"Pike reports $31m saved in cost cuts; Trimmed $21m in Big Dig fees" by Noah Bierman, Globe Staff | December 9, 2008
Massachusetts Turnpike Authority officials, facing intense criticism for recommending a large toll increase, said yesterday that the agency saved $31.6 million since January by trimming unnecessary costs....
If they were "unnecessary," why were we paying them before this "crisis?" Yeah, it's o.k. to WASTE TAXPAYER DOUGH when things are GRAND!!!
Most of the savings, about $21 million, came from cutting consultants, including many who were employed to work on the Big Dig.... "Everything had a life of its own," Alan LeBovidge, the authority's executive director, said. "The Big Dig's supposed to be over."
WTF? Btw, the interest payments will never end.
The authority also trimmed 135 staff positions to reduce salary costs by $4.8 million and it cut overtime by $2.4 million. Unions have criticized LeBovidge for giving some managers promotional pay raises this year, but LeBovidge said they were necessary to cover positions that were cut and were far outweighed by the savings from the lost positions.
In the coming months, LeBovidge plans to trim 100 toll collectors to save an additional $8 million to $11 million. He will also stop mailing monthly statements to Fast Lane users and move to an online system early next year.
Given the thousands upon thousands of job cuts, what are we going to do with them all? I'd rather pay a toll collector than Hollywood or some bank! At least they LIVE HERE -- like the cop, fireman, and teacher!
LeBovidge's final cost-cutting idea, expected to generate more than $1 million a year for the agency, is sure to draw anger from commuters: Beginning early next year, all drivers who go through the Fast Lane without a transponder will be mailed $50 citations. In the past, first-time violators were granted amnesty.
Another chunk outta your hide, mass. taxpayers!
