Guadalupe's
City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to firmly state that it wants to remain a
city, in response to a Santa Barbara grand jury recommendation that the city
should disincorporate.
"We're
not going to disincorporate," Councilwoman Gina Rubalcaba said.
"We know the city and its residents don't want that and we're going
to do everything we can within our power to stay the city of Guadalupe."
In April,
the grand jury presented 13 findings in a report titled “Guadalupe Shell Game
Must End,” which led to the recommendation to disincorporate. Of the 13, the
council disagreed with eight, partially disagreed with three and agreed with
two.
All 13
suggestions had to do with financial difficulties the city has had in recent
years, many of which the council contends were already being addressed by the
city before the grand jury report. They include using state gas tax funds for
non-transportation purposes and a deficit in the city's general fund totaling
more than $300,000.
"It
seems to me, my belief is, that we were kind of stuck between a rock and a hard
place at that point, and didn't really have a lot of places to turn to so just
that alone is a little sobering," said Councilman Jerry Beatty.
"Obviously, better accounting mechanisms, better cost allocation
methodologies that have been put into place will rectify that."
Some
measures the city has already taken to get back on track include taking out a
loan form its own Water Operating Fund and Lighting District to cover deficits,
and three resident-voted tax measures to increase revenues including raising
sewer and garbage rates.
The
council's written response says it expects to have a balanced budget in
2015-16. It also mentions the city's fear that public safety resources would
not be as effective if provided by the county.
“This is not
just a matter of small town pride,” the council wrote. “It also has to do with
public safety. Guadalupe residents want to make sure that police and fire
protection are provided from within city limits.”
Similarly,
the council addressed its yearly audit at the meeting. The audit had similar
findings to the grand jury, but also reflected progress the city has made over
the last two years. Mayor pro tem Ariston Julian encouraged anyone interested
to look at the findings (available on the city's website) because they are
public record.
"The
findings are there," Julian said. "We have work to do and I think on
a positive note, we know what we know and now it's time for us to start moving
forward on it."
May
26, 2015
Santa
Maria Times
By Abby
Hamblin
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