that in mind. stop worrying what people do or don't do.
They are making big changes today! There is a class of sergeants in the future. But I am glad that I signed up for the sergeant's test. I take a proactive approach to things. You guys need to do the same. Learn to lift yourselves up by your boot straps.
Anonymous said...
Why would Rahm hire more POs when there are plenty of guys foaming at the mouth to work VRI? Keep it up, guys! Rahm says thank you! Near-sighted morons.
10/25/2013 12:36:00 AM
_______________
I have not worked one day of VRI. I have been concentrating on a graduate degree. And the city is paying for some of it, it is not a diploma mill that gives everyone straight As. Some of us can think.
Rahm has a really tough job to do, trying to find money to balance the budget. At least he cares for the people of Chicago. Think of him and the various Alderpeople as our stern fathers and mothers.
Greed is one of the 7deadly sins, remember that! Because people continue to work vri, they are not hiring more officers. This translates into less people paying into the pension,less people responding when you call a 10-1 and less people patrolling your home front while your stuck in the ghetto! That's just a part of the whole picture-- think people,the mayor is using your greed for money against us!
I only work the Michigan Avenue VRI. However, I spend more than I make shopping in the pretty stores.
Now, kees me you fool!!!!
A tacit admission by Rahm...
He is trying to burn CPD to a crisp by not hiring.
His "hiring to keep pace with attrition" is nothing but word salad.
He is trying to drag out contract negotiations to get stats he can live with politically while stymie-ing pay raises and demanding 10%+ cuts from all city agencies so he can point to all the "savings" he wrung out of those "greedy" city workers.
The high note of this whore song and the crowning achievement will be "reforming" everyone's pension from under them.
Cheaper than hiring more cops. Besides the money is already there. Remember the funding for the police is set at 13,500 officers, so there's lots of extra money.
Heh...
Rahm ordered the Fibune to lock down the comments section...
The "3000 officers set to retire" part will have made for gleaning some interesting insight from the usual joyful haters.
Interesting... Almost half of a major metropolitan police department can walk away today and there is no uproar by the public?
"Naked, alone and afraid" are words that will take on new and interesting meaning here in Chicago.
VRI is like Obamacare, the younger officers will pay and the older officers will benefit. Consider that VRI is hiring officers without additional pension payments. And realistically it is a positive move for Rahm because when you figure pension and benefits ONE OFFICER COSTS THE CITY A MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE COURSE OF A CAREER! Hire a thousand officers and it is a Billion dollars over a career, so Rahm is kicking the can down the road with VRI. And ten years down the road we may be Detroit, so VRI is a bargain.
Some in city hall expect as much as 500 million once all the cameras and attachments ( that we have not been told about yet ) are in place.
Rahm should look into charging alarm companies for all the false residential alarms that tie up police on daily. The alarm companies make millions and get a free service from the city.
Mayor knows this will shut these money hungry pos up when we get hammered in contract. Money should pay for good divorce attorney or good doctor also. Tell your wife and kids you'll see them in 2015.....
Some of you talk out of both sides of your mouth. Well here's a simple fact: Outside of court, VRI is a great part time job. Many of us revolver police remember working public housing and/or CTA for straight time, but VRI pays time and a half. And unlike working security for $18 an hour someplace, VRI will cover you should you get hurt.
FOP used to bitch that we should get time and a half for special employment, well now we are. Take the money while you can and pay your bills.
I'll work as many days as they give me as long as the program lasts and not complain.
I'm an old copper and as long as vri is there I'm gonna work it so you just keep on workin cta because you dont know how to make an arrest for activity and stop worrying about what everyone else does asshole. Can't get a day off that's what the medical is for stupid.
Still no talk of cutting the city council by half- that would be saving a ton of money right there. Time for six figure salaries for 50 part-time aldermen to go!!
I love this mayor!!!
don't hire , keep that OT coming in , 58 years old , 32 years on the job and making more money than the white shirts , raise the mandatory retirement age mr mayor and I will stay longer than 5 more years
Would you rather I worked for less than half the money at some department store or jewelry store. Not all of us married into wealthy families. We work for the things our families need. Even if we didn't work vri they would put all the ppo's in those zones and you still wouldn't get a day off because they aren't assigned to your watch. Bitching on this blog won't help. Register to vote and get your entire family registered. Get involved might make a difference.
FOP will file a grievance
The speed cams and red light cams will make an increase in the decrease of available funding.
