21 replies to this topic

[folsom500]

I am a bit surprised that this topic has not been added over the last week as it was reported in the Telegraph last week
http://folsomtelegra...ail/200839.html

I read this and aside from the glaring issue of the $1.6 million deficit this fiscal year and even more next year ($4.6 Million) I find the 'speech' from City Manager Evert Palmer sounds like a economics 101 class... All the buzz words and nothing of substance:
___________
"In the projected budget preview presentation, City Manager Evert Palmer said the budget needs to be balanced.

“We are going to bring back a balanced budget and work for a better budget,” Palmer said.

First he said the budget development principles are to maintain the functional balance of services that provide the unique Folsom experience. Second they will allocate financial resources based on functional priorities and program goals.

Planned expenditures must not exceed expected revenues and actual implementation must keep this balance, he said.

They will also work to insure that the financial stability of the city is sustainable beyond the next fiscal year.

Their goal, he said, is to maintain effectiveness of their primary services and functions. Next, they will maintain or grow the general fund balance.

Also, they will consider “alternative service delivery models” to preserve services to the community. He said they will also address capital replacement and maintenance needs as well as operational costs.

Palmer also said they will “locate for today, but prepare for the future.” "

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I also found it odd that "Councilman Jeff Starsky was shocked by the numbers"

This should not have been a surprise to the Mayor and Councilpeople... should it ?

So I guess ,The Dude, will have to continue to sleep in his cardboard box for a while... while Folsom decides how to get out of this mess...
One idea it to stop any expenditures for SO50 ...
Other ideas ?

[supermom]

maybe not do the annual repaving of folsom streets? Instead of charging so much for rodeo they should consider more chargeable attractions like animal petting, baby zoo...

Put a toll booth right before the the water featured parks?--for parking.

Cut back on buying paper, start sending flash drives/cd's in the mail to inter governmental agencies.

[The Average Joe]

How bout we stop overpaying for upper management for city functions.... there is a start.

[supermom]

Yeah, but it's a little more complicated than that.

[folsom500]

Just Musing over the level or participation on National Politics but virtually no discussion of this local issue that is in our town and, based on the City, will only get worse in the next fiscal year...

[nomad]

Just Musing over the level or participation on National Politics but virtually no discussion of this local issue that is in our town and, based on the City, will only get worse in the next fiscal year...

If we don't pay attention to it, it won't hurt us. Besides, look on the bright side, we are far better off than, say, Stockton!

[Robert Giacometti]

Just Musing over the level or participation on National Politics but virtually no discussion of this local issue that is in our town and, based on the City, will only get worse in the next fiscal year...

I've intentionally not responded because I wanted to hear what others had to say about this.

I do want to thank you for bringing this up! This scenario has been predicted years ago and talked about numerous times.

The solution is simple we need to replace the 4 council members who put us in this position. Lets review some ofthe decisions were made in the past that lead us to where we are today;

2002, Council approves enhanced employee pensions benefits without understanding future costs

2002/2003 Council approves sale of surplus land for $7 milion when its worth $21 million

Council approves the expansion of the water treatment plant to accomodate growth without making growth pay for its impacts

Council awards (rewards) no bid consulting bridge contract to former City manager

Council gives away for eternity our existing water rights from American River to Aerojet and getting NOTHING in return.

Council approves planning for S50 without having a system in place to track the costs so that the land owners are paying the true costs of development instead of being subsidized out of the general fund.

Council approves granting golden handshakes ( additional retirement credits) to employees to retire early.

Based upon my experience, some of the active posters on this forum would rather select their council members based upon personalities,gender or political affliation, than results, so I don't have much hope that things are going to change. We are on the same path as Stockton, just a few years behind.

[SacKen]

Just Musing over the level or participation on National Politics but virtually no discussion of this local issue that is in our town and, based on the City, will only get worse in the next fiscal year...

Maybe because many of us don't know what to do and know that trying to get fresh people voted into local office has proven to be nearly impossible in the past. So until there is a direct threat of an increase of fees/taxes or true loss/degradation of services that affect a majority in the city, there doesn't seem to be much that we can do.

So hearing about the deficit produces more of a collective *sigh* as we shake our heads in disgust because we kind-of expected it but feel helpless in how to fix it.

It is also quite possible that there isn't much activity in the thread because we are mostly in agreement. The national politics gets a lot of discussion because of disagreement and the debate that produces.

[caligirlz]

Even if there is the threat of a huge increase in fees or loss of services, I think most people will choose to ignore it and deal with the fall out. I rarely hear any of my peers who live in Folsom talk about local politics...any complaints are about the state or feds. They are too busy (& frequently exhausted) with their personal lives.

Some are very involved in their own or a group methodology to deal with these types of situations (such as corporate prayer meetings). It's what they believe in, and are comfortable with versus the public forum.

I think too, even those that do have history & knowledge have had difficulty conveying the importance, and most importantly getting buy-in, of that info to the public at large. I'm thinking back to the myfolsom attempted rallying of folks concerning the S50 situation.

