Mayor cuts cop, firefighter pay to minimum wage
The mayor of Scranton will likely have to buy his own coffee cup too.
The Michael Scott style of management must be infectious.
In Scranton, Penn., home of the mythical Dunder Mifflin paper company, the mayor has reduced the pay of all city workers, including his own, to the federal minimum wage — $7.25.
Let’s hope Mayor Chris Doherty doesn’t need a firefighter or cop anytime soon. He’s not likely to receive quality service.
NPR reports Doherty made the move after city council voted to reject a proposed tax hike. Scranton, the sixth largest city in the state, had only $5,000 in the bank and owed $1 million in pay to its 400 or so employees.
There’s no indication in the article that salaries for city workers are out of control — one firefighter said his gross income was $1,500 every two weeks. Now his check is for $600 after deductions. He’s probably pawning the fire station’s Dalmation to pay his mortgage.
Employees are suing. Lackawanna County Judge Michael Barrasse issued an injunction but the mayor ordered the city issue paychecks based on the minimum wage.
A protracted legal battle is just what a city with a $16 million budget shortfall needs.
I’ve not looked closely at Scranton’s budget woes, but why didn’t the mayor do the American thing and simply declare bankruptcy?
After all, what’s good for General Motors is good for America … and maybe Scranton.
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43 comments Add your comment
von
July 10th, 2012
4:40 pm
whats “Good” for General Motors? Are you effing serious?! As I recall they took our hard earned money and saved the backsides of one of the sorriest run companies in the country today. And for what? Because they were “Too big to fail” ? Bullcrap. And what do we get because of it? Cars that blow up and catch fire (A la Volt and Cruz, wtg gov’t motors) And describing Declaring bankruptcy as an “American” thing to do makes me sick to my stomach and you should be ashamed of yourself for implying it. If this salary imposition on the cities employees isnt enough for them then they should by all means quit. Its their right to do so. And when the city’s lost its police force and firefighters over it then they can act accordingly. until then I fail to see the problem with what the Mayor did.
eric
July 10th, 2012
4:53 pm
Michelle you are an idiot. Police, Fireman and our Military risk their lives every day for chump change.People like you sit back and prosper off their hard work. You make me sick to my stomach.I lost a real good friend; who gave his life to Serve and Protect. He was dam good man and had a wife and kids. He knew that most people were you and could give a dam about his safety. My friend did the job anyway and it cost him his life. Honor, respect ,morals and empathy these were some of the characteristics that drove him.
HENRY
July 10th, 2012
5:56 pm
AFTER BEING IN BUSINESS FOR 32 YEARS I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY. I SAY DO AWAY WITH MINIMUM WAGE AND PAY THEM A BUCK AND A QUARTER AN HOUR. GOVERNMENT WORKERS DON’T DO ANYTHING ANYWAY……………….
Edward
July 10th, 2012
6:01 pm
I don’t get it, they only have 5,000$ in the plus column, and owe over 1,000,000$. On top of that they have to pay400 city employees 3,000$ a month to be modest. thats 1,200,000$ they are spending every month at least. If they cant afford to pay the cops and fire fighters then they cant afford to pay them. seems simple to me, why are you all getting angry at this mayor? should they stop sending kids to public schools, and stop all road improvements? If you don’t have money you can’t give it away.
RC
July 10th, 2012
6:17 pm
I can’t believe all the selfish people posting on this story. The mayor did what he HAD to do!!! What do you want him to do, write everyone a rubber check? We as a country HAVE to learn to spend within our means, PERIOD. Scranton is rapidly heading to bankruptcy, like Stockton CA did last week. Is that what you self-centered spoiled brats want? As long as you get yours, to hell with the rest, right? Well, to hell with you people! You deserve a broke government.
RC
July 10th, 2012
6:22 pm
Ollie… I’ll bet you do everything you can to lower your taxes… don’t you? You’re just another DemocRAT hypocrite, you want everyone else to pay more while you pay less.
HootyGoot
July 10th, 2012
7:59 pm
Scranton Pa. population — 76,000. I’m sorry but that many people in one city generates a ton of money. Somebody’s either mis-managing the cash or stealing it !
Ollie
July 10th, 2012
8:48 pm
@RC…whatever dude….I make right at $100K and pay a 28% tax rate with no loopholes. And I’ll be happy to pay more so my kid has a good school, good teachers and policemen to run off the drug dealers running amok all around us. So STFU!! Go lick yours you idiot RepubliKLAN! You right-wing nuts think Dems are stupid and buying into your Armegeddon philosophies about taxes. I’m still standing and I’m pretty sure I pay more than you.
John
July 11th, 2012
11:58 am
Yeah, thanks for the tea party & the GOP. This is want they aim for. Lets cut government to the bone. God forbid we ask a little more in taxes from the wealthly.
I see fireman moving or seeking employment doing something else. Good luck finding anyone to replace them with this dreaful pay.
CCA
July 11th, 2012
1:29 pm
Will all of the complainers please propose a budget for the city. When they have completed the budget
take it to city hall and have the city council vote on it. None of the proposed budgets will make it because the person preparing the budget cannot match the income with the expenses without
increasing revenue (tax increase) or cutting expenses, (reducing salaries). In order to solve the financial problems of cities, counties, and the Federal Government, logic and not lip service must be applied.