The citizens oversight committee required to examine city spending of additional Measure T sales-tax dollars did its job, as asked, and reported back to council members that officials have approved allocating 44 percent of $1.4 million on police, 19 percent on administration, 19 percent on community services and 18 percent for fire services.
Although the panel holds little to no weight and merely reports back to the public on how the city intends to spend funds raised from the 1 percent tax increase, those members accomplished their goal and deserve credit for taking time to serve the public.
The down side of this report resulting from the poor economy, however, is the steep decline in revenue projections from the start of the Measure T campaign until now. That figure started at up to $4 million annually and stands, by the most recent count, at $2.8 million per year.
Considering the substantial number of hires the city has and will undertake, and add on a six-figure amount for employee raises, and it leaves a much less desirable $1.4 million on new expenditures – along with a deficit – for the 2008-09 fiscal year.
What this should tell city officials is there needs to be a continual, close examination of the economic trends that led to such a sharp drop in projections over a relatively short time, and we recommend that Hollister officials conduct quarterly reviews to ensure they’re ready for anymore necessary adjustments.