You guys are idiots!!! This is the same motherfucker that wants to fuck you by stealing your EARNED pension. This little tutu wearing motherfucker has a crisis and you are helping him get out of it. If you guys would not work VRI crime would sky rocket and the little fuck would get hammered by the outraged community. He would then have to hire more police officers who would pay into our pension and heck maybe officers in beat cars can get time due when they need it. I know some of you guys who don't know on how to keep together are going to say, I have bills to pay fuck you I'm going to get mine while VRI is available. I have not worked housing, CTA, or VRI and I have two daughters in college and one more in private high school. So if I can do it without working for the mayor, so can you. The FOP should be strongly urging members not to work housing, CTA, and VRI. They should be making public announcements on how short the department is and a nice demonstration at city hall would give the little ballerina a good kick in his mangina! Stop helping him out!
I am tired of hearing about keep working VRI you are hurting our pensions etc. Well, morons why don't you use that VRI money and invest it wisely instead of buying fancy cars and spending it in stupid things you do not need. Reality is that they are not going to hire MORE police. Stop your crying and men up already our pensions are so F-UP not much we can do. Invest and think outside the box. That is all carry on.
All watches will go to one man cars just like our brother suburban officers.
Smoke and mirrors! Keep working that VRI and keep ruining our pensions. All you young coppers aren't looking at the big picture.
Stop selling your futures! If we didn't work all that VRI Rahm would have to hire more officers.
And I can't even get a day off.
Are you kidding me? Have you seen the roster on these VRI days, it's like CTA special. You need at least 12 years to get it now. During the week you need 15plus. It's not the young Cooper's ruining it. Open your eyes or crawl out of your hole and see what's actually going on.
OT: Was at the Markham court house yesterday and over heard officers and staff talking about how they purchased a dozen donuts for a jury at the price tag of $7.99 per donut. Who ever is in charge of reviewing the transaction before agreeing to pay it obviously doesn't, maybe cause it's not their money so why care? Is Preckwinkle aware of this and how many times had it occurred prior to this? No wonder this country is crying poor mouth, it's always easy spending some one else's money.
Of course as long as officers foam at the mouth and work the vri, the city doesn't have to hire more officers. Hiring more officers means at least our pension fund is seeing a steady stream of money coming in. But just think short term and then blame it all on someone else.
Woo-hoo! All my bills will be paid off next year if VRI continues! I made a big dent in them this past 14 months. I may celebrate and buy a new car once the bills are gone. My car is 11 years old now.
You are unbelievable. Just be happy he didn't cut the overtime or even have it remain the same.
Not saying he shouldn't hire more po's,but this is better than cutting it, then you would really have something to bitch about.
back to working both days off come spring!!
Another academy class starts on Nov 4. Anything helps at this point.
We are under staffed. Our young patrol officers are working their days off for time and a half. That makes them worse officers on their regular days, tired, worn out and missing the family grow up. Any fool would know that.
Not any fool would know that. In the 60's thru what the early 90's po's worked 6 days in a row for 4 or 5 weeks in a row before getting their 2 3 day weekends. Didnt make them more tired or less effective. They also rotated shifts every 28 days and did fine. If you were on 4-12 and rotated back to days after 28 days if you were lucky you got 5 hours sleep.
Now man up and quit complaining
Anonymous said...Smoke and mirrors! Keep working that VRI and keep ruining our pensions. All you young coppers aren't looking at the big picture. Stop selling your futures! If we didn't work all that VRI Rahm would have to hire more officers. And I can't even get a day off.10/25/2013 12:11:00
I must have missed the order rescinding seniority for working VRI. If not, how are the young po's ruining everything when you need at least 10 years to work VRI DUH
You guys are idiots!!! This is the same motherfucker that wants to fuck you by stealing your EARNED pension. This little tutu wearing motherfucker has a crisis and you are helping him get out of it. If you guys would not work VRI crime would sky rocket and the little fuck would get hammered by the outraged community.
Maybe the wrong person is the idiot. VRI works mainly in 007 and 011 so it only affects those communities. Do you really believe those communities would be outraged and vote Rahm out. They will push the big "D" lever election time. How do you think the city got into this mess in the first place.
VRI is here to stay but NOT expanding. It is simply trying to avoid the news story of "CPD spent their entire OT budget by July". We aren't getting "MORE" VRI, just putting more IN THAT LINE ITEM so it doesn't look like they went over. The 'doubling' is JUST doubling a 2013 budget number that we already blew past. Compare ACTUAL spent in 2013 versus the new 2014 budget and you won't see any increase!
Wish i could get some of that overtime. Wtf why give people three days before everyone gets at least on day.....dam
Rahm is setting us up for a big hit, he will say for 2015, the year he has to come up with all that pension money that there will be police layoffs, and all the new recruits will be laid off. He will gladly pay all that overtime in 2014, it is his way of breaking the pension fund. just wait and watch
Honestly i could care less who works VRI.
