With money already rolling in from the 1 percent
”
Measure T
”
sales tax hike that began April 1, a Citizens Oversight
Committee charged with keeping tabs on the funds has yet to be
formed.
With money already rolling in from the 1 percent “Measure T” sales tax hike that began April 1, a Citizens Oversight Committee charged with keeping tabs on the funds has yet to be formed.
City officials have acknowledged the committee will have no effect on how the money is spent, but said the volunteer members’ role in monitoring the spending is important. Still, some residents have expressed confusion over the committee’s role as non-advisory record keepers.
City Clerk Geri Johnson and City Manager Clint Quilter are responsible for forming the committee and both said the role of the group always has been clear. Johnson said letters have been sent to potential committee members, who were picked at random from each of Hollister’s five voting districts, and the next step is to interview the interested candidates. She hopes to begin interviews within two weeks.
“There was never an issue of confusion,” Johnson said. “The group has always been an oversight committee and not an advisory committee.”
Marty Richman, a regular at council meetings, disagrees.
“I think with the terminology, ‘Citizen Oversight Committee,’ one would think it would have some authority – but it doesn’t,” said Marty Richman of Hollister, who also writes a column for the Free Lace. “I think there was confusion over what the group would be responsible for and that the city did nothing to clear up that confusion.”
Quilter also released an itemized list of expenditures that the expected $2.8 million in added Measure T funds would go toward in the 2008-09 fiscal year.
This next fiscal year – which starts July 1 – Hollister police would get $181,000 to hire two new school beat officers, $281,000 for two new patrol officers and another $184,000 to maintain positions such an animal control officer and the Juvenile Impact Program.
In 2009-10, $288,000 would be used for two new detectives, $171,000 for a personnel and community service sergeant, $141,000 for a patrol officer, $70,000 for special weapons and tactics, and $5,000 for crime prevention.
Also for next fiscal year, according to the proposal, the following are some examples of allocations for city departments:
n The Hollister Fire Department would receive $130,000 for an administrative captain, $20,000 for a fire engineer “reclass,” $110,000 for a firefighter and $35,000 for a support services assistant. In 2009-10, $527,000 would be used to keep these positions and programs running.
n In regard to administrative costs, the city plans to use $72,000 for an accounting technician, $24,000 for an accounting manager, $35,000 for a support services assistant to the city clerk and $12,000 for an administrative analyst to the city manager. In 2009-10, $117,000 would be used to hire a human resources manager and $260,000 would be used to keep the positions and programs running that are to begin this year.
n The Hollister Community Services Department would not receive any extra money this year for new positions but would use $302,000 to keep current programs running. In 2009-10, community services would get $75,000 for a parks maintenance worker, $75,000 for a streets maintenance worker and $50,000 for a sidewalk repair contract.
n All in all, the city plans to spend $1.3 million on added positions and programs this fiscal year, and $1.2 million each year afterward to keep them running. In 2009-10, the city will use $2.7 million for added positions and programs and $2.4 million to keep them running.
