Guest View: Mike Zinkin – Where did all the money go? Part 2.

The adopted budget gives authority to the Town staff on how to spend our taxpayer money. The Town Manager (Mary Jacobs) must present a balanced budget, that is, with every dollar of expenditures, there must be a dollar of revenue. In Part 1 of “Where did all the money go?” I noted numerous areas where there was no follow-through on the spending authorizations. I have since heard back from the Town and it gets even murkier.

Golf Course Irrigation Improvements
I stated: “On page 244 of the adopted budget for FY 19/20 there is a Capital Improvement allocation for a $3,000,000 bond for golf course irrigation improvements. What happened? Was there a bond, and, if so, where are the improvements?”

The Town’s response: “There were not any bonds issued.”

Again, where did Jacobs get the authorization not to comply with the Council’s policy?

I stated: “On page 227 of the adopted budget for FY 20/21 there is a Capital Improvement allocation for $1,100,000 for golf course irrigation improvements. What happened? Where are the improvements?”

The Town’s response: “Town Manager Mary Jacobs provided this information to you in October 2020. The Town did not do the golf course irrigation but proceeded with the design, though construction documents and the remaining funds stayed in reserves.”

Where did the authorization come to disregard the Council direction and proceed with the alternative? The money was there in the balanced budget, but Jacobs did not follow through on $4.1 million dollars of authorized expenditures.

When challenged, Jacobs tells me:
“Town received one bid for the first irrigation project on the El Conquistador 18-hole course from an Illinois firm in the amount of $3.7+M. This extremely high cost and lack of bidders has resulted in my decision to postpone the irrigation replacement for this summer. Our Chief Procurement Officer will be reaching out to prospective bidders to find out the optimal time to rebid the project with greater lead time for a bidder to plan, in hopes of a more competitive bid. Increasing construction costs are concerning for other future Town capital projects and will be monitored closely."

There was $4.1 million authorized, and she states that the bid came in at $3.7 million. In other words, the money was there.

Jacobs admits it was her decision to postpone the authorized spending. If she is going to disregard the spending policy set by the Council, she must go before Council for permission, not simply publish her decision in an Executive Report.

Town Manager’s Office Personnel
I stated: “On page 110 of the adopted budget for FY 21/22 there is a breakdown of the personnel allocated to the Town Manager’s office. In this breakdown there is no allocation for the position of CIP Director (Capital Improvement Projects). However, there was a recent Facebook posting advertising a position for a CIP Director -- a position that is not budgeted.”

Jacobs’ response: “The position for CIP Director is a temporary position and is budgeted within the CIP Funds.”

I responded by informing her that temporary or not, I still wanted to know if it was authorized. Jacobs then directed me to the Personnel Schedule found on page 109 of the FY 21/22 adopted budget. I read it and there is no authorization as she states.

However, Town Policy 6, “Unbudgeted Expenses” directs the Town Manager to go to Council for approval for any unbudgeted expenses. Was there Council approval for this unbudgeted position?

If this CIP position is temporary and budgeted within CIP Funds, does this mean that no general funds are being used? Does this position get benefits, such as health and retirement?

Is Jacobs in violation of ICMA ethics?
Tenet 6 of the International County/City Managers Association (ICMA) states: “Recognize that elected representatives are accountable to their community for the decisions they make; members are responsible for implementing those decisions.”

Who’s running the Town?
Why does the elected body allow her to get away with her arbitrary decisions? These decisions are contrary to the policies set forth by Council. If anybody voted for Mary Jacobs to run this Town, please advise me.

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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 – Where did all the allocated money go?

Something is amiss in Oro Valley governance

The type of Government we have in Oro Valley is based on the Town Council (elected officials) making the Town’s policies, and the Town staff (unelected officials led by the Town Manager), carrying out those policies. 

 However, in Oro Valley something is amiss.

Council sets policy. Staff implements. 

The Council has study sessions and public meetings to ensure that the budget is fully vetted by both the policy makers and the public. The budget process is somewhat lengthy and detailed, and the vote to amend and approve is the most important vote the Council makes every year.

The Council should feel confident that their policies, as reflected in the annual budget, come to fruition

However, there is a real problem in Oro Valley in that the adopted spending policy has not been carried out.

We have heard how the Council allocated $750,000 to make the Community Center ADA compliant. What happened? Where did the allocated money go? The Council has enough on their plate without having to worry about their policies coming to fruition.

The State of Arizona requires that all budgets be balanced
If the Town Manager submits in the budget that an expenditure is $X, then there must be $X in revenues. For example, if there was $750,000 allocated for Community Center ADA compliance issues, then there has to be $750,000 in revenues.

