City of Salinas Members Raise Concerns with Committee's Budget Report
Feb. 24, 2010 - SALINAS – City of Salinas members of SEIU 521 held a press conference on Feb. 24 to raise public concerns about a budget committee's report.
Photo on the right:
City of Salinas Chapter Co-President Koni Dearman speaks at the Feb. 24 press conference.
Members told the press that that a new 10-page report by the Independent Budget Advisory Committee is full of recommendations for balancing the city budget, but it leaves something out – the human cost of these measures.
Photo on the right:
Ray Montemayor, City of Salinas Blue Collar Chapter President, speaks at the Feb. 24 press conference.
The recommendations by the self-appointed committee aim to balance the budget by reducing costs. While the report shows a strong effort to remedy the local economy, taking an approach that emphasizes cuts over providing services dangerously overlooks the human lives that would be impacted by these cuts.
In fact, such measures could lead down a path to inferior public services.
The committee's recommendations may:
• Increase unemployment and crime
• Reduce public access to libraries, recreation centers, pools and parks
• Take away medical benefits for children
• Leave our roads and sidewalks in disrepair.
City employees will join other community groups in creating a committee that will place the needs of the community first in tackling our revenue problem.
In the News:
- Report: Salinas brass, cops should share budget pain
The Californian, Feb. 25, 2010
- Salinas budget panel findings under fire
Monterey County Herald, Feb. 25, 2010