News Release
July 28, 2010
Concord City Council Places Revenue Measure on November Ballot to Protect and Maintain Essential City Services - Concord Community Urges Council to Act
Last night the Concord City Council voted unanimously to place a temporary revenue measure on the November 2, 2010 ballot to protect and maintain local city services. Community leaders, seniors, youth and local business owners urged the Council to proceed with placing the measure on the ballot.
In the last decade the State has taken $33 million from Concord to deal with the State budget deficit. Due to State takeaways and the recession, Concord has had to cut $18 million in funding to city services, eliminating 25% of the workforce, including police officers, parks, recreation and maintenance staff. If adopted by voters, the Concord revenue measure provides a local revenue source that can't be taken by Sacramento and protects city services from $5 million in additional cuts.
"We've tried to avoid this situation by cutting many departments by 30-40%," said Mayor Guy Bjerke. "Some would say we have already cut essential services. We've asked employees to step up, and they have. We are giving residents a choice between further cuts and this measure, and I think residents understand our situation and will support this measure."
Community members urged the Council to proceed with placing the measure, a half cent sales tax increase which expires in five years, on the November ballot.
"I don't think we can put a price on public safety or on our health or living in a positive environment," said Jeff Apkarian representing Local 1. "We need to maintain our services."
"With a projected $5 million shortfall, I'm speaking in favor of this measure," said Earle Ormiston. "Hopefully it will prevent further layoffs and reductions in services. In speaking with seniors at the Senior Center, there is 100% agreement that this is the best option to plug the budget hole."
"I'm in favor of this measure," said Ed Andrews, a Concord business leader. "Additional cuts to me are scary. I've spent 20 years building up our downtown and it's been slow going. These cuts would cause things to go into the negative very quickly."
Without a revenue measure, potential budget cuts to address the $5 million shortfall include:
- Reducing neighborhood police patrols
- Eliminating District Command Program, Downtown Officer, and officers from special enforcement and special victims units
- Eliminating school resource officers and all school crossing guards
- Reducing gang/drug prevention programs
- Reducing pothole repairs and suspending street maintenance activities
- Reducing maintenance of parks, playgrounds, athletic fields
- Reducing programs at the Senior Center, including recreation and nutrition services
- Closing or severely reducing hours at Cowell Pool
- Reducing youth and teen after-school/summer programs, including closing the youth camp at Camp Concord
"This is tragic when we consider the loss of revenue and the loss of services," said Daniel C. Helix, former Mayor and longtime Councilmember. "These cuts would impact residents who need these services the most."
"I don't generally support tax increases, particularly in an environment like this" said Mike Miller, a Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commissioner. "But the proposed cuts are so severe, that it will take a long time to get back to where we are. I support this measure with a 5 year window and a citizens oversight committee."
"We don't want to see Camp Concord cut," said high school students Joe O'Leary and Cameron Bacigalupo. Joe O'Leary elaborated, "It's taught me to become a leader and grow into my own. It has helped me become a successful high school student, kept my grades up, and will help me become a successful college student."
"I don't want to give up street beautification, senior and children's services, and we need to maintain our security," said Rosanne Nieto, a long-time Concord resident. "We need go forward with an attitude that this measure will lick this problem."
Speakers also emphasized the strong fiscal accountability of the Measure, including requirements for the money to stay local in Concord, a five year sunset, annual independent financial audits and a Citizen's Oversight Committee to ensure funds are spent responsibly and only on local services.
"Tonight's action by the Council follows an extensive community outreach process that literally involved thousands of residents and business leaders," said Mayor Guy Bjerke. "As a Council, we feel that the residents desire an opportunity to decide between additional program cuts or approving a temporary tax measure to preserve valued city services."