| San Diego County, CA | November 2, 2004 Election |
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Encinitas has a sound budget, and an open public process.By Jerome StocksCandidate for Council Member; City of Encinitas |
This information is provided by the candidate | |
We are providing more services and facilities for more residents in a budgetarily responsible manner.The Encinitas City Council has recently adopted a goal of reviewing the Encinitas City budget spending trend. The specific time frame looked at will be 1998 vs 2003. Some speculate that this is merely election year grandstanding. Others proclaim that the city is currently spending money "like drunken sailors in Amsterdam". To both of those opinions I offer that much has changed between 1998 and 2003. I also say bring on the analysis. Federal, State, and local government spending should be analyzed and made readily available to the taxpayers. But let's step back and examine some obvious differences between then and now. 1)The Community Center. The Community Center did not exist in 1998. I for one am proud that it exists now, and that I had the good fortune to be a Council Member when it was completed and dedicated. The community center houses many great programs both educational and recreational, a first class gymnasium complete with performing arts stage, and much needed meeting rooms in addition to a senior center that is the envy of San Diego County. It also cost about twelve million dollars to construct and about one million dollars per year to operate. Is it worth it? I think so, and we can afford it. 2) Fire Station 5. Fire station 5 is the newest fire station in Encinitas. It did not exist is 1998. It is centrally located on Balour just south of Encinitas Boulevard. By having the paramedic transport unit centrally located there along with a fire crew, they can back-up the other stations or emergency medical calls in the most efficient time possible throughout the city. A real improvement in public safety for the residents of Encinitas. Fire stations are not cheap to build or operate. Is it worth it? I think so, and we can afford it. 3) The employee PERS contract. Encinitas uses Public Employee Retirement System, or P.E.R.S. for health insurance as well as retirement benefits for our city and water district employees. In 1998 the system was what they call "super funded", meaning that we had to make no contribution payment because the return on investment (ROI) from what we had "in the bank" with them was greater than the amount their actuaries calculated we needed to pay to cover future retirement expenses. This "super funded" status continued until 2002/2003 when we, along with all the other cities and counties in California were hit with an unexpected invoice for millions of dollars. What the heck happened? The terrorist attacks of Sept 11, 2001 and the resulting stock market tumble. The investments PERS had went from returning 25% per year to an actual 15% loss of principle. A 40% swing... OUCH! Instead of owing nothing, we got handed a bill for millions. But unlike some cities, we were able to pay because we had the foresight to plan for contingencies and set aside some money in a rainy day fund. And man did it rain in 2003. 4) The County of San Diego provides our police protection through the San Diego County Sheriff Department. We are a "contract city". We pay millions to the Sheriff's Dept. and in return we get truly world class law enforcement at far less than it would cost to set up and run our own police force. Heck, just avoiding the lawsuits that a police department attracts is motivation enough to contract for that service. Unfortunately, they use PERS also and in 2003 handed us an up-charge of 1.7 million dollars. As in most well run cities, fire and police protection consume about half of the general fund budget. Is it worth it? I think so, and I think we must afford it. Are we spending more in 2003 than we did in 1998? You bet. But we are also doing more now than we did then; and furthermore, everything costs more now than it did in 1998 including electricity, gasoline, vehicles, liability insurance, workers compensation insurance, health insurance, and wages. There are certainly more differences to be examined, and I am sure that the financial review / audit the City Council adopted as a goal will be very enlightening. Hopefully it will point to ways we can economize, but without gutting important programs that are part of what makes Encinitas the very best place to live, work, and play. Jerome Stocks Council Member City of Encinitas |
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