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More budget cuts anticipated

By Don Norfleet
news@fultonsun.com
Published: Friday, November 13, 2009 9:24 AM CST
More state budget cuts are expected to be ordered by Gov. Jay Nixon sometime in January, Mental Health Director Keith Schafer said Thursday.

Schafer said more staff reductions are expected in the central office of the Department of Mental Health in Jefferson City.

"But everyone in the central office affected by the cuts already have been notified. They are aware of their situation," Schafer said.

Schafer said he did not anticipate staff reductions at the Fulton State Hospital. The department has plans to replace the entire hospital with a new building but the state's economic downturn has put those plans on hold.

But Schafer cautioned that he could make no guarantees about employment anywhere in the department because the situation is still uncertain. He noted that more budget cuts are expected to be ordered in two months.

Schafer outlined various grim mental health budget reduction scenarios to the Mental Health Commission at its meeting Thursday.

Even with federal stimulus money, Schafer said the Department of Mental Health is expected to suffer a 6.9 percent loss in funding in 2009, and a 4 to 5.5 percent loss in 2010.

State tax revenue is expected to become positive when the recession eases and tax collections improve in 2011. Budget planners are predicting a revenue increase in 2011 ranging from 4 to 6.5 percent and 4 percent growth in 2012.

But the big crunch is expected to come in 2012 when federal stimulus money runs out, Schafer said.

To help balance the current budget, Schafer said employees and spending in the director's office have been reduced 10 to 11 percent, three times the percentage of cuts imposed on services provided by the agency.

"We are cutting bureaucrats first and services last," Schafer said.

Schafer said expenses also have been trimmed in the central office.

"The way things are right now, I as the director have no travel expense money in the budget. I can't travel," he said.

In July, Nixon ordered a $3.2 million cut in Department of Mental Health spending. Then in October, the governor's budget office cut an additional $6.6 million.



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ndnlvngcherokee wrote on Nov 24, 2009 11:51 AM:

" lovemyboy I couldnt agree more about you have good workers who have been around awhile and ones who are new and you also have the not so good workers both older and younger...I think it should be based on working abilities. We all know that life throws things out that sometime take you away from work...illnesses, divorce, death, and birth but with that aside how are people truelly working. Do they sit and not work or do they keep up on the amount of work that they are suppose to do or do they get out more than what is expected... "

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lovemyboy wrote on Nov 19, 2009 4:58 PM:

" (cont).....use at all. As far as a 'paperless' society - I remember 20+ some years ago when they brought in our first "PC" and said we would go paperless - that has yet to happen.... the problem is, we do not have a dependable system to store information (I won't EVEN go there) - so everyone still has the mentality of "better keep a copy, just in case". I love the idea about using mall space - but I highly doubt that will ever happen - way too practical. "

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lovemyboy wrote on Nov 19, 2009 4:55 PM:

" Gee I hope I'm not cosidered a 'fuddy duddy' or 'geezer' because of how long I've worked for the state! There ARE state workers who do NOT pull their share of the load - but they aren't always the older ones - some are the younger ones as well. I would dearly love to be able to retire but I can't although I could 80 and out in less than 5 years - I still have a family at home so that is not a luxury at this point. By the way - I am at home posting this less anyone think I'm slacking off at work - and our agency does NOT allow us to use the Internet for personal "

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boscoe wrote on Nov 18, 2009 1:21 PM:

" Main Entry: bureaucrat
Pronunciation: \ˈbyu̇r-ə-ˌkrat, ˈbyər-\
Function: noun
Date: 1839
: a member of a bureaucracy
___________

Main Entry: bureaucracy
Pronunciation: \byu̇-ˈr-krə-sē, byə-, byər-ˈ-\
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural bureaucracies
Etymology: French bureaucratie, from bureau + -cratie -cracy
Date: 1818
1 a : a body of nonelective government officials b : an administrative policy-making group
2 : government characterized by specialization of functions, adherence to fixed rules, and a hierarchy of authority "

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ts20 wrote on Nov 18, 2009 8:44 AM:

" cutting bureaucrats frist ??? really ??what are all you people going to do then ????funny "

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AMAZED wrote on Nov 17, 2009 12:33 PM:

