Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Pacifica cuts jobs to balance budget but still funds resource center
By Julia Scott
julia.scott@bayareanewsgroup.com
Posted: 06/14/2011 10:23:11 PM PDT
Updated: 06/14/2011 11:15:56 PM PDT
The Pacifica City Council adopted a budget Monday that cut $1.5 million and 19.7 staff jobs, including that of the city attorney. But it won't be nearly enough.
"We're still deficit spending," said Mayor Mary Ann Nihart, before voting for the budget. "We're but a decent lawsuit away from a bankruptcy this year."
Officials used the city's reserves to cover the deficit, a long-running habit in Pacifica. But the reserve is now running so low -- projected to bottom out at $976,000 by the end of the fiscal year, barring an unexpected boost in property taxes -- that if an earthquake or a tsunami hit, the city would not be able to pay for a response.
The city was counting on voters' willingness to renew a fire suppression property tax assessment that, along with further cuts, would have buoyed the city through a $14 million shortfall between now and 2014-15. But voters rejected the assessment this year, and officials have projected the need to cut $2 million more in the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
Unfortunately, council members disagree on where to cut. Councilman Peter DeJarnatt voted against adopting the $26 million budget as written on Monday. He said he objected to cutting City Attorney Cecilia Quick and replacing her with a contracted attorney.
Pacifica spent $388,179 on Quick's salary and benefits last year, plus another $283,358 on outside attorney expenses, for a total of $691,720. This year, the city is projected to save $112,000 on attorney services -- a savings of 16 percent.
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Submitted by Jim Alex
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20 comments:
When 80+ city employees are earning from $100,000 a year up to $257,000 a year the reason for our fiscal issues are clear. Too many top heavy earners that feel they are recession proof. A modest 5% to 15% wage cut for all our public employee's would save more than 1.4 million a year and keep everyone employed. If senior staff, department heads, fire and police feel they are above it all then we can't lay off enough of them. It's a tragedy that is easily avoidable by our public employee's if they want to be reasonable people. Asking us to further impact our finances merely to boaster theirs just shows the complete lack of empathy toward us the public by our public sector employee's.
We could agree on this one issue, Todd. The logic of what you say is irrefutable assuming the math is correct, but as usual here's where we "hit the wall". What about next year and all the years that follow? Inflation and upgrades happen.
19.7 staff jobs were affected to some extent this year, loss of 9 employees. At 6/13 City Council meeting, Councilmember DeJarnatt said 40 staff jobs have been lost over the past several years (this occurred on his watch of course).
Assumed (by me) most of the 40 jobs were likely needed to run an efficient City. And, it really is not fair to demote job classifications, and lose valuable employees. Therefore, since over several years the city has been functioning with fewer and fewer employees because NO MONEY TO PAY THE BILLS (and city neglect is also obvious), what is the structural solution you and others who do not support "smart development" propose?
Yes, this is the same question you have heard from me and others prior. The City continues to fail, yet we cannot find consensus. Why?
The consequence of stalemate is more City deterioration and failure, eventually the city dies. Is that the objective of the silent "no growth" city council majority and the agenda of their "friends or cronies"? Is that also your objective? What is the shared "no growth" objective in blocking economic development in this city?
As an ordinary concerned citizen who has a reasonable expectation of services, efficiencies and progress, I really don't "get it". From my view 8+ year city council has delivered to our citizens a directional fraud.
With falling property tax revenues and anemic sales tax revenues, you don't have much of a fiscal future here. The other element is an unsustainable payroll/pension scheme for city employees. There isn't any development, smart or otherwise, that can possibly keep up.
All cities are dealing with this to one degree or another, and the county has an $80+million deficit. It isn't because public officials were being careful with taxpayer money.
Words of careful budget wisdom Lionel, but from a city planning view not quite complete.
Our structural deficit and debt is "no growth" self-inflicted, subtracting from a low level infrastructure status quo, without forming a true cash reserve, and without investing in a sustainable city infrastructure future.
The shorter version: from nothing comes nothing. Potential to provide jobs, services and tax revenue in this city has been squandered. The alternative is continued city service downgrading, higher fees and taxes, and/or the usual "nothing" which hastens city deterioration.
In 2 short paragraphs Lionel Emde nails the meltdown. Bravo! I'd be interested in what he thinks would help the situation. Is it already out of local hands? A future of consolidated services under some multi-city umbrellas for California?
Another downfall to the City this past year was the declining TOT tax because people were just not traveling for alot of reasons. The Chamber is hoping with our new enthusiasm and marketing skills, we will be able to attract more visitors but I ask the citizens to help cleanup this City. Weeds are growing all over, in the highway medians, in vacant lots and in front of alot of people's homes. We have the ability to bounce back, slowly, but we need everyone's help. Don't wait for the City staff to clean the medians..jump in with a few friends and clean them yourselves. Why would a business want to relocate here when you come down the highways and see weeds all over. I know Caltrans is supposed to do it but they are not. I was appointed by Mayor Mary Ann as one of the four chairpersons for the Rand McNally most beautiful City judging. If your home is great, help your neighbor. If you need a job, call me. Let's start working together instead of always bitching about everything or only looking at the negative. This City can be as great as we want it to be. The judging is only a couple of weeks away so please, pitch in.
"Is it already out of local hands?"
Sorry to say local hands have a limited time left on the tiller, IMO. There will be incoming bombshells.
Lionel, your view of solutions and a future for this city?
Can we see this list that Todd, always talks about with 80+ employees that make over $100k.
Can we have fewer people posting under "Anonymous"?
No.
Then, why should Todd or anyone else bother to say "yes"? And, as "Anonymous whoever" possibly you deserve less consideration.
There were some employee salary postings several months back, good luck finding them or do your own search or research and feel free to report back to us.
If your comment was an intended swipe at Todd, well here's the difference: It seems that he was attempting to be helpful, whereas you???
You create the option of posting anonymously then complain about people using it. Some may have good reasons for posting anonymously.
Anon (9:48), not MY personal choice.
However I over-reacted, not seeing Todd's initial comment on this post. The question and answer has been covered on the blog prior, but you are welcome to do the research and let us know your findings.
Kathy, $5 fine for whining..
We're a fun lovin' crowd, kinda rowdy and loud
Our jukebox won't play no sad songs
So don't come in here, and cry in your beer
'Cause we don't care 'bout who done who wrong
We've got a five dollar fine for whining
We'll tell you before you come in
If it ain't on your mind to have a good time
Ya'll come back and see us again
Well we don't really care about your clothes or your hair
This party is open to all
Yeah we like a good joke, and it's alright to smoke
We got just one rule on the wall
Now there's too many fools makin too many rules
That's one thing you can't say about us
Cause we all get along when we sing the same song
There's just one thing that causes a fuss
A Nancy Hall song, how quaint.
Still no research from you Anonymous, or are you someone else just pretending to be Anonymous?
People who post anonymously need to understand how little credibility their comments have.
Chris, you are awesome. Steve, you are right but I doubt the Anons' care.
People who post anonymously don't need to understand anything. It's their choice. If their comments don't have merit, they won't be taken seriously. If what they say has real content, then deal with it.
Anon 801am that salary info is on the State Controller's website and the city of Pac website, too. Last time I checked they had 2009 info which is slightly out of date but rest assured the salaries have only gone up for those still collecting a city paycheck.
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