Hollister
– City Manager Clint Quilter presented his plan for reducing the
city’s budget deficit at a workshop on Wednesday night.
Hollister – City Manager Clint Quilter presented his plan for reducing the city’s budget deficit at a workshop on Wednesday night.
Quilter suggested that the cuts be implemented in two stages, in part to give the city time to place another sales-tax increase on the ballot. His proposal for the first round of cuts includes the elimination of 12 full-time positions, a reduction of service in nearly every department and increased fees for the recreation program.
The proposed reduction of full-time positions should occur without layoffs, Quilter said, because the positions are already vacant, will be vacant soon or could be transferred to salaries that are not covered by the general fund.
“It’s important to provide as much service to the public as we can with what we have,” Quilter said.
The cuts should take effect on March 1. The proposal includes a budget reduction of $558,000 for fiscal year 2006-2007 and $1.2 million for subsequent years; as well as an additional $152,000 in revenue from increased fees and sponsorships. The proposed second round of cuts would begin in fiscal year 2008-2009 and amount to $765,000 annually.
After the workshop, Hollister resident John Galvin told the Free Lance that he’s particularly concerned about cuts to the police and fire departments.
“If there’s really going to be a threat to public safety, wouldn’t it be logical to complain and go to the state?” he said.
The City Council placed Measure R, a 1 percent sales tax increase, on the Nov. 7 ballot to address the budget deficit, but the measure lost by around 4 percent. Some of the measure’s opponents said they did not trust the city to spend the money responsibly. Galvin expressed doubts about putting another sales-tax initiative on the ballot.
“Unless the powers that be communicate effectively with the general public, they’re not going to get anywhere,” he said.
According to Quilter’s recommendations, increased fees will allow the recreation department to remain open, rather than shut down as previously suggested. The proposal includes a 33 percent increase in recreation program fees, a 50 percent increase in community center rentals and a 50 percent increase in veterans’ building rates. Quilter said city staff performed an informal survey and found that the proposed increases are the highest possible before the majority of recreation department users turn away.
Among the proposed cuts are a reduction in police response to property crimes, the elimination of a fire department ladder truck/rescue company for one-third of the time and the closure of a number of city offices for one day a week, including city hall.
Councilwoman Monica Johnson said a lot of thought has gone into the proposal. She added that many of the service cuts are already happening, and that the council would only be making them official.
“We’ve been trying to function at 100 percent when we don’t have 100 percent staffing,” Johnson said. “We’re finally stating what the actual facts are.”
She speculated that if those facts had been communicated earlier, Measure R might have passed.
Councilwoman Eugenia Sanchez also praised the effort that went into the plan. She said that a number of her constituents had said they’d rather help the city financially than see essential services get cut. Quilter responded that one of the best ways for citizens to support the city is through recreation department sponsorships.
Bob Martin Del Campo, the president of the city’s firefighter union, said eliminating a truck company would be a serious risk to public safety.
“I beg you to consider another option,” Del Campo said.
Development services staff member Carol Lenoir, who was active in the pro-Measure R campaign, said residents need to support a sales tax increase if it’s placed on the ballot again.
“We shouldn’t be having these problems,” Lenoir said. “If you live here, you’ve got to support your town.”
Quilter plans to respond to additional comments and questions at the City Council meeting on Dec. 18.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at (831) 637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