" I agree with rocky. We dont need state workers or state services. We should annex our state to Illinois which is a sterling example of what an ex-senator can do. "

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ndnlvngcherokee wrote on Nov 17, 2009 12:14 PM:

" Rockyv question do you get breaks and lunch at your job? or are you made to work through them? State Employees are allowed on breaks and lunches to use the computers. Many areas are blocked from being allowed to go into as well. So when you see posting by state workers watch the times you will see they are usually done at the same time everyday by the same person... "

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Rockyv wrote on Nov 17, 2009 11:41 AM:

" I tend to find the more experienced workers are those that waste our tax money sitting around blogging about whats going on at the governors building. After seeing all the state workers use of time that day on the internet I vote for cutting an additional couple million. "

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AMAZED wrote on Nov 16, 2009 1:59 PM:

" Thats why dems hate corporations. To much competition. "

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ts20 wrote on Nov 16, 2009 1:13 PM:

" look out the dems are going to raise taxes ....................................on everthing ...................................... "

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mostateworker wrote on Nov 16, 2009 1:06 PM:

" I don't suppose they could freeze some of the pay increases to the top of the pyramid? Some are getting huge increases, forget the 3% that normal people get once in awhile. Sounds more like a corporation to me, pay the top people nicely and forget about the little people that make it all work. "

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AMAZED wrote on Nov 16, 2009 11:01 AM:

" If the YMCS would have used mall facilities then it would have been under the control of the mall owners. Much better to have it near the wall and retain independant ownership and control. Besides, there is a fitness facility already there. "

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AMAZED wrote on Nov 16, 2009 10:59 AM:

" We are cutting bureaucrats first? Exactly where and who are those and does this mean they are admitting there is? "

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boscoe wrote on Nov 16, 2009 10:55 AM:

" The YMCA didn't even put its new facilty at the mall. They had to build yet another commercial building on the west side instead of using existing space in the Mall which would have benefitted everyone. "

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ndnlvngcherokee wrote on Nov 16, 2009 9:43 AM:

" It means those business stay which pays taxes which creates more revenue, they keep employees working which means more revenue spent and less unemployement needed. It frees up the parking and helps with safety. Putting in a library there as well would be a benefit. When you mix up the areas where office buildings are and put them into areas with retail as well then you have workers on their breaks getting away from desks to walk and look and spend money. This also starts to help decrease the number of visits to the doctors as well because people are moving more during breaks. But hey why would our govt do anything that could help JC and the surrounding areas? "

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ndnlvngcherokee wrote on Nov 16, 2009 9:39 AM:

" First off I think many would be willing to have a less work week to keep more employees. In the dept where Im at we are already down by 3-5 people and that is just our section of the dept. They want us to get out the same volume with less and less people. Everyone ends up on edge and it makes for a working enviroment that most dont wish to work in. As for myself I wouldnt mind working 4 10hr days a week which would then mean that the offices would be shutting down extra power for an extra day. If you move many of the offices into the mall you create a revenue within the mall. "

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roseybud wrote on Nov 16, 2009 6:53 AM:

" I think you mean Republican, but anyway, the Govenor's office isn't experiencing any cuts, matter of fact the living is good in the Govenor's office. Raises, positions....what's that Jay? You need to fly somewhere today? What department should we charge? DNR, DOC, Social Services? Does it really matter? We know it wont come from your budget will it?

It would be shocking if the Govenor lead by example, that's all we'd like to see, we know the cuts are necessary. We just want to see some in your office, and that you stop raiding other budgets to fly.

Who's paying for the DNR review? If DOC has a major incident who you gonna blame? "

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Boscoe wrote on Nov 15, 2009 9:30 PM:

" The governor said he needed to pay the higher salaries in order to be able to be able to hire and retain good workers. Also, the Democrat legislature didn't aqppropriate nearly enough positions for the governors office, so he had to raid several other departments and take a number of FTEs from them for his office. "

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roseybud wrote on Nov 15, 2009 9:20 PM:

" Any cuts in the Gov's office? Either position or pay? They got raises when they moved in and have been raiding other department budgets since day one.

