WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. May 11, 2006: A citizen observer familiar with the development of the city budget makes some observations on the city and school budgets:

We're finally starting to recognize that the biggest problem facing both the School district and the City is the growing cost of labor, well beyond the growth of inflation and the growth in labor costs in the private sector. Oh yes, assessibles is a big problem as is the gigantic increases in pension costs, thanks to giveaways at the state level, and let's not forget the generous retiree benefit costs that will pop your eyes out when the new government accounting regulations requiring disclosure of these liabilities are put into effect. Compensation costs comprise about 75% of total costs. So what can be done about the labor situation?

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