Anonymous said...
Big cuts in store for Livermore
By Jeanine Benca
Contra Costa Times
11/20/2009
LIVERMORE — Street signs will be repainted less often, police response to non-emergencies will be slower and library hours will be fewer under a staggering proposal to scale back city services.
Across-the-board reductions are needed to fill an unanticipated $3.2 million deficit caused by statewide sales tax dips and other factors, Livermore officials said. The city council will discuss the city manager's financial update and recommended cuts Monday.
"We've been able to weather the storm for quite some time without layoffs or service reductions," said assistant city manager Troy Brown. "Unfortunately, we're to the point now where we're having to have difficult discussions."
The recession has already taken a toll on city coffers.
Since 2008, Livermore has lost some $8.7 million in sales tax, property tax and other revenues. Until now, creative accounting measures, employee salary and benefit concessions, voluntary buyouts and slashes to "non-essentials" have been sufficient to stave off deeper cuts, Brown said.
But recent, statewide developments are forcing city leaders to consider reductions that would affect city workers and community members.
California sales and use tax receipts for the 2009/10 fiscal year are expected to be about 6 percent lower than in 2008/09, resulting in a $795,000 loss to the city. Also, the state plans to "recapture" about $2.4 million in overestimated, 2008-09 sales tax reimbursements, according to staff reports.
Livermore isn't the only city affected — it is estimated state payments this year will be nearly 28 percent lower than originally anticipated for all California cities.
To cope with the budgetary blow, Livermore is proposing to cut 11.5 full-time positions from its 482-employee staff. If approved, nearly every department will be affected, including public works, maintenance, community development, traffic and public safety.
A big blow could be in store for non-emergency police services. While the response time to "first priority" police calls won't change, the time to respond to document requests, animal control and other second- and third-priority calls are likely. Changes could result in fewer property crimes being investigated, reductions to the gang unit and increased processing times, according to staff reports.
Another cut would cut Rincon and Springtown library branch hours from 53 to 23 hours, leaving them open just three days a week. Main library hours would remain the same.
That potential change drew criticism from Springtown resident Linda Avila.
"I don't know what it will take to make their budget, but I think there's other ways," she said. "We need our libraries. The libraries keep these kids off the street, give them a place to go to use the computer —and it's a safe place."
Other recommendations include reducing street sign, street light and landscape maintenance, consolidating staff in human resources, city manager and city clerk offices, and scaling back community development and engineering services.
The council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the Council Chambers, 3575 Pacific Avenue, Livermore.
November 20, 2009 8:18 PM
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6 comments:
I guess when the county of Alameda starting collecting property tax off of the lab when we became a for profit organization, they didn't share with the city of Livermore. But they can collect some revenue from the downtown office of LLNS on 1st street.
Perhaps if the city were to become an extension of NIF, maybe some beautification money could flow their way. That would probably require laying off some folks at the lab. Dang, I bet I just gave LLNS an idea.
Actually since LLNL is federal property it has never paid local "property tax".
LLNL is not a "real" legal entity, the contractor managing is the one with the legal power to enter into business activities - buy things, sign contracts, need insurance, etc. So the change from UC to LLNS was huge when it came to business tax issues.
UC, as a state entity, did not pay sales tax on anything it bought for use at LLNL, but LLNS has to pay sales tax. Also you've probably noticed that you're not getting many things mailed to you from LLNL - it no longer can mail for free as a Not-for-Profit. The Lab's mail room is now closed most of the day.
The business cost implications of going from a "State not-for-profit institution" to a private for-profit company were never fully appreciated until it was too late.
We all lost a lot more than was gained. but no one in 111, 311 or UCOP will every acknowledge this in public.
Most employed by the lab are not facing "bad times" in the same way as some in the surrounding community. Rather, many here who have been effective face "lousy times".
For those who played organized sport, it's easy to understand. It doesn't require a Univerity of Alabama PhD thesis to explain.
LLNL used to be a first class team under UC, first-class challenges, first-class management, first-class support. It was an acclaimed, successful team.
Then, jealous and xenophobic detractors succeeded, struck it down, arguably for petty reasons...
Now we have poor coaching, strange new free agents with little talent or commitment in key positions, and very poor understanding of what it takes succeed. Team members are disappointed at the decline. Spirit is shot. It's a surprize that good work is sometimes still done.
Continuing the sport analogy, LLNL went from being the proud, early Oakland Raiders to become the "post-LA debacle" mismanaged, pretending Raiders. Not many who know success will tolerate either decline gracefully.
Until regime change, prospects are poor. This just isn't a good experience. In the face of incompetence, commitment to success is no longer there.
Remind me, when is the contract up for grabs again? And, anyone know if UC is interested in rebidding?
yes 8:58PM!
A good analogy!
It is Bechtel 59 taxpayer 0
and it is only the 1st quarter!
Interesting analogy, but the general public only sees a different "score". They only are told how many secret documents are missing, computers that can't be found (10 year old computers still valued at purchase price), and lost keys.
The public NEVER gets to see the QUALITY and QUANTITY of the science that is being done, (or not done any more). I would like to see a comparison of published articles (in peer reviewed journals), over the last couple decades. That would be a true gauge of the science being done.
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