Thanks

[clevermanka]

This is...exciting. State suspends paying income tax refunds, may miss payroll as budget tightens. I always owe on state taxes, so the refund thing isn't a big deal. But not getting paid? That's super not cool, friends. I think I can float through a missed paycheck, thanks to living fairly cheaply and socking away serious savings for two years. But I know most people in my pay grade are not so fortunate. And our GTAs? Ouch. Thanks (?) to cedarsong for that bit of morning news.

An honest thank-you to cedarsong and everflame for a beautiful and perfect birthday present. Do you all remember my mention of a little assemblage-art shrine by my current fave independent artist? Well...it's mine now! Thank you thank you thank you! I love it.

Comments

Cool

[wyckedgood.livejournal.com]

Art Shrine....OMG BOOO on not getting paid!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yours is a perfect icon for this.

[ms-danson.livejournal.com]

Ouch. That's awful.

Shrine is cool.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to decide if I should pretend like it's all going to be okay or totally freak the fuck out.

The pretend-it's-all-okay option is winning right now, mostly because I'm too depressed to muster the energy for a sufficiently appropriate freakout.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Pretend it's all okay. Cos I suspect that it is.

As I said on McK's lj;

Forgive me if I seem blase about this, but from what I gathered on the news, it's what they usually do anyway.

It's just that this is being made into more of the "OMG, THE ECONOMY IS COLLAPSING" doom-doom! media fodder.
And that they always put it through at the last moment.
We just aren't privy to that info.. usually.


AND I'm so happy you got the shrine! I went back to see if it had gone, and when it had, I hope-hope-hoped it went to you.. YAY!~

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

it's what they usually do anyway

The shift of funds, yes. That's normal for state budgets. Denying the governor the option of shifting the funds...I've never heard of that happening. It's a super low-down thing to do.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

I just wish I could remember who the old guy was that they had on camera who said that they do it all the time. I've gotten to where I don't trust anything from the media anymore.

Call me grumpy old bitch. :)

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Well, like I said, they do shift funds all the time. Heck, we shift funds in our department on a regular basis. Did this guy said that the governor was regularly denied legislative approval to shift funds? Because that's the part that is unusual, AFAIK.

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

That's a good question, I honestly can't say if he said it in those terms or not. I was about at "overfill" point by then.

[annamatic.livejournal.com]

The state of Kansas owes us almost $900 in refund due to giving birth and getting married last year, with the wrong deductions withheld. They better fucking give us that money. We desperately need it. Heads are gonna fucking roll if not.

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw that last night too. I know our union's already raising hell over it. I'm not worried - I don't think they'll do it. I think it's all games and alarmist crap. So I'm trying not to worry about it.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Flowers!

Kittens!

Cocktails!

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

Baby ducks!

Hot chocolate!

:)

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

here

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

Here

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

And here

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

Remember kids, it is OK to put flowers in your cocktails,
But for the love of Bast,
Keep the Kitties Out of the Liquor!
---
All that aside, I could use a celebratory drink myself.
Even If I have to make up some reasons.

[the-themiscyran.livejournal.com]

Because we didn't have enough to worry about already.

Groovy shrine though.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I suppose we could always demand a bailout.

=b

[the-themiscyran.livejournal.com]

Sure! I like this idea. I'd say about a half-million dollars per state employee would take care of the problem nicely...That's only like 20 billion, right? Way cheaper than bailing out the banks or the auto-makers.

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

I like the Cut of your Jib.

[madmatmax.livejournal.com]

Friday Freeday if there isnt payment!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I am up to my eyeballs in stuff here at work and can't really take time off until next month. I'm already taking some sick time on Monday to see my dearly beloved retiring endocrinologist. Geez.

[grnvixen.livejournal.com]

Saw the first bit on this on the news last night, not fun! And some folks are trying to blame the governor. I really don't think it is her fault though. We won't starve but this would really mess with the budget, which I was already trying to prep for the furloughs next fiscal-year. I had been telling myself that at least I had a job, but if there is no paycheck.......

Where are those damned flying monkeys when I need them!!!

[ladyniniane.livejournal.com]

It's not the governor's fault - it's the fault of four legislators with an ax to grind. They call it being "fiscally responsible"; as an employee of the state, charged with the care and responsibility of educating the next generation, I call it bullshit.

What they are trying to do is to prevent the governor from vetoing the portion of the state budget that deals massive cuts to every public school in the state, to the point that many of the districts that are just now beginning to see serious results from the interventions mandated by NCLB test results will lose ground rapidly as class sizes rise and electives are cut. That's not fiscally responsible, that's generational suicide. And, sad to say, it's politics as usual - one party dissing the other over the backs of their constituents and workers.

I'll still be teaching on Friday (hopefully with my paycheck), but it will be interesting to see how many districts have to start putting staff on furloughs because they couldn't make payroll. We were told earlier this year that the only reason why our paychecks have kept coming (despite delayed state payments) is because our district has managed to maintain a solid contingency fund account. But it has already been tapped twice this year, and I do not know if it will be able to handle another couple of months before it runs dry.

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

Just in case you hadn't heard yet, Sebelius signed off on the certificate today. We will be paid on Friday. :)

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

Hooray!
-
\
I received the below from MU-MED

I know there has been much speculation regarding state employee payroll this week, but I wanted to let you know that the State Finance Council today approved a plan from Governor Sebelius that would allow inter-governmental loans to cover immediate costs, including payroll. This approval means that KUMC and other state employees will be paid as scheduled on Friday.

In terms of the overall budget, the Governor signed the FY 2009 recission bill yesterday, which provided for a 4.25 percent cut for FY 2009.

I believe that through our diligence in keeping spending down and delaying hiring for open positions, we will be able to accommodate this budget rescission. At this point it does not appear we would need to implement any mandatory furloughs this fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2009, unless the state's financial picture gets significantly worse in the next few months.

Thank you again for your patience and for all you are doing to help us get through this tough situation.

Barbara Atkinson, MD

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

I betcha the balky legislators suddenly realized THEY were not going to get paid, either. I wonder how many of their spouses chewed them out.

:)

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

For some reason, the woodscrews are what change it from cool to amazing for me.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

You should come see it in person!

[adammaker.livejournal.com]

Is it in the house, or in the office?

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

House. Although I just might move it to the office. That's a good idea, and considering the title of the piece, very appropriate.