SLT budget troubles

5/09 unedited tahoe mt. news

By Kathryn Reed

In a $1.2 million cost-saving maneuver, South Lake Tahoe is eliminating seven positions and accepting the early retirement of five others. The proposal has been bandied about several times this spring, with the final decision May 5 for layoffs to be effective July 15.
Accusations were flying and didn’t stop once the decision was made.
Mayor Jerry Birdwell and Councilman Bill Crawford want the Houston Group eliminated from the payroll. They question what the lobbyists do for the city.
City Manager Dave Jinkens and Councilwoman Kathay Lovell are definite supporters of the agency. Jinkens is supposed to bring the council a proposal at the May 19 meeting to trim the lobbyists’ retainer by one-third to $30,000 a year.
Crawford was vehement with his displeasure to keep a firm whose work has not been proven, especially while making city employees eligible for unemployment benefits.
He also raised issue with the city’s 25 percent or $8 million in reserves, in addition to an unrestricted contingency fund that is in the millions of dollars, when pink slips are being doled out. Councilman Bruce Grego also wondered if the rainy day fund should be tapped now.
Crawford also questioned Jinkens’ leadership and decision-making.
“If we’re going to eliminate positions, why were they created in the beginning? I don’t think anyone has an answer,” Crawford said. “I’m not happy with the city manager’s performance in this area.”
Two of those positions are the economic development manager and her assistant. That department has been misunderstood since Jinkens developed it the nearly seven years he’s been here. Statistics are supplied, but no measurable economic development.
Councilmember Bruce Grego lobbied hard to get the layoffs to be delayed until Sept. 30, saying that would give the city time to see if the summer economy improves.
Originally pink slips were to be effective June 12.
Grego seemed to miss the nuance of why some of the positions are on the chopping block and the fact that the council has wanted to reorganize staff.
With construction practically at a standstill in town accept for what the school district is doing, a permit technician in the building division and a senior building inspector aren’t necessary. The people will go, though the positions stay on the books.
The two assistants to the city attorney will be off the books. This is because the current city attorney is being replaced by two attorneys, one specializing in redevelopment. Speculation is when that attorney is on board it’s possible the Redevelopment Agency will be reorganized.
Two other possible jobs being eliminated are engineers. Their jobs will fall by the wayside if grants are not secured by Sept. 30.
Those opting for early retirement are the community development director, purchasing manger, fleet manager, loan program specialist, and park supervisor/lead parks maintenance worker. They will be leaving between now and Aug. 4.
Later that day, Crawford said of Jinkens, “In a nut shell I’m ready to fire his ass.”
Jinkens’ contract expires in August 2010. If he were let go before then, the city is obligated to pay him a large portion of what is left on his contract.