Making a fudge of the budget

Let me be clear at the start, I’m not critical of the recent wage

contracts negotiated with the Costa Mesa employee bargaining units

and approved by the City Council during it’s meeting on Nov 15. Quite

the contrary. If we expect continued excellence by the city employees

we must do our part by providing competitive wages and benefits.

That being said, I am critical of the City Council and the process

that caused our leaders to dip into reserves to the tune of nearly $2

million to fund the increases.

The City Council and staff spent countless hours and many public

hearings on the budget this spring, during which individual council

members attempted to nickel and dime budget cuts -- including

suggestions of closing the Job Center and the community gardens.

Somehow in this process, although the potential shortfall of the

contracts must have been clear to them, the council managed only to

budget $750,000 for wage and benefit increases -- less than half of

what they eventually approved. One has to wonder how they could have

been so far off the mark.

During that process we saw speaker after speaker harangue the

council on any number of issues having to do with the budget. These

presentations made sense for the most part. Eventually, the council

managed to put together a budget and avoided drastic cuts by using

the “fund balance” to make the numbers work. They also launched

attempts to find new funding sources. During their recent meeting,

however, the council spent a total of only nine minutes, including

the presentation by staff members, on these new contracts, which make

up more than 74% of the city operating budget!

And, much to my amazement, not a single resident rose to speak to

this issue. This is stark contrast to the dozens of residents who

spoke recently regarding the perceived mistreatment of animals at the

animal shelter and the large group who spoke regarding resident-only

parking near Wilson Street.

I found myself wondering where the usual cadre of frequent

speakers had gone. Although this item was the last one on the agenda,

the evening was still young when Mayor Gary Monahan adjourned the

meeting. I also found it interesting that the only part of the

resolution the council spent any significant time on was the portion

having to do with the raise proposed for the council itself.

Eventually, that portion was passed by a 3-2 margin, with

Councilmen Mike Scheafer and Allan Mansoor voting “no.” They

apparently felt the council was adequately compensated at the

previous rate -- slightly over $800 per month. Granted, the council

members are considered part-time employees, but the new rate, $952

per month, puts them right in there with mid-level, part-time interns

on the pay scale.

Yes, we need to offer competitive salaries to attract and retain

qualified employees. Yes, we are fortunate to have a highly skilled

staff members that, once again, have managed to pull a rabbit out of

the hat. Is it really too much to ask, though, for the people we have

elected to lead this city to have just a little more foresight? I

don’t think so.

In an interesting bit of timing, the council also gave second

reading and approval to the Sanitary (waste hauling) Franchise Fee.

Unfortunately, this new, much needed, revenue source will not even

cover the additional wage and benefits increases approved the same

evening. Lest you forget, this council is the same group that

frittered away nearly $3 million on legal settlements and “gifts” to

developers. Perhaps the new council will do a better job. I certainly

hope so.

Among the first orders of business should be further review of

additional revenue sources, particularly the Transient Occupancy Tax.

It won’t be long before the staff runs out of miracles.

* GEOFF WEST is a Costa Mesa resident.