[cw68]

Maybe because many of us don't know what to do and know that trying to get fresh people voted into local office has proven to be nearly impossible in the past. So until there is a direct threat of an increase of fees/taxes or true loss/degradation of services that affect a majority in the city, there doesn't seem to be much that we can do.

So hearing about the deficit produces more of a collective *sigh* as we shake our heads in disgust because we kind-of expected it but feel helpless in how to fix it.

It is also quite possible that there isn't much activity in the thread because we are mostly in agreement. The national politics gets a lot of discussion because of disagreement and the debate that produces.

+1000

It's kind of like watching a train wreck that you can't stop.

[folsom500]

Guess I would have to agree with Sacken and others. the same old people are in power and I do not see much in the way of getting them out- as much as I would like to... I tend to think that many or a majority of Folsomites are apathetic towards what has gone on and what is going on...

I also have this feeling that S50 will be our doom and with the current folks ( most of them) in office and a bought and paid for city manager that they will continue on their merry way , full speed ahead until the s--- hits the fan...

I have been to city council meetings and nothing a resident says ever gets any merit from the gang up front...

I wonder if the Folsom News Letter will point out this deficit issue in the next edition instead of all the 'wonderful" stuff that is in it normally... I won't hold my breath ...

Now back to your regularly scheduled program ...

[Robert Giacometti]

Guess I would have to agree with Sacken and others. the same old people are in power and I do not see much in the way of getting them out- as much as I would like to... I tend to think that many or a majority of Folsomites are apathetic towards what has gone on and what is going on...

I also have this feeling that S50 will be our doom and with the current folks ( most of them) in office and a bought and paid for city manager that they will continue on their merry way , full speed ahead until the s--- hits the fan...

I have been to city council meetings and nothing a resident says ever gets any merit from the gang up front...

I wonder if the Folsom News Letter will point out this deficit issue in the next edition instead of all the 'wonderful" stuff that is in it normally... I won't hold my breath ...

Now back to your regularly scheduled program ...

Starsky's up for reelection in November along Ernie Sheldon. I'm happy with Ernie efforts and will support him. Ernie wasn't on the council when all these poor choices were made. If Starsky could get voted out, then there is a legitimate chance that a new person working with Ernie could "presuade" Andy to rethink S50 or ask enough questions that Steve, Kerri, Andy would be put on the hot seat.

There might be a real opportunity here to pull this off as Starsky isn't well liked and has a terrible track record of voting on the wrong side of issues that residents would want. I think he could be vulnerable if there was a strong knwoledgeable candidate who would run and point out all his votes. If

I don't know if enough on this forum would unite behind 2 candidates to try and pull this off or not?

Another option would be to mount a recall against the other 3, so that all 5 seats would be up for relection in November and in a sense the voters would have an opportunity to have some say so on S50. If the field gets full of weaker candidates, then in an open election Starsky will still win.

Its always been my belief that the 4 long term council members wouldn't survive a recall as they have never gotten 50% of the votes to begin with!

A big part of me wants to try to do something, because going S50 under anything this councils approves will be a disaster for our City and we will NEVER get what we have back after that!

[giacomo]

Starsky's up for reelection in November along Ernie Sheldon. I'm happy with Ernie efforts and will support him. Ernie wasn't on the council when all these poor choices were made. If Starsky could get voted out, then there is a legitimate chance that a new person working with Ernie could "presuade" Andy to rethink S50 or ask enough questions that Steve, Kerri, Andy would be put on the hot seat.

There might be a real opportunity here to pull this off as Starsky isn't well liked and has a terrible track record of voting on the wrong side of issues that residents would want. I think he could be vulnerable if there was a strong knwoledgeable candidate who would run and point out all his votes. If

I don't know if enough on this forum would unite behind 2 candidates to try and pull this off or not?

Another option would be to mount a recall against the other 3, so that all 5 seats would be up for relection in November and in a sense the voters would have an opportunity to have some say so on S50. If the field gets full of weaker candidates, then in an open election Starsky will still win.

Its always been my belief that the 4 long term council members wouldn't survive a recall as they have never gotten 50% of the votes to begin with!

A big part of me wants to try to do something, because going S50 under anything this councils approves will be a disaster for our City and we will NEVER get what we have back after that!

Come November, my vote for City Council will be Sheldon and the candidate running against Starsky. The political machine at City Hall will pour thousands of $$$ into Starsky's campaign to have him re-elected. Lets hope there's a candidate out there with the organization, background, name recognition and some $$$ as well needed to unseat Starksy.

[Robert Giacometti]

Come November, my vote for City Council will be Sheldon and the candidate running against Starsky. The political machine at City Hall will pour thousands of $$$ into Starsky's campaign to have him re-elected. Lets hope there's a candidate out there with the organization, background, name recognition and some $$$ as well needed to unseat Starksy.

I agree with your thinking!

Its going to take a grass roots effort of volunteers and a limited field of challengers to beat Starsky. Those who have the most to gain financially will want to underwrite Starsky's campaign. I doubt if anyone will raise anywhere enough money to compete in that area.

Also, I suspect the powers to be will run a candidate against Ernie with plenty of money back them.