Let's not forget the exponential growth in these numbers too.4% of 4000 is $160,4% of $2000 is $80.What a racket.

Did you see the great photos on their website? http://www.woonsocketschools.com/
Not all money goes to salaries.

Over the past 5 years, the teachers/teachers union have done the following VOLUNTARILY: taken a 3.5 % pay cut, taken a 5 year pay freeze, increased their health care payments, and given back a deferred payment. The teachers are not the ones who have created this mess.

Steve, ALL the auditors have said that the reason that the WED ran into deficit is because they have been underfunded for years ( both from the city and from the state I guess) From what I have read and heard at SC meetings, the teacher's union has given up quite a bit already.

So Identity, does that pay freeze include the step increases? And exactly what have you given in the form of health care payments. 10% co-pay rather than 0%?

When you look at the WED budget, and you see between 80 to 90% is labor costs, where do you think the adjustments should be made?

Memere, like I've said in the past, underfunded by the city, the state, the feds? The only group that I see that is truly underfunded are the tax payers in the City of Woonsocket!

Here is a website. http://www.localschooldirectory.com/district-schools/39/Woonsocket-School-District/RI I am not sure what year this is. I also do not know if the staff (psychologists, speech etc) is included.

If these poor suffering union members aren't happy with their pay and benefits, let them move on. Unfortunately, most municipal union members don't have a clue what reality is in the private sector. I'm really fed up hearing about the poor union members who aren't being treated fairly. Ask all of the private sector workers who have lost their jobs because of the lousy economy in this city, state and country how they feel. I'm sure they are not going to shed a lot of tears for the unions folks who are still doing pretty darn good for themselves. Let me repeat myself if the unin workers in this city aren't happy - let them get out. Noone is forcing them to stay here.

Then it's all about the money,public sevice be damned.How's that for getting real?

Not Leo Fontaine,
Actually, it is all about common sense and proper management. You don't bankrupt the taxpayer's of the city so that you can keep feeding the union greed. In the real world, companies have to balance the bottom line. In other words, rather than keep raising the prices on their products until no one will buy them, they have to come up with ways to cut expenses - unfortunately the cuts usually translate to lay offs. In government, instead of finding appropriate ways to cut expenses (we can't insult the unions) our illustrious leaders just keep raising taxes. Let's do away with the step increases for teachers. Let's find ways to reduce spending in the public safety sector, let's find ways to reduce spending in the municipal departments - it isn't going to happen. Union greed dictates that the taxpayers are the ones that have to suffer. When the city was discussing ways to cut expenses in the School Department, Partington wasted no time in stating that instead of making cuts to the school department, the city should raise taxes. Typical union mentality.

Unfortunately the union members seem to think they are sacred cows that no one should ever touch. One union member was complaining a few weeks ago that he has to work more overtime to try and make up some of the money he is loosing. I guess they don't realize that in the real world, when a company is trying to cut expenses, one of the first things to be eliminated is overtime. In Woonsocket,due to really poor management, we manufacture overtime for the union workers. God forbid that we should really attempt to cut expenses and lessen the burden on the taxpayers.

It has happened to MANY Union members. Many have lost their jobs and are now paying much higher taxes. Moral of the story, DO NOT encourage your son or daughter to work for Woonsocket. This city continues to demand more and more from its employees and still continues to raise their taxes. How is that fair to employees who have dedicated their lives to work for this city. And when the going gets tough because of mismanagement at City Hall, the taxpayers blame the employees, who had absolutely NOTHING to do with the decisions that got us in this mess. To be fair, let's put the blame where it should really be, on the steps of City Hall. Has our Mayor taken a cut in pay???? Mayors in other communities across the country have when they asked their employees to take a cut in pay. You lead by example. It may be an old fashioned concept, but it's the only fair way.

Yes, when they work, they work hard no one will deny that. Please don't insult our intelligence by making it sound like they spend the majority of their time fighting fires in 95 degree weather. I have seen how hard they work the majority of the time.

Excuse me Don Q but as a union member I can safely say, 75% of my coworkers do live in the city and have been absorbing a lot with taxes as well as our concessions, so please get facts before you post.

