Detroit water dept pays $56,245 every year for a horseshoer, even though it doesn’t own any horses

wordpress ^ | August 20, 2012 | Dan from Squirrel Hill

[grundle]

The Michigan Capitol Confidential reports:

Despite having no horses, the water and sewerage department for the city of Detroit employs a horseshoer.

Yet even with a department so bloated that it has a horseshoer and no horses, the local union president said it is “not possible” to eliminate positions.

The city pays $29,245 in salary and about $27,000 in benefits for the horseshoer position.

This is why some people are always saying that we need to raise taxes, and why they also want the federal government to give more funding to the cities. Instead of getting rid of government waste such as this, they would rather raise taxes, and use the federal government to force the more responsible cities to bail out Detroit’s irresponsible behavior.

Personally, I would rather cut government waste.

[Sacajaweau]

Ridiculous....no work...no pay. The union can go to hell.

[cripplecreek]

Gotta justify the city buggywhip manufacturer somehow.

[albie]

But when they get a horse they’re ready!!

[blam]

The horse-shoer probably maintains the lawns at the city council members homes. Why be a city council member if there are no perks?

Btw, it's also a position reserved for the mayors cousin.

[dalebert]

good example of how unions are killing this country

[cripplecreek]

Even if they did have a few horses it would be far more cost effective to contract a farrier to come in and do the job as needed.

[skinkinthegrass]

simple...bribery $$$$..follow the $$$$
They may not have any horses...
but the city is overflowing w/ Ja @cK@$$

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Makes you wonder if they have a livery stable with a blacksmith shop too?

[cripplecreek]

What I would do is the same thing that the emergency manager did with Detroit school employees and make them physically come and pick up their check. That’s how they found that some 200 school employees that didn’t exist.

[Poison Pill]

Where do I apply?

[BobNative]

... the local union president said it is “not possible” to eliminate positions.

BS! This is modern day “featherbedding!”

[fishtank]

The lawn jockey union is VERY powerful in Detroit, it seems.

[Dr. Sivana]

The position also includes welding, so the “horseshoer” likely works on pipes untl a horse comes his way.

[pepperdog]

I hear they are turning parts of the city back to farmland, maybe they think they’ll need horses to pull those plows. :)

[arrogantsob]

Whattya mean no need for a horseshoer? Isn’t the entire Detroit government filled with horses’ asses?

[GoldenPup]

Detroit water dept pays $56,245 every year for a horseshoer, even though it doesn’t own any horses

Yes, but there are a lot of "horses asses" in government and you can never tell when one of them might need "shoes".

[bunkerhill7]

I just know there`s gotta be a pony somewhere in this pile of manure!

[blueunicorn6]

Well, I guess they won’t be needing those milking machines, either.

[Moltke]

Balderdash! This position certainly behoofs someone.