Guest View: Mike Zinkin ~ A budget for the employees, but not for the citizens

This is a continuation of my previous report on Town Manager Mary Jacobs Recommended Budget (TMRB) for FY 2020/21.  The town council will be voting to approve (or reject) this budget this Wednesday, July 15th. Jacobs' budget is filled with employee benefits and has little to benefit the Citizens. While the rest of us are all undergoing the effects of Covid-19, this budget does all it can to minimize its effect on the employees.

To refresh your memory
I previously mentioned how Jacobs desires “premium holidays” where the employees will not pay their share of their health insurance premium, and that if an employee decides to take the high-deductible plan, there will be no employee contribution at all. I also mentioned that the Town’s share of health benefit premiums is $3,220,753 while the employee share is just $571,509. Ms. Jacobs proposes that the Town pay 85% of health premiums.

I relayed that she wants to restore the garage at Steam Pump Ranch for employee office space in lieu of space for the Oro Valley Historical Society, and that there is still NO money going toward making the Community Center ADA compliant.

Unfortunately, there is more.

The following information can be found on page v, page 9, and page 14 of the TMRB.

Parks and Rec
Jacobs proposes to save $42,000 from the PRO consulting contract (the contract to assess the Town’s parks and rec needs) so the Town can instead “rely on internal staff to supplement the consulting work.” Could this be so that the Town can rely on internal staff to manipulate the findings?

Take from the volunteers and give to the employees
Jacobs proposes to reduce the funding for the volunteer recognition dinner from $16,000 to $10,000, while she proposes spending $10,000 for employee recognition awards (this equates to about $300 per employee). She also proposes to spend $5,000 for an employee holiday party.

The volunteer recognition dinner is the only way the Town has historically thanked all the volunteers, such as Board and Commission members, library volunteers, CVAP volunteers, all who give freely of their time to make Oro Valley a Citizen-driven community. Why can’t the employees “share the pain” of the Covid pandemic and forgo their Holiday party instead? After all, they have not been laid off or furloughed like many other communities.

Outside professional services
There are other misappropriations like $3,000,000 for outside professional services. If we hire “the best and the brightest,” why do we need to spend an additional $3,000,000 for outside help?

Community Center
The Community Center Fund has NEVER had a positive balance anywhere near $3,000,000 yet Ms. Jacobs proposes to invest in irrigation fixes on the golf courses totaling $3,000,000. Do you really think that the CCF will have a $3,000,000 positive balance AFTER it pays its obligations to the General Fund ($120,000) and the debt service fund ($148,000)?

Mayor and Council please review the TMRB closely and do not just give staff a blank check. Remember YOU work for the CITIZENS.
---

Mike Zinkin and his wife have lived in Oro Valley since 1998. He served on the Oro Valley Development Review Board from 2005-2009, the Board of Adjustment from 2011-2012, and the Town Council from 2012-2016. He was named a Fellow for the National League of Cities. He was a member of the NLC Steering Committee for Community and Economic Development and a member of the Arizona League of Cities Budget and Economic Development Committee. He was an Air Traffic Controller for 30 years. Mike has a Bachelor’s degree in history and government from the University of Arizona and a Master’s degree in Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education from California State University, Northridge.

Guest View-Mike Zinkin: The Town Manager's Recommended Budget Is Not For The Residents

The TMRB is for the staff
The Town Manager’s Recommended Budget ("TMRB") has little to offer the citizens, but instead caters to the town employees.

Really, should you pay 100% of employee benefits?
It is true that there are no merit/step increases this year due to the pandemic, however, the budget asks that the Town ("You") pay 100% of the employee’s health benefits, if they choose the high deductible option. The budget states on page 18 that the employer contribution to the employee’s health premiums is $3,220,753, while the employee contribution is a mere $571,509. The employer (you) are paying 85% of the health premiums. What other employer pays 85% of health costs in today’s environment, especially during a pandemic when revenues are strained?

Restore Steam Pump Ranch Garage for employee space?
The TMRB on page 114 states that $550,000 is set aside to restore the garage at Steam Pump ranch. The recent Capital Needs Assessment identified this need. However, the use of the restored garage was intended for the Oro Valley Historical Society, NOT for employee office space. Again the needs of the citizens take a back seat to staff.

Use Bed Tax revenues for non tourism purposes?
Do not let the Town Manager have free rein on those revenues.  Page iii of the TMRB states the desire for the Council to remove all restrictions on our bed tax revenues. Those restrictions have been in place since our incorporation and require that a certain percentage of the bed tax revenues be spent on promoting tourism.

Yet Again...No money to make the Community Center ADA compliant?
Remember, the Council mandated that the golf course improvements be implemented on a pay as you go model. There has never been an $800,000 positive balance in the Community Center Fund, especially after transferring $120,000 to the General Fund to pay the mandated payback for the original start-up and transferring $148,000 to pay the Energy Efficiency Bond. Where is this money going to come from? Where is the money to make the Community Center building ADA compliant?

Council,  join with me: "Get into the weeds!"
There is a budget commission in place made up of citizens to help represent the people. Meet with them and ask for their input. Mayor and Council members, for the sake of your constituents, question the TMRB and get into the weeds as there are some real problems in this document.
---