Posted: 20 Apr 2010 12:20 AM PDT

What's next?

The potential employees who passed Monday's first interviews will get second interviews. Those who are hired will start in late May or early June.

GALLERY: To see an Erie Times-News photo gallery about Monday's Presque Isle Downs and Casino job fair, click here.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Mogadore asks voters to approve higher income tax rate ... - Akron Beacon Journal

Posted: 19 Apr 2010 11:30 PM PDT

There are 14 people employed by the village of Mogadore — half of them in the Police Department — so there isn't a whole lot of room to cut expenses, Mayor Michael Rick said.

That's why the village is asking residents to approve a new quarter-percent income tax to deal with a year-end deficit that could reach $200,000.

The May 4 ballot issue would raise the income tax rate from 2 percent to 2.25 percent, generating about $240,000 a year. The increase would cost workers with a gross annual income of $50,000 about $10 more each month, Rick said.

He noted it would not affect retired residents on fixed incomes, as it does not tap Social Security or pension payments.

And because Akron's income tax is already 2.25 percent, it would not affect residents who live in Mogadore and work in Akron, and therefore already pay the full amount to that city.

Mogadore, with a population
of 3,900, has an annual budget of $6 million.

From 2008 to 2009, the village cut operating expenses $750,000, including four full-time and several part-time jobs.

''We're at bare bones since we're so small to begin with,'' Rick said.

The cuts were mostly in response to a decrease in state funding. Local government funds provided by the state, which account for 65 percent of the village budget, have declined 10 percent in each of the past two years, Rick said.

''That's killing us,'' he said, and there is ''no clue as to when they are going to bounce back up again, if ever.''

If an increase isn't passed this year in time to balance the books, ''we're getting into unchartered territory on what to do next,'' he said.

Rick said the village income tax was increased 0.5 percentage points in 1999, but the full amount was dedicated to infrastructure improvements and cannot be used for operating expenses.

Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Madison Heights Nature Center may be closed - Detroit News

Posted: 19 Apr 2010 10:04 PM PDT

Jennifer Chambers / The Detroit News

Madison Heights -- A peaceful oasis in the middle of a bustling city, the Madison Heights Nature Center could be shuttered as the city seeks to close a $3.2 million budget gap.

However, closure of the popular center, along with its walking paths and log cabin, may not be imminent. City officials are in talks this week with Oakland County Parks and Recreation to take over operations and keep the facility open to the public.

The City Council is discussing a list of recommendations from City Manager Jon R. Austin to balance a $29 million budget, which include closing the center and eliminating 23 full-time and 23 part-time jobs from the city's work force. The city has 184 full-time employees.

The Nature Center building, a 2,400-square-foot log cabin, is popular with families who come to see live animals such as snakes and turtles, participate in group programs, see movies and exhibits and walk along paved trails.

Resident Tina Green brought her two daughters to the nature center after school Monday, when the girls played on some rocks near an elaborate pond with turtles and fish.

"It would be a shame and real loss to the community if it closes," Green said.

Austin said his recommendation is to close the center and eliminate a full-time and part-time job there. Oakland County Parks and Recreation, which is supported by a countywide millage, is considering taking over operations on a multiyear contract, Austin said. Renewal of the 0.2415-mill county parks millage is up in August.

The county already owns and operates the nearby Red Oaks Waterpark and Red Oaks golf course on 13 Mile and is considering coordinating operations with the Nature Center, he said. The city is not selling the property or the building, Austin said.

"We are hopeful and optimistic the county will follow through on the proposal. Parks and Rec have indicated their support," he said.

Dan Stencil, county parks executive officer, said talks are centering on allowing the county to lease the center and expand its use beyond nature interpretation.

Madison Heights' layoffs wouldn't include police and fire jobs, but they would nix the city's children's librarian, Alex Krentzin. He wants the city to ask voters for a library millage.

"They have to fund the library differently," he said. "They go after the library because it's an easy target. No one complains."

A final budget must be approved by May 17.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.