City trims concerts, youth jobs, trees Several programs that relied on city backing took a hit in this year's budget By Lauren Stanforth Staff Writer Published: 12:00 a.m., Monday, January 3, 2011
SCHENECTADY -- The threatened elimination of 19 city firefighters dominated the discussion about the city's 2011 budget woes, but other, smaller programs, like tree-planting and summer jobs for teens, are the ones which will be feeling the pain now that their city funding streams have ended.
Firefighters saved their jobs after negotiating a new five-year contract that includes no raises for two years. But to help close a multimillion-dollar budget gap, Mayor Brian U. Stratton eliminated the entire city contribution for five programs, including Retree Schenectady, a cut of $12,000; the county's youth summer jobs program ($79,500); city historian ($25,000); Central Park Music Haven summer concerts ($30,000), and the visitors center at the Schenectady Museum ($26,250).
The City Council approved the funding cuts.
Many of the programs will still continue, albeit on a smaller scale.
"I'm at a loss," Schenectady Museum Executive Director Kerry Orlyk said when first learning of the city cut when she was called for a comment. Orlyk disputed the city's ability to make the cut based on what she said is a 25-year contract to run the city's visitors center at the museum.
Sharon Jordan, the city's director of operations, said she didn't immediately know the details behind the museum cuts but said there have been discussions about moving the visitors center to Proctors.....................>>>>.......................>>>>.........Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/defa.....59.php#ixzz19yU9iurS
The City cut all funding for Lumpy Kosiur's Holiday Camp? ROTFLMAO!! The Museum is another money pit that no one other than forced students goes to.
Move the "visitors" center to Proctor's? Give us a break. Great idea Acting Mayor Jordan-substitute one money pit for another while continuing to rape the oppressed taxpayers. Only in Schenectady,
What ever happened to taking away the free City vehicles, free city cell phones, golf pro salary and overtime padding of pensions? These recent cuts are trivial as opposed to a majority of the waste the City still has. Can someone please take the snooze alarm off and wake up!
"I'm at a loss?" So are the oppressed taxpayers. These are all chump change cuts that hardly add up to the $5 MILLION the City had to ax. $3 MILLION in ancient tax liens that no one can get. Yeah, stick that in. They decided to pass a budget they all knew was unbalanced leaving it to the new Mayor and 4 new Council people to resolve.
The funniest besides Lumpy's Holiday Camp and the time piece museum, is Andrea Fox. She will land over at Sharon's office (once she finally retires) where she can continue to run DEM political campaigns. $6 Million in the red and nothing changes.
All the downtown businesses, who are tax exempt, should fund this stuff. Of course, they won't pay up
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
I'll believe these cuts when I see them!! I don't believe it!!
On the other hand, the liberal socialists may now know they are doomed and will leave the city in a worse condition than what it is in now! Perhaps?
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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The City cut all funding for Lumpy Kosiur's Holiday Camp? ROTFLMAO!! The Museum is another money pit that no one other than forced students goes to. 