It is like talking to a brick wall.
Reminds me of the guys that were to busy to go to college on the cities dime.
Same excuses my babies school cost alot and my wifes SUV is leased for 5 years.
You either know how to handle you finances or you work part times forever.
Quick tip if many of you refinanced your homes you would save the same amount you make after taxes on VRI!
Anonymous said...
Rahm is setting us up for a big hit, he will say for 2015, the year he has to come up with all that pension money that there will be police layoffs, and all the new recruits will be laid off. He will gladly pay all that overtime in 2014, it is his way of breaking the pension fund. just wait and watch
10/25/2013 08:24:00 PM
Another jackass heard from.
Not sure why I'm schooling you (because the world needs idiots, too), but here goes...
Every, and I mean EVERY civilian has to be laid off before copper the first gets cut.
Which means your stupid ass will be OK.
Now go work some VRI and help sink the ship a bit quicker.
Why would Rahm hire more POs when there are plenty of guys foaming at the mouth to work VRI? Keep it up, guys! Rahm says thank you! Near-sighted morons.
10/25/2013 12:36:00 AM
_______________
I have not worked one day of VRI. I have been concentrating on a graduate degree. And the city is paying for some of it, it is not a diploma mill that gives everyone straight As. Some of us can think.
10/25/2013 07:42:00 AM
Great!!!! You will never use it and you will never see a monetary gain because of it. You are too old, have too little experience, and are over educated.
I know, I know, you think I'm bullshitting you because I'm jealous. You will find out though I'm correct when a 21year old with a bachelor's degree is making more than you.
Regester and Vote, if you are retired keep your address here and stay in the pension fight.
WTF??? I think I'm gonna move to a state where my vote will finally count, and doesnt tax the sh&T out of you.....I deserve that. You have to know when to cut and run.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Give me more and more.
Quick tip, said it well. I work w people that don't comprehend deferred comp is a tax savings, or the difference between a 7.75% or a 3.25% on a home mortgage. Or a car loan at 1.75% vs. 18.75%.
They'd hire more police if you short sighted fools quit working VRI!
News flash, the city is a large business and hiring decisions are not made for tomorrow, today. If they wanted to hire, they'd have made that decision a year ago. They can't put up a sign in the window and hire a cashier in a day or two. They are allowing me to pick up these "crumbs" and I'm doing it. These "crumbs" are equal to car payments and if you really work it, a mortgage. In my case, I use it to get ahead of the bills and extra money in Deferred Comp. Would they hire more police if we didn't work VRI? Maybe. Maybe not. I worked in a different job before this and I worked 10-12 hours per day, 6 days per week. And I even worked some part time jobs along the way so, this working a day of VRI is killing you is nonsense. I also worked much harder in my old profession. But the threat of being killed or maimed wasn't really as much a part of the mix as it is in a police officers career.
As far as voting, I've been voting since Jimmy Carter was president. Primaries and general elections. The problem is for some reason, the people I vote for almost never win. And if Mark Kirk is the republican in the senate race in a few years, I'll hold my nose and vote for him because he at least is a shade better than ANY democrat in this state. Don't flame me for it, whoever the democrat is will be wrong on 100% of the issues, Kirk is around 50%. I'd rather have someone that at least has half a clue representing me than a damn 100% socialist.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Regester and Vote, if you are retired keep your address here and stay in the pension fight.
WTF??? I think I'm gonna move to a state where my vote will finally count, and doesnt tax the sh&T out of you.....I deserve that. You have to know when to cut and run.
10/26/2013 09:34:00 AM
THINK.
You're planning to move to a place they already run well, or else you wouldn't be choosing to move there.
Maintain your voting address here, so you will have SOME say in what happens to your pension.
Anonymous said...
14,400 extra per year if u do all 4 days every month.. That's Tuition then some
10/25/2013 01:15:00 AM
That's 48 days a year more you are working. 48 days a year less with the family or fishing or traveling or just enjoying life. 48 more days a year more to be away from your wife so she can wonder why she got married to a cop in the first place.
That 48 days a year is blood money. You ever have to go in your own neighborhood to work the extra details because the animals in your neighborhood are killing each other at such a high rate?
Let them blast away at each other. City won't hire more cops until that happens.
And most of all, that's 48 days pay a year that are NOT on your pension, saving the City all those pension contributions.
That said, the only really smart thing to do with that money is to sock it in deferred comp if you are not already maxed out.
"...Rahm cares for the people of Chicago..."
Please report to Random Drug Testing, 3510 S. Michigan Ave.
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