Town Council’s adopted budgets are not being implemented
On page 244 of the adopted budget for FY 19/20, there is a Capital Improvement allocation for a $3,000,000 bond for golf course irrigation improvements. What happened? Was there a bond, and, if so, where are the improvements? On page 227 of the adopted budget for FY 20/21, there is a Capital Improvement allocation for $1,100,000 for golf course irrigation. What happened? Where are the improvements?

On page 230 on the adopted budget for FY 21/22, there is a Capital Improvement allocation for $90,000 for tennis court resurfacing. However, the Council just passed a bond where some of the money is going to resurface tennis courts. What happened to the allocated $90,000?

On page 110 of the adopted budget for FY 21/22, there is a breakdown of the personnel allocated to the Town Manager’s office. In this breakdown there is no allocation for the position of CIP Director. However, there was a recent Facebook posting advertising a position for a CIP Director. This is a position that is not budgeted. 

Where did the Federal Cares Act money go?
During the Call to Audience at the March 16th Town Council meeting, Town Council Candidate Bill Rodman stated that the Town received $5.3 million in Federal Cares Act money. Who authorized the spending of this money and where did it go? Did the Town even consider spending this money on piping reclaimed water to Jim Kriegh Park or Riverfront Park or to the Pusch Ridge Golf Course?

Town Policies are being ignored
There are adopted Town Policies which have been ignored by this Council and Town Manager. Town Policy 6, adopted on 3/5/97, and reaffirmed on 4/20/05 is titled “Unbudgeted Expenses”. It directs the Town Manager to go to Council for approval for any unbudgeted expenses. Where was the Council approval for the above-mentioned unbudgeted position?

The Council needs to fix this problem
It is unfortunate that our underpaid part-time Council members cannot rely on the Town Manager, who makes over $184,000/year to carry out adopted policies and procedures. The Council must ensure that their policies are carried out.

The Council must ask: What happened to the $750,000 for ADA compliance? What happened to the previously approved expenditure totaling $4,100,000 for golf course irrigation? Where did the allocation for a position in the Town Manager’s office come from?

It is too bad that our Town Council cannot expect their decisions to be carried out. Unfortunately, this delinquency is costing Oro Valley a lot of money.

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You can watch Zinkin's remarks to council on this matter above.

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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 ~ Biggest budget in Oro Valley history

The latest from our “fiscally responsible” Town Council
Our “fiscally responsible”(?) Town Council just passed the highest budget in the history of Oro Valley. To quote directly from the budget: “This budget totals $134.4 million, representing a significant increase of $29.0 million, or 27.5% higher than the adopted Fiscal Year 2020/2021 budget of $105.4 million.”

A Private Citizen paid for the Town’s Fourth of July fireworks
We all took pleasure in the recent fireworks display on July 4th. However, the fireworks were not paid for by the Town. Even with the passage of the highest budget in history, the Town needed a private citizen to pay for the fireworks.

Why couldn’t the Chamber of Commerce sponsor the fireworks? After all, they get $40,000 a year from the Town. Why couldn’t HSL, or Meritage homes, or Pulte homes sponsor the fireworks display as a thank you for all the times the Town bent over backwards for them? Why does the Town need a private citizen to offer to sponsor the fireworks?

Using Citizen Funds is not new to this Council and Town Manager
• The Town depends on $125,000 per year from two HOA’s to supplement the golf debacle.

• The Town counts on private citizens to maintain Canada Hills Dr. and Mountain Breeze Dr. (south of Naranja) despite those streets not being gated and through-traffic being allowed.

With the passage of a $134.4 million budget, the Town still requires additional funding to support the services that should be expected from the Town. The Town is supposed to serve the people, not squeeze every dollar they can from them. The people should not be expected or required to serve the Town.

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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.

A Message from Town Council Candidate, Melanie Barrett

It has been a pleasure over the course of this campaign to meet so many of you. Oro Valley has so many wonderful people. I look forward to continuing to build relationships with the citizens and to serve the people of our Town.

I am running with a team of wonderful people; Joe Winfield for Mayor, and Joyce Jones-Ivey and Josh Nicolson for Town Council. We are a diverse group of men and women of various ages, races, backgrounds, and even political ideologies, but we are like-minded when it comes to the moral obligation of government to serve the people.

We have a positive vision of Oro Valley as a place where citizens are respected and placed at the forefront of the government.

