As private sector dollars dried up, it was increasingly difficult to convince business leaders not only to maintain payrolls, but to expand operations and help turn things around.
The Mets want to maintain a payroll of about $93 million, and trading for Burnitz might make them better without swelling the budget.
But there are indications within the organization that the Mets will maintain a payroll in the range of $90 million to $95 million, which would allow them to be competitive, to a degree, in free agency.
For companies like Best Buy, Kimberly-Clark and Wyeth, they answer customer calls, maintain the payroll, keep the books and even sort through résumés.
One way Democrats think they can address that gap is to maintain a payroll tax cut that reduces the Social Security levy, leaving workers with $1,000 extra in their pockets -- or more at the higher end of the pay scale.
Publicly owned banks were encouraged to continue to lend to foundering companies in order to maintain bloated payrolls.
She said that 70% of her time was spent attending to Stewart's personal finances, including maintaining the payroll for the staffs at Stewart's private homes, balancing her check book, and coordinating with her various financial advisers, including Bacanovic and her other brokers at Bear Stearns and Morgan Stanley.
The Mets also maintain a stratospheric payroll.
Municipalities are struggling to make public payroll, maintain basic services or meet pension fund obligations.
