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Recommendations:

I. The City Administration Should Maintain Cl

ose Attention To The Authorization Of Overtime

Overtime is an area that requires constant attention

and management by the city administration, based on

the substantial cost associated with this

form of compensation funded by taxpayers.

This office has seen a continued pattern into 20

10 of individuals accumulating overtime when other

individuals with like titles or responsibilities receive

none. This raises immediate questions as to the

allocation of work to staff. It also raises questi

ons as to the fairness of handing out overtime to specific

individuals.

And lastly, it raises repeated questions as to why an

y administrative or clerical staff would, in any

situation, receive overtime on a re-occurring basis.

During any fiscal year, regardless of the actual amount

budgeted for overtime, department heads should

make a concerted effort to bring overtime costs

in under budget, as a normal course of doing business.

II. Non-Essential Overtime Should Be Kept To A Minimum

Innovative solutions should be explored to minimi

ze and eliminate overtime for non essential services.

The Office of City Auditor pulled titles in its review

of overtime. Administrative & Clerical titles such

as “administrative assistant”, “paralegals”, “stock

clerks”, “store keepers”, “information aides”, and

“typists” ………..

all incurred overtime

.

The office of the City Auditor could not come to

a conclusion that would justify such titles receiving

overtime or why some individuals received con

tinuous overtime every single pay period.

The administration and the Council need to ask depa

rtment heads why individuals in these titles are

receiving overtime.

Finally overtime in non-essential services should be

eliminated, while overtime in operational services

must continue to be managed on a daily basis.

Philip J. LaTessa

Syracuse City Auditor

City of Syracuse

September 28, 2010

Fear of Deflation

The US stock market tumbled, long term bond yields (US Treasuries) dropped to levels not seen since 2013 – causing mortgage rates to go downward.

What is causing the turmoil?  What are the implications?

A big immediate concern is both Europe and Asia – where the economies seem to be stammering. Italy and France both released budgets that do not address spending cuts nor income tax increases – believing they need to stimulate their economies in contrast to what northern European countries in the Euro.  Those countries believe in a more conservative approach, cutting spending and forcing reforms to fix their economies long term.

Meanwhile, oil prices continue to drop and ebola has spread to the US while the there seems to be no real coalition in the Middle East where wars rages onward.

As stocks go down, oil prices decrease, bond yields drop – a new fear has emerged according to experts.  It’s deflation.

But, not all is doom and gloom.  Dropping oil prices mean lower fuel costs for consumers in the US, which in large part is driven by the increased production of oil and gas in the United States.  Additionally, drops in bond yields bring forth lower long term interest rates.  Those individuals who missed out on re-financing their mortgages in prior year may want to think about it again – saving money on large debts can be significant.

Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source: Tips to Consider When Purchasing a Boat

Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source, an individual who has successfully started and ran a number of businesses, finds that boating is one of his favorite activities. He finds peace and calm in the solitude of being on the water. Due the considerable experience he has with boats, Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source is a prime candidate to lay out a few tips that should be in one’s mind when purchasing a boat.

Philip LaTessa The Funding Source

First, says Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source, you must decide whether you want a boat you can take out on the sea or one that you can use mostly on lakes and rivers. Due to the rougher elements of the ocean as compared to a lake, a seafaring boat will bend accordingly more expensive. If you plan on only boating on lakes and rivers, it will serve you well to save your money for accessory expenditures.

The second thing you need to consider when purchasing a boat, says Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source, is whether you want to buy a new or used one. A used boat will obviously be more inexpensive and even might come with certain accessories or amenities included. However, it is important that you have a level of trust with the seller so you can be certain that the money saved will not be outweighed by maintenance costs. In this sense, it would be a good idea to call on the expertise of a friend or family member who is familiar with boats.

Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source is confident that you will not regret your decision to purchase a boat. He believes it will be an acquisition that pays for itself over the course of its lifetime.

 

Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source: The Virtues of Trust and Loyalty

Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source is a principled man who sees the considerable success he has experienced as the fruits of his observation and commitment to a number of virtues. The first of these virtues is trust. A man or woman who operates without trust is a man or woman without expectations for the future. Trust implies respect; respect for your own craft and respect for the expectations of the person placing their faith in you. An enterprise of any nature that operates without trust is one doomed to failure, says Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source.

Philip LaTessa The Funding Source

People need a reason to trust you but they do not need a reason to distrust you, such is the way of the world. An entrepreneur must work hard to build trust amongst their employees, customers, clients, and associates. Friendships are more valuable than gold, as friendships can create gold but gold cannot create friendships. Friendships operate on trust above all else and once a friendship is established an entrepreneur, or any person for that matter, must maintain that friendship through a commitment to honesty and integrity.

Trust has been an enduring theme for Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source and has helped him experience considerable success as the founder and president of a number of companies. These include The Funding Source, Greatwood Property Management, Greatwood Appraisal Network, and Weichert, First Residential Group. His clients and associates have long known that they can rely on his word, which gives them the confidence to commit to doing business with him.

Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source: The Value of Traveling

Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source, a successful banker ranks traveling as one of his greatest passions. He has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He loves traveling for a number of reasons, which he was kind enough to outline.

First, says Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source, traveling is a great way to expand your perspective. You can read as many books as you want, but nothing can substitute actually visiting a foreign country and experiencing their culture firsthand. The differences in cultures around the world (lifestyle, diet, entertainment) serve as beautiful reminders of all the similarities we share as humans.

Philip LaTessa The Funding Source

Second, traveling is a great way to relax, says Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source. The modern economy is one in which we are never disconnected from as it is always daytime somewhere in the world. Traveling allows an opportunity to turn your phone and computer off and simply live without commitments and deadlines. Everybody, especially those in high stress industries, need some time to let their mind relax and rejuvenate.

Third, says Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source, traveling is a great opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone. Curiosity killed the cat, but not as slowly as boredom did. It is important to continually challenge our minds and never settle into a routine of uncreative thought. By leaving your comfort zone and experiencing new places around the world, you expose yourself to a whole new avenue of thoughts and experiences. Growth is central to the human existence, says Philip LaTessa of The Funding Source. He is grateful to be in a position that allows him to travel and spend time with his family.