Hey Jay, put your money where your mouth is and start cutting a little closer to home. "

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AMAZED wrote on Nov 15, 2009 11:35 AM:

" Missouri is basically not using the stimulus money, but, we have hope, and we can sure use the change. "

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Boscoe wrote on Nov 14, 2009 6:09 PM:

" 2012 is going to get bloody. It it is this bad with an extra $4,000,000,000.00 stimulus support, just think how bad it will be after the stimulus runs out after December, 2011.

Manufacturing jobs like Johnson Controls, Chrysler, etc. are never coming back, so even when the economy gets better, the government is still going to be in a world of hurt due to high unemployment and loss of these high wage mfrg jobs.

I hope someone has a long-term plan for dealing with this economy and lowered revenues to the government. "

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stateEmployee wrote on Nov 13, 2009 7:49 PM:

" DMH cuts have been a fraction of that from DSS. They have been cut more than $40 million! "

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boscoe wrote on Nov 13, 2009 7:24 PM:

" I have friends who tell me they use paper intensive labor processes that involve manually coding and manual data entry and lots of copying and filing. There is no excuse for this in this day and age. Automate processes, do more over the internet, get rid of the paper and the manual data entry.

Technology is very cheap compared to doing things manually, plus it is way more accurate. "

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boscoe wrote on Nov 13, 2009 7:22 PM:

" Hmarie, that is a good thing to get the old ones out of there who keep making the excuses that "we have always done it that way". Let the younger, smarter, more technically saavy emplyees fix the inefficient processes that the old fuddy-duddies won't change.

Getting rid of tired old grouch "entitled" employees would be a very good thing. "

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hmarie775 wrote on Nov 13, 2009 7:17 PM:

" Boscoe, when you force out your most experienced workers, the ones who have been there and know the history of why things are done the way they are done, they've been around to see the mistakes and possess invaluable knowledge, then your entire workforce, efficiency and productivity go down the tubes. Sure, keep the newbies around b/c you can pay them less and then watch how everything falls apart. "

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boscoe wrote on Nov 13, 2009 7:09 PM:

" Cherokee- your suggestion about using some of that empty space at the Mall is a great idea. This town has so many empty office space and empty manufacturing space but yet the state keeps renting more and more new buildings and they keep building more and more strip malls to sit empty for months and even years.

That Mall is never coming back- they might as well use it for state offices and for a Library branch on the west end.

Johnson Controls is never coming back- wouldn't it be wonderful if the entire sheltered workshop could be moved there so they could consolidate their operations and have better supervision of their workers? "

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boscoe wrote on Nov 13, 2009 7:04 PM:

" Working dad, interesting that your office is so crowded. I know other state offices that have so many empty cubicals, empty offices, and wasted space that isn't used. Why not get rid of some of that leased office space and fill up the other state office buildings?

Does the state even have an OA facilities division anymore? Who is incharge of managing state buildings and making sure they are used efficiently?

Kind of like the state car deal a few years ago-- the Department of Revenue and the Auditor couldn't tell how many state cars they had. "

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boscoe wrote on Nov 13, 2009 7:01 PM:

" Why not offer an incentive and clear out a bunch of people who are elligible for retirement but who refuse to leave? These old people cost more because of their higher salaries (been there longer), and they get sicker more often. Also, they have way more leave than the newer ones. Give them a little incentive and let them retire to make room for keeping a younger, healthier, harder-working employee or two employed instead of laying off the younger employees with familes to feed. "

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gofish wrote on Nov 13, 2009 5:00 PM:

" I suppose the same goes for expressed explicatives? I guess I will have to resort to braille. "

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NT webmaster wrote on Nov 13, 2009 3:13 PM:

" implied expletives using characters are considered profanity and are removed. "

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GeeWhiz wrote on Nov 13, 2009 2:41 PM:

" So, if he's THAT concerned about his employees, why not drive his own car? I'm sure he gets paid enough to spring for a tankful. Probably would save a job or 2, don't ya think? "

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hmarie775 wrote on Nov 13, 2009 2:33 PM:

" Hit post too soon, he is in charge of the agency for the entire STATE not just in Jefferson City. Sometimes a persons job can not be done simply from a cubicle and a computer. "

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hmarie775 wrote on Nov 13, 2009 2:32 PM:

" Um, GeeWhiz, part of the guys job is to travel, I'm pretty sure he's not talking about vacations in Jamaica. It's hard to do your job when you can't get to where your job takes you.... "

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GeeWhiz wrote on Nov 13, 2009 2:10 PM:

" "The way things are right now, I as the director have no travel expense money in the budget. I can't travel," he said.