Special interests and Development
In the past few years the mayor and current council have accepted over $150,000 in campaign financing, all from 5 donors, all of whom are developers. They later vote on these developers’ projects (and buy and maintain money losing golf courses from them). This results in many 7-0 decisions in favor of developers, even when a large number of citizens object to these rezonings. Many people leave Town meetings feeling it was a "done-deal." Since the 2016 election, the council has approved all 14 rezonings that have come before them.

We would prefer moderate growth that is respectful of the community and the environment. Our beautiful natural desert and scarce water resources need to be carefully considered.

We are committed to putting the citizens back at the top of the Oro Valley Organizational Chart, and bringing back respect and transparency, as well as operating without ties to special interests. Our financing comes from ourselves, our families and friends, and the community.

My time on the Planning and Zoning Commission
I began my first year gaining my footing and trusting what I was told by town planners and other commission members who made strong arguments for the proposed developments. Over time, my perspective broadened and I began to realize that things were not as they appeared, and that residents’ voices were not being given enough consideration.

While on P&Z, I fought for parks, for view sheds, for the preservation of plants, and for lanes to be added for schools. I lobbied the planners and the council, fought to protect the “small town feeling” language in the General Plan, and added language about parks and recreation that met the needs of citizens of all ages.

I did vote in favor of many re-zonings that I knew would ultimately be approved by Council no matter what P&Z recommended. I did so in order to add conditions to improve the plan. One of the planners told me I had taken upon myself the role of “chief skeptic.”

In my last year as a P&Z Commissioner, I witnessed the following:

• Town Council ignoring the recommendations of the P&Z Commission if they recommended denial of a rezoning application

• Town Council eliminating the 4-year maximum term limit for P&Z commissioners in order to maintain pro-development votes

• Some of my concerns not being included in staff reports to Council

• Town Council removing conditions that I fought to have included in development proposals

This is when I realized that the only way to change the system was to change the Town Council itself.

Taxes and Fiscal responsibility
In the 8 years of Mayor Hiremath and council's tenure, the budget has grown 59%, though population growth has been around 8% and inflation around 12%. This growth rate is 5 times the rate of inflation.

Taxes have been raised significantly, with the sales tax being increased by 25% and the utility tax doubled. The current Town Council even supported a property tax which was voted down by the citizens. Too much taxpayer money is being funneled into the community center and golf, larger government, and the associated personnel.

The most recent FY 18/19 budget that the council passed in June included a $14M bond, paid over 20 years. The mayor and council claim to have a $1.3M budget surplus. I don’t know about you, but I don’t put $1,400 on my credit card, then look at my account with $130 left and say that I have a $130 surplus. This is akin to what is happening with the Town finances.

We would like to employ disciplined fiscal responsibility with our taxpayer dollars with an eye towards the long-term benefit of our community's future, keeping in mind what we are leaving for our children.

Parks and Recreation
Many of you know that the Town commissioned a statistically valid Parks and Recreation Survey in 2014 regarding amenities residents desired. Far at the top were Playgrounds, Ramadas, and Walking Paths. Out of 34 items, golf came in at 33 and with negative favorability (with 63% of respondents rating golf as “Not important.”)

Six months later, the Town Council voted to purchase a golf course in a deal with their biggest campaign donor, and since then have doubled down on that purchase, throwing good money after bad. We believe that parks and recreation should meet the needs of the greatest number of people and be truly designed for the citizens.

To me, the golf losses are about the opportunity lost. What could we have done with that money instead? To put the scale of losses into perspective, we have lost enough money on Golf to have constructed 57 new playgrounds, or 6 large splash pads (like the one in Marana), or any number of ball fields, but in 8 years the Town Council has not built any of these things.

The FY 2018/19 budget includes a 6 million dollar bond for golf and the community center improvements paid over 20 years, but no money or plans for Naranja Park or any playgrounds or ball fields. My children will be nearly my age before the Town is finished paying for this bond.

The Town Council now says it is “breaking even.” What they mean by this is that the Town has projected that the sales tax revenues will now be enough to cover the losses. This does not account for any capital improvement or the upcoming bond. This is not the definition that was given of breaking even when the purchase was proposed, and the courses are still costing $2.5M per year of your tax dollars, no matter how you manipulate the math.

We want to employ sensible, community driven strategies to stem the golf losses and direct the parks and recreation dollars where they can benefit all our residents.

I am running for Council because I love my Town and I want to make it a better place. It is a challenge – however, I feel deeply about doing what I can to make Oro Valley (and the world) a better place and about being the change I want to see in the world.

The Town Council election is held in the Primary on August 28th.

Read more about Melanie’s campaign issues HERE