Although a reasonable sensible motion was made last night to utilize a portion of the increased revenue the city realized from the increased price of oil to restore serious, critical cuts to fire, police, library and recreation services, the majority of the council opposed it and the motion was withdrawn.
Oh, but moments later, the majority passed a motion to explore spending $500,000 - $600,000 for a new website and $80,000 for a study that will lead to spending $5 - $10 million on an underground tunnel between the police department the soon to be constructed state courthouse.
Here's the game. Several council members have a list of projects they want funded. Others of us believe that you don't fund projects when you are cutting public safety and quality of life services.
For 9 out of the last 10 years -- the City has under estimated the revenue from oil. Some are calling the increased oil revenue -- "one time monies" -- and should not be spent on on going expenses.
Really? Yet when sales tax revenues have increased 12% (as they were reported to have done so last night) that isn't "one time money" -- that money is used to offset any reductions in the budget. So the oil revenue which is in the same column as sales tax revenue is "one time" but the sales tax isn't?
So where is their plan to come up with revenue to restore the cuts proposed by Mayor Foster in police, fire, library and recreation? Haven't seen it. Haven't heard it.
Here's an idea. City Manager -- go back and make the $20 million dollars in cuts in all departments except fire, police, recreation and library. Start at the top and cut management positions. Stop cutting at the level where services are delivered and start cutting at the management level.
If it helps. Think of it as a one time cut.
Notice: This is not a City of Long Beach site.
Dear Readers: Please note that this is not a City of Long Beach website and is not paid for nor maintained by taxpayer funds.
If you contact Gerrie Schipske through this site on any matter pertaining to the City of Long Beach, a copy of your contact will be forwarded to her official city email as an official public record.
Save Station 18
Popular Posts
-
Glad that my colleague Robert Garcia agreed to my suggestion that the proposal to require benefits for the domestic partners of employees em...
-
I am happy to announce that the Sares-Regis Group, the developer which purchased a great deal of the Boeing property in the 5th Coun...
-
San Diego has set out with an aggressive program to lure corporate America to pay up to be the “official” something of the City of San Diego...
-
Don't know about you. But I am running into more and more people lately with seriously allergies and coughs. People are complaining abou...
-
May 15 and 22 Is walking in nature your passion? Do you love the outdoors and want to lend a hand while hiking at the Nature Center? Then...
-
Schipske Congratulates Stacy Mungo on Winning 5 th District Seat – Says Looks Forward to Smooth, Positive Transition Long Beach, C...
-
Shaping Up the Fifth Summer Alley Clean Up: Volunteers Have Tackled Three Alleyways in First Two Weeks of Project Before ...
-
Schipske Calls on Council to Examine City’s Investments in Financial Entities That Are Foreclosing on Long Beach Homes and Are Facing Feder...
-
I am walking the 5th District and talking to people who are at home when I knock on their door. People are mostly satisfied with what is hap...
-
In writing my two historical books on Long Beach, I found out an interesting connection between Long Beach and the attack on Pearl Harbor on...