Sunday, January 9, 2011
The City Christmas Party, much to do about nothing, or government largess?
Today the Galveston Daily News reported that the City's Christmas party cost twenty eight thousand dollars. Is this an appropriate amount for an employee Christmas party for an organization as large as League City? Is it appropriate to have it outside League City? Many citizens think this is an appropriate expenditure, many think it is "largess". What are your thoughts?
6 comments:
debatable. I lean on the much to do about nothing side. One question though. Did the city foot the entire bill, or did employees and guests have to buy a ticket($20-25/person with the city covering the rest seems very reasonable to me)?
Here's a suggestion for the future, the employee's should form a planning committee (on off-duty volunteer basis) and they should come up with ideas to raise money to lessen the out-of-coffers expense. One company I was with used the proceeds from the vending machines to buy down the costs for our Christmas gala.
In my opinion Mr. Jahns said it all in the Daily news. (http://galvestondailynews.com
/story/203810) I think the expenditure is justified.
Thanks for the topic Marc, it is great to have your thoughts !!
As a business owner I have a big problem with the amount of money that was spent on the Christmas party. First of all, that's OUR money. I don't care what percentage of the city budget you think can be justified for the Christmas party, Mr. Jahns; it's not your money. It's ours.
Secondly, city employees have better benefits than the private sector, have better job security than the private sector and in many cases, are better paid than the private sector.
The "morale" quotient is absolute bulls-it. City employees are paid for the job they perform; they are not indentured servants. If they aren't happy, they are free to find another job. Good luck in this economy and thanks for freeing up a job that someone else may desperately need.
$70/person ($28,000) is an outrageous amount of the public's money to spend for a Christmas party, no matter where the venue. Our business had an extremely profitable year but because of the tax burdens that are heaped upon small businesses, we were only able to justify $59/person for our Christmas party. Oh, and by the way, that still got us steak and lobster at Churrasco's in Houston.
Our tax dollars are not collected to throw parties for city employees. Period.
Best, most responsible post I've seen from anybody in a while, Mr. Campbell. Well done.
I have a major beef with the League City government sending its employees to an expensive Christmas party. It's bad enough that it cost us taxpayers so much -- it's unacceptable that it was held in Galveston.
I've heard some people say that the cost is small potatoes compared to other city costs. What baloney.
Mr. Jahns didn't say it all. League City resident Lena Giley did:
"That amount seems excessive for a Christmas party. We have not had a Christmas party in two years at my job because of the recession. Guess things are great down at city hall. Glad to see my tax dollars hard at work." (GCDN, Jan 12.)
City Manager Jahns, throw me a bone here. Your self-righteousness on this matter really bothers me. So, more attendance at the party, lower cost per person, is a good thing? Well, hey, invite me, Chris, and Peggy, and Hobie, and of course Marc, to crash the next LC party so that we can reduce the cost per person -- well, Marc's presence might not actually reduce the food cost per person.
Come on, folks, a morsel of common sense here. My company's Christmas party cost is none of y'all's business. It's a private company, and privately held. The League City employees Christmas party was paid for with taxpayer money. It's not their money! League City employees, public servants, must have a more modest Christmas party, within the city limits.
Chuck, was that a fat joke?
When the famine comes, we will see who laughs last!!!
:)
SOMEbody's head needs to roll, baby.
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