And as far as how hard the union members are working......it takes training in crazy weather to be able to function the way we do, so don't insinuate that people are sitting around unless a call comes in, because that is clearly not the case if you take time to educate yourself to what the fire dept or police dept do while they are dealing with people you would not even acknowledge as a life form in your every day life. Educate yourself before you speak. I am very happy you haven't needed emergency services, but the day you do is the day you get a glimpse into what each public safety person actually does. Until that day you will not understand and until that day you are not fit to speak on the topic. Thank you Memere, I am glad someone sees things for what they really are.

Just do the job you're paid to do and stop cheerleading for more taxes.End of conversation.

Oh Mr Ward I'm not cheerleading, I giving facts. If people want to get on a blog and insult us I am well within my rights to defend what we do. No argument at all. I know what I'm talking about and you sit on the outside claiming to know what you're talking about. And I will "end the conversation when I please......now the conversation is over........ Have a nice day!

Sorry to disappoint you lack of common sense. Never accepted a chicken dinner from Menard nor did I drink the kool aid. Unfortunately I am one of the few remaining taxpayers left in this city who is forced to struggle to pay for union excesses and those who are living the good life by having the taxpayers support them. When you don't have to share in the burden, then it is easy to have absolutely no concern for the taxpayers. There are those who post on here frequently who don't share in the burden but constantly runs his mouth about how easy the taxpayer's have had it.

Sorry, but you are dead wrong. It is not the Union members who ate Mayor Menard's chicken dinners. Those were offered at the high rises.

Common sense, I am sorry that you have suffered but, you are definitely not the only one. Many city employees, who you continue to to blame, do not make a high salary and are now having to pay the same high taxes that you do. If you are fortunate enough to not be a homeowner in this city, than you have the option of moving to another city if you do not like the atmosphere here. I take great offense with your comment "Put up and shut up". EVERY tax payer in this city, especially the homeowners who are paying for most of this mess, has the right to voice his opinion!!!!

Still Hope,
People like Common Sense and robert_lamarre jr overlook the fact that although the tax rate may not have increased as much as they would have liked to seen, never the less the single family home owner has seen a significant increase in their tax burden. Common Sense is sadly mistaken if he thinks my actual tax bill(s) didn't increase during the time Menard was Mayor. Of course I guess he thinks that the significant pay and benefit increases the unions received under Menard just appeared out of thin air.

lamarre jr.,
Come out of your fantasy world and join reality. Those of us who do pay taxes have seen increases every year in our tax bills. I have owned a house in Woonsocket for 28 years and there has not been one single year when the amount of taxes that I pay Has not gone up - that includes the years that Menard was Mayor. I can accept the fact that you don't pay taxes, but I'm fed up with your ridiculous attitude against those who do support this city.

Yeah but you single family homeowners hav had a 42% hmoestead exemption so that high tax rate doesn't seem so high

robert lamarre jr,
Other than your contempt and jealousy of single family home owners, what have you contributed to the City of Woonsocket. How many kids do you have in the Woonsocket School system that those of us who do pay taxes have to pay to educate? Hopefully, when they do graduate, they will stick around and become productive tax paying citizens. However, I wont hold my breath waiting for it to happen.

Carol,
I think very few people will disagree with you. Leading by example should begin at the top - i.e. the Mayor. This just demonstrates once again his total lack of ability to properly run the City. What has our City Council done to push for pay cuts at the non union managerial level - answer again - absolutely nothing. We have a Mayor and City Council who are not capable of thinking outside the box. There have been some very smart people (non elected) in this city who have presented the City Council with ideas on cutting costs. Those ideas have been shot down by the Mayor and City Council President. John Ward is like a broken record - no matter what is suggested to him, his stock answer is "There's nothing we can do". If we get rid of Fontaine and Ward (and others) we may have a remote chance of saving this city. As long as they are running the city, the only ideas they will come up with will be to raise taxes.

