www.danforerie.com

Recently, Dan put this email out:

The Times-News just had an update about the call center, apparently now they are hiring 8 additional people to man the center. Unfortunately no one asked how this affects the so called $750,000 saving this project is supposed to realize each year. The story said the salaries are $25,000 so add medical and all the county benefits and administrative costs and you are looking at $40,000 per person per year easily. So that's $320,000 per year in new spending ( and of course these people will get raises every year so that cost will always rise) So if my math is correct we are now saving $430,000 per year. So on $14 million we are now looking at 32.5 years to pay back the initial investment at 0%! More importantly this shows yet again county government's inability to truly analyze the cost of a project or the unintended consequences. Let's hope no one was seriously harmed while they waited for someone to come to their aid after they called 911. If I had a project where I worked where my numbers were so wrong on so much money I'd be looking for a new job. I bet the people on county council did manage to get the numbers on their raise they gave themselves in February just right.

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I picked up my copy of the Erie Times-News off my front porch this morning as I got my kids ready for the bus and was not surprised at all by the front page headline about the safety concerns at the new 911 call center. Several weeks ago at a candidate forum held by the GE Electrical workers 5.0.6. in Lawrence Park I was seated next to the County Executive. The question about regionalization came up and the County Executive got to answer first and he extolled the $750,000 a year savings and talked about the success of the project and how it is an example of regionalization done right. Basically I countered on 2 points ( I am paraphrasing here but this is what I have believed all along)

1. SAFETY: Working on the periphery of the health care industry I hear a lot of interesting stories and I had heard there have been multiple dispatching problems as a result of the new consolidated 911 system. If someone in the Corry area calls 911 the person who answers might have no idea where the location of the emergency is. Having local  dispatchers has worked well since 911 was created. People's lives are at stake.

2. COST: The new 911 center cost $14 million dollars up front and saves $750 thousand each year. Even at a 0% interest rate this is a 18 year pay off. Having worked extensively in the private sector I can't imagine any business ( especially in the current economic environment) deciding 18 years is a good return especially given the previous local system worked so well. I gave the example of a home owner being pitched a new roof: The old roof doesn't leak but the new roof will save you on electricity. The new roof cost $14,000 up front and will save you $750 each year. You still have to maintain the new roof and it might not function like your old roof always did. What homeowner would make this take this chance? I guess if it wasn't his money or his house and he wanted to be in the paper for a groundbreaking ceremony, then it becomes a GREAT idea!

I am not sure how carefully this call center was thought through. If elected to Erie County Council I will rigorously examine ALL new spending and consider the unintended consequences of our actions. A skill currently sorely lacking in Erie County Government.

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Dan Desrochers, Director of Marketing and Community Relations for the Community Blood Bank, is running for Erie County Council, District 4, as a Republican. Dan has always wanted to run for office and thinks now is the time to serve the people of Erie and return to a line of Fiscal Responsibility.

Dan has coordinated his election team and has started his new website, www.danforerie.com, where he plans to post his ideas, platform, and weekly updates.

"At some point you just have to say enough." Said Dan Desrochers "I realize the pay raise that County Council voted for itself in February is insignificant compared to the total county budget, but it’s the mentality that bothers me. Unemployment is rising so Erie will have fewer tax payers able to pay but County Council continues to vote for new spending and ultimately, new taxes. I plan on voting to control costs and spending."

Paid for by the Friends of Dan Desrochers.

Videos:





I oppose the proposed Community College for several reasons, but most of all the money it will take to fund this new project. At time when the county is trying to convince workers to take a 40 day unpaid ‘layoff' and is cutting services, like closing the Library on the busiest day of the week, the county commissioners Erie County haves no business spending money on something that Erie County has an abundance of: fine institutions of higher learning. At a time when businesses are laying off workers and tax revenues are declining, where are the new graduates of the Community College going to work? We should work on increasing employment opportunities so that the people already graduating locally can find jobs- not increasing local business tax liabilities that will ultimately reduce employment. The Community College is yet another ‘if you build it they will come' project that will cost Erie County taxpayers and businesses at a time when they can afford it least. I also oppose it because it is not the government's job to create a new college (Some would argue it is a role of the gov’t - look at all the state colleges). Plenty of great schools exist that weren't created by the government. If elected I will work diligently to oppose this redundant project. Watch the video for a better explanation. Thanks.