Unions tell city not to balance Louisville's budget on the workers' backs

[TexasTowelie]

Union leaders on Monday urged Mayor Greg Fischer and the Louisville Metro Council not to balance the city's budget on the backs of front-line workers, a week after Fischer's team asked unions to consider a pay freeze.

None of the unions represented at the Monday press conference accepted that request, and instead made a plea for council and the mayor to work together to find a "real solution."

"If you voted no on the mayor's proposed (tax hike) and you don't have a third option, or you don't have an idea other than cutting jobs and cutting services, then I have a problem with that," said Tracy Dotson, president of the union representing Metro Corrections workers.

Many of the gathered union leaders expressed frustration at the Louisville Metro Council, rather than the mayor, whose idea to triple the insurance premium tax to fill a projected $35 million budget shortfall was rejected by the council last month.

Read more: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/metro-government/2019/04/08/louisville-metro-budget-2019-unions-say-to-find-real-solution-not-consider-a-pay-freeze/3398113002/

[Sherman A1]

1. Louisville is cited as an example of a success story

By those wanting to merge St. Louis City and County. There budget issues seem to tell a different tale. I have already read that their pools will not open this summer as they look to save money in the budget.

Seems to me to be a less than great deal.