Yeah, people are worried about losing their jobs (or it's actually happening) and this guy "can't travel". Waaah Waaah Boo Hoo Go cry to Momma "

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two_cents_worth wrote on Nov 13, 2009 12:00 PM:

" We ain't seen nothin' yet. Wait 'til they start working on the budget for next year. (2011) There will be thousands of jobs cut. Percentage-wise, we'll see layoffs & job-cutting that will rival or surpass what we had in '82-'83.

It's gonna be bad. "

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ndnlvngcherokee wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:39 AM:

" workingdad while cubes are great to give individual space it also blocks being able to get help from others without constantly getting up which is more of a disturbance than most would think. There are things that the state could cut out which would still work. We have a warehouse where theres state sales almost every month. Instead of wasting what we already have why not find a new means to use what we have thus cutting the cost of new materials till the economy comes up and thus saving some jobs? "

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ndnlvngcherokee wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:37 AM:

" It could be a win win for everyone involved. Saved jobs, safety for parking, increased revenue for the state. Why would this be a bad idea? "

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ndnlvngcherokee wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:36 AM:

" Just an idea why not stop building new buildings and start using some that are already in our area? Example why not use the Mall it has many many empty stores within it. Why not move some of our govt offices such as MV and taxation into those areas. Keep the stores open that are open thus on breaks and lunches state employees get out and are able to shop and spend money thus helping to build the economy. Then you have the food court which would give many different varieties for lunch and those businesses would benifit. Then you have the parking which theres more than enough for everyone. Hyvee would benifit greatly as well as the gas stations in the area. "

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workingdad wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:31 AM:

" gofish - I totally agree to consolidate resources, get rid of those costly state rented buildings. I currently work in a state owned building, and can tell you that we are limited in the number of people who can actually work effectively. We share desks by rotating job tasks on 1st shift, and share the same desk with 2nd and 3rd shift. We were told that there is no room for extra phone lines coming into the building.

So while it is a great idea, some buildings would need a major retrofit just to get the people moved in. cubicles from Vocational Enterprizes (prison workers) cost us 30,000 for used/reconditioned walls and tabletops. "

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tonyhorton wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:21 AM:

" i'd gladly take a day or two without pay if it meant thousands kept their jobs, we need to do something to keep the economy moving...but if you listen to CNN, "the recession is over" yeah right... "

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gofish wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:06 AM:

" Cut equipment, supplies, non-human expenses first instead of employees. Consolodate more state staff into large single office buildings and close some of the outliers. Sure it will cost money to move, but the money will be recouped with future savings and by preventing additional unemployment. We need SOLUTIONS, not just reactive and illogical slashing. "

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sandhouse wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:05 AM:

" Typical. Mental Health seems to always be top of the hit list.

So the same week that a guy who attacked and wounded 4 people with a chainsaw has all the charges dropped so he can get a nice soft bed in a state mental ward....we find out that budget cuts to the Mental Health Dept will be forcing layoffs.

In related news....the Dept of Conservation is planning a new $8M facility because the other two facilities they have are "outdated".....while at the same time laying off staff due to budget shortfalls.

Anyone else got that warm feeling down the back of their neck??

Is our state government willfully pathetic or just merely incompetent?? "

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gofish wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:05 AM:

" When will the hemmoraging end? Seems as though the right arm is being cut off to save the left and yet the whole body will bleed to death. Governor Nixon can cut til he's blue in the face...but what is being done to SOLVE THE PROBLEM. It's like trying to put a band aid on a scratch when you should be puttng a tournique on the arm. Jobs will fix tax revenue. Cutting jobs will increase unemployment and further erode tax revenue. When Missouri works everyone benefits. "

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Horseglue4u wrote on Nov 13, 2009 8:24 AM:

" Why not go after the "permanent" part-time folks who draw benefits and the such as opposed to the fulltimers who actually need the pay ? "

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mariab wrote on Nov 13, 2009 8:17 AM:

" If they haven't done so already, at least the at-risk staff have a little time to prepare themselves financially. That's helpful. "

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