Comments about ‘UTA debating where to cut funds’

Wages for admin and union employees will be frozen, out-of-pocket health care costs for employees will quintuple over the next 2 years, and routes will be cut, but John Inglish and his cronies will still see their massive bonuses, to the tune of $600,000. That's what UTA upper management refers to as "biting the bullet."

Why doesn't UTA divest itself of some of the useless properties it has acquired over the years and use the proceeds to pay their employees a living wage?

What a joke this is. If UTA would give up their development funds and put it in to the system where it bleongs they would have plenty of money. UTA is using tax funds to branch out an become land speculators and developers which is a criminal offense to all of Utah. SLC through the offices of UTA are redirecting others tax funds to UTA to act in this criminal manner. The only deals UTA should be concerned about is Rights of Way for the tracks, not buying land and running their tracks to the land as land developers. Cities should band together and stop collecting taxes for UTA or TRAX if they keep misusing and fraudulent use of taxes. There is enough fraud in government, should we put up with it from UTA also? NOT!

Time to shut down Front Runner, the hundred million dollar white elephant that no one rides.

The Chinese might be interested in buying Front Runner. If we're lucky, they might be willing to pay five cents on the dollar like they did for Geneva Steel.

Why not begin with the salaries of Englis and company - you know those self serving greedy people on the top of the totem pole

In 2010 I will buy a car.

Take the Express lane funds and place the money in mass transit where we can move people with less air pollution

I seriously doubt that they are looking where to cut funds, I think they are looking where to cut costs.

Why is UTA trying to solve it's budget issues by themselves, when these whiz bang experts are available to help?

That was great! No kidding. It's amazing how all the economics geniuses and accounting whiz's are here trolling the DMN stories adding their expert analysis to every story.

Hmm. What article did you guys read? The one I read stated that UTA is facing a horrible budget crisis. Now, I'm no expert, but if the choice is to eliminate executive bonuses and save $600,000, or cut routes and save $500,000, I'll do the former before I'll do the latter--every time. Now, why do you $uppo$e John Ingi$h and hi$ pal$ choose to do the oppo$ite? Hmmm?

The reason UTA is in such tough financial straights is because they have too much of their assets tied up in capital projects and not enough liquid assets to ride out this temporary downturn in the economy. It's the first thing you learn in business school. So now Inglish is asking everybody, from riders to employees--to make sacrifices. Everybody, that is, but himself.

The article that I read said that bonuses are half of what they would have been otherwise. That sounds like an executive's net take home pay will be thousands of dollars less than it would have been otherwise. That sounds like a sacrifice to me.

I think the difference is, the executives are still coming out ahead even though they are the ones who created this mess, while the rank-and-file employees and the riding public will be losing ground, financially and otherwise. The employees will end up paying 5 times what they currently are for their health insurance, while the ridership has to deal with reduced routes--again. Face it, UTA is being mismanaged and it's time something was done about it.