A small update

[worldoflucky]

Its been a week since my last post. I can say my last week was fairly rough. It was combined with several unfortunate events, but capped off well. I will bullet point the details first:

My City audit I am wrapping up did not go so well (well it went fine for me, but they had several large problems that I had to write up Findings and Management Letters). Management in our office was harping on a new exit conference style, the harping wasn't helping my normal anxiety. I can say it didn't suck, but it wasn't my best public speaking. During this time the exit invitations to the Council were misplaced. This resulted in the Council not invited on time. So I had to call and apologize. It was a rough exit and I am glad it is over.

The Health District called, the business manager apologized but they went with someone with more experience. It is ok, I was expecting this although I was a little disappointed. He did tell me he would be happy to give me a reference, I may take him up on that if I find a job I like.

Politics at the office have picked up. It is probably best if I don't go into it.

The State of Washington just decided it has to cut an additional 23% from its discretionary budget. We already have had our cost of living frozen for three years (and contrary to what the government says, my costs have not declined, they still are going up, including a rent increase this month). We got a salary reduction this year and our health insurance has a 60% monthly increase in expenses. We aren't sure where the cuts are, but I am already making 35k less a year then people in my position in private industry and in other governmental entities.

I got to spend the weekend with my wife though. That makes up for everything. We ended up gaming on Saturday. We each ended up running each other our solo game. We then went to the Puyallup Fair yesterday. We had a lot of fun, saw the animals and successfully avoided the rides. Here is a picture of  ethicalcannibal  finnegwyn and myself.

 

 

It helped a lot to get me out of my funk at work. I am glad we went yesterday.

I am going to try and post more though, I think it also helps me to work things out by writing them out.

Comments

[bakersgames.livejournal.com]

I love you more.

[talkswithwind]

I thought it was about time for the annual revenue forecast to come out. Just last week I was thinking about seeing if it was in the news but didn't actually get around to looking. 23%? Ouch. I wonder what the overall budget-cut has been since the fiscal crisis began.

The brain-drain has started at my old workplace. I was one of 'em, and I've heard of another departure even more disruptive than mine. The old hands who remember the 1981 recession remarked that this kind of thing happened back then and after the 92 recession as well. It is going to take a couple years of positive budgets for the state workforce to get their collective experience back.

[bakersgames.livejournal.com]

I am definitely leaving. I am going to try and weather it long enough to vest in 18 months, then going to look at working for the Feds, for that exact reason.

[talkswithwind]

After some googling...

At the start of the fiscal crisis, I clearly remember all the press about "half of the state budget is protected by constitutional amendments, so all the cuts will have to come from the other 50%," of which higher-ed makes up a not-small chunk. I found another article posted two days ago that stated, "77% of the state budget is protected." G-dang!

[bakersgames.livejournal.com]

Just for a clarification, the 23% is only 23% of the discretionary budget (2 billion worth of cuts out of 8 billion), which is going to suck.

[talkswithwind]

23% of the discretionary budget is a lot smaller than it was when we started this mess :P

[bakersgames.livejournal.com]

Yep, and I am suspecting its going to get even smaller. Although I don't understand how they are so far off each time. It just shows me that they aren't being conservative in their estimate, they must be hoping for larger yields earlier this year after the 10% cut.

[talkswithwind]

The first couple go-rounds it was that the actual revenue received was worse than forecast. As I recall, they underestimated just how bad it was each time. Not surprising, as everyone did pretty much the same thing. The press I'm seeing is that the current deficit was due to the state expecting a modicum of economic improvement and not getting it.

Progress of a sort, but yeah. Systematic optimism.

WA has reached the point where every single cut to public finances is an ever larger group's sacred cow. Which is why they may actually get a tax measure past voters this time around. We'll see.

[bakersgames.livejournal.com]

The sad part, the tax didn't go through because everyone thinks they will eventually make that kind of money and don't want to pay taxes on it if they did. I am more than happy to pay income tax if I made even 100k a year or more. Honestly I would probably be ok with a small tax even on what I make, if it would help (although maybe thats a biased point since I am a government worker, even though my work pays for my wages - not paid out of the General Fund).

Also I always think a big problem is people don't understand taxes. They don't understand with income tax that the increase is only when you make more money, the tax increase doesn't effect the lesser amount (people are always confused by the marginal tax process).

[jajy1979.livejournal.com]

We have a positive cash flow (relative to last year) and they're still talking 30% cuts. It's this stupid austerity crap. People have no idea that you can't budget for a government like you can for a house, and you certainly can budget for anyone by breaking the thing in half and pretending it will still work.

[bakersgames.livejournal.com]

Oh, I totally hate the comparing governments to households. Its the most simplistic thinking I could imagine. I try to explain to people, but they don't understand, or more likely they don't like taxes and this gives them the excuse to cut everything.

[bardon.livejournal.com]

A) Cool photo!

B) Sucks about work - we're up for a State election shortly so it'll be fun to see what gets reprioritised.

C) The American tax system continues to confuse me. There seems to be a lot of "Cutting off your nose to spite your face" mentality.

[bakersgames.livejournal.com]

Hey bud, thanks for the comment on the photo :). Work is work, just trying to find time to take my CPA exam (well to study at least), I know I won't be at this place after 20 months from now.

As for the tax system, you are exactly right, we are cutting off our noses to spit our faces.... makes me sad sometimes.

How is C doing in classes?