Hey don how many city council meetings have you gone to, how many school committe meetings have you gone to, how many budget commission meetings have you gone to, I only have a problem with you and nobody else because your always targeting me so how does it feel. LIKE I SAID DON'T LIKE IT DON'T READ IT DONQ (put your glasses on)

Again, what are you talkin about? First off, water and sewer is NOT a tax any more than your electricity is a tax. Stop using and you'll stop paying. Second, I would like to know where you live and why you are being treated different than everyone else? You keep reiterating that "your family bore some increasing burden EVERY year". I'm gonna take a stab and say you live in a 3-family with some relatives on each floor. Otherwise, your tax liability should have seen waning and waxing with the changing budgets and the modified homestead exemptions, just like the rest of us. Please enlighten us on the injustices you've faced.

As far as keeping Menard in office, I think had a lot to do with the direction she was taking the city. She was concerned about bringing back the culture, restoring rundown buildings and neglected tenament houses, revitalizing the community, and reestablishing a strong business presence. She tried to achieve this while being fiscally responsible. She was tough, but fair with unions. She offered a city where you could proudly raise a family. Remember when Autumnfest wasn't just a hangout for drunks and punks? Unfortunately, the guy who led the charge to oust the former mayor is now running the city into a hole filled with debt, frustration, and a big F U to the families and businesses that Sue Menard tried to attract.

Leo is letting the businesses go while stickin it to the families. I wonder what his motives really are.

Can you mention when this was done. I can't imagine the mayor was Ed director. Maybe the public safety director....

You are pathetic Mr. Ward..... Perhaps if you spent a little time with the police and fire depts you would have a clue what it is they actually do...... Don't speak if you don't know what you're actually talking about. You sound like an idiot when you open your mouth to the people that are actually working with the non tax paying residents you would never give the time of day to.....

I guess you feel it's okay to drop tax increases on the unemployed and underemployed,you're the pathetic one,shaking down people that are hurting so you can live high on the hog.Don't come back with the tired argument that everyone can be cops and firefighters either,there aren't enough positions available.Who's pathetic now?Your peers in the past didn't shake people down,didn't retire after 20 years and didn't whine as much as you do.Ok,you can start with the insults now!

No insults Mr. Ward, you're entitled to your opinion, however stop the grandstanding for political aspirations and be honest, unions are not to blame for the issues in this city. This city has just under 42,000 residents and 11,000 tax payers, THAT is the source of the problem. I'm simply saying be a realist. These numbers are why this city in the fiscal condition it's in, but as usual you have to blame unions. Have you thought about moving to Wisconsin......it really is lovely this time of year.

harley0011,
As long as you feel you need to respond to messages, you might want to use a little common sense. I'm fairly certain (though not positive) that the John Ward Jr. who you are trading barbs with IS NOT City Council President John Ward. Trust me, I think John Ward is the lowest form of dirt this city has ever seen. The only person worse than Ward is Fontaine ( although it is a close race). Whether I agree with you or not (which I don't) I can't see you making yourself look foolish by thinking you are fencing with Ward the councilor.

The commercial tax rate in Woonsocket is on par with the rate of most urban communities in RI. If that is your only gauge for business climate, then you are neglecting quite a few important incentives and programs. Do you think CVS stays here because they enjoy the smell? Feel free to research the many financially friendly programs Woonsocket offers to certain businesses, also note which ones were enacted or supported during Menard's tenure. And finally, note the Main St project, the Market Sq revitalization, the Arts revival, the push for the updated rail system(both intrastate and high speed Amtrak), the mill incentives, etc etc. Many projects that were headed by the former mayor, yet is now scrapped or placed on the back burner.

Let me be clear: I do not like Sue Menard. But she had better control on this city than the monkeys in office today. Fact is, she got the job done…even if she had to grease a few palms to do it. Leo and his misfits are working off of hopes and dreams.

Actually,i don't hang on your every comment,i do have a life and my life doesn't revolve around your biased views.Go join the Mafia shakedown man.

I'm lovin' it taxed2death,good for you! I'm stuck here for the time being but i plan to leave,hopefully some welfare type takes my place and sucks of Woonsocket's you know what some more.I'll take my money somewhere else,they can all fight over the scraps that's left.

Why are you? or is your buddy don q in your ear