There was an extremely interesting article in the May 7 th edition of the San Francisco Examiner concerning the economic environment of Vallejo, California. While we do not claim a direct correlation to events in Martin County, our leaders could certainly benefit from understanding the lessons apparent in this discussion. Many of the events cited in this article are eerily similar to those currently unfolding here.

To put this article in perspective:
Martin County has approximately 145,000 residents. The projected budget shortfall for 2009 is in excess of $20 million. Real Estate taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes and home sales are all down for the year and continue to decrease. The assessed value of existing homes has decreased substantially which reduces the tax base and Ad Valorem income for the future. The Fire/Rescue and Sheriff Deputy’s contracts have 8 – 10 percent raises already built in for 2009 and the Teamsters Union is at impasse with the County over a requested 8 percent increase for Administration personnel.

“The (Vallejo) city council voted unanimously Tuesday night (to declare bankruptcy) following hours of public comment and months of failed negotiations with police, fire and other unions.

City Manager Joseph Tanner and the city’s finance director had advised filing for bankruptcy before its fiscal year ends on June 30 because Vallejo faces a projected budget deficit of $16 million and has no money in its reserves.

The San Francisco suburb of 117,000 people also is expected to generate $5 million less in revenue than projected because retail sales and property values are down amid an economic slowdown and slumping real estate market, according to a report issued by Tanner.

Many officials and residents attribute Vallejo’s fiscal troubles to overly generous pay and benefits to the city’s police and firefighters. The salaries for police and firefighters currently take up 75 to 80 percent of the city’s general fund.

Representatives from police, fire and electrical workers unions all argued against the Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, saying that doing so would only make hiring already short-staffed public safety agencies even harder.

Other critics warned that if a bankruptcy judge does not rule in the city’s favor, the legal costs of the proceedings could sink the city further in debt.

The city’s mayor, Osby Davis, resisted filing for bankruptcy, arguing that it would stigmatize Vallejo and hurt future economic development. But after months of personally negotiating with the unions, Davis conceded Tuesday that there were no other options that he could find.” ENOUTH SAID!

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On the positive side, your Taxpayers’ May Board Meeting was hosted by the Supervision of Elections as part of our ongoing effort to visit all of Martin County’s Constitutional Officers. We were particularly interested how, in this election year, this office would deal with the reduced budget required by the decreasing County revenues while converting from the recently purchased “touch screen” voting machines to a State required paper ballot and scanner operation for the coming elections. This mandate required the Supervisor to purchase a number of machines over and above those furnished by the State and institute a number of new training programs for both Staff and voters. All of these efforts put additional strain on the Supervisor’s budget.

We were particularity impressed with two additional initiatives, and that the Supervisor has met her reduced budget projections from the County.

The first impressive feature is their new offices and facilities. When the Health Department moved into their new home the old facility on Martin Luther King Blvd. became available. This old post office building has now been modified by the owner into an excellent facility customized for the Supervisor of Elections and leased to them at the cheapest per square foot rate in Martin County Government. This efficient economic model is one worthy of being imitated by other County offices.

The other impressive program is the method initiated whereby the Supervisor’s office provides State required training to future voters while they are still in high school. Rather than lecture and brief, the Supervisor’s Office actually run the high school elections for student officers and even home coming queen. Using real world procedures provides an excellent workshop environment to teach not only how to physically use the County’s voting system, but also the procedures and ethical practices that are the foundation of our democracy. WELL DONE!