Statement of proposal by Supervisor Jim Shirk read at Feb. 20 Board of Supervisors meeting

The following was read at the Feb. 20, 2014 Board of Supervisors meeting. I said the following:

A Better Plan for Carson City

Now is the time for courage in leadership as we seek to secure financing and determine the timing of projects through a cooperative effort which will bring together the community, city staff and elected officials.

The selection of a new City Manager is in the process, and that person will bring a new perspective to solving many of our problems. I truly believe our new City Manager should have input on these new community projects that are being considered. Some may argue we cannot wait until a new City Manager is hired. I believe we would be far better off, if we waited.

Many of you are aware that I have been walking neighborhoods, distributing notification of this pending sales tax increase and asking for input. The responses have been overwhelming.

Today I will propose alternative means of funding, that can satisfy the corridor revitalizations, build the MAC and Animal Shelter and all without imposing another tax increase. I believe we can accomplish this without such extreme actions as: laying off personnel. If that is deemed necessary, then city staff would need to determine their priorities and take independent actions.

Everything does not require layoffs. For example, if departments were to re-examine the use of internal funding such as: travel, training and operational expenses, they, too, might see that we could do better by simply restructuring.

I do believe some changes and improvements are needed within our community. What I purpose is not a hypothetical plan but a workable solution to funding these projects. Here is my plan

The first project for discussion is the Multi-Purpose Athletic Building better known as the MAC

Currently we have in place Question 18, the 1996 Quality of Life Initiative, which is to fund open space and recreational facilities. The MAC, definitely falls within those parameters.

There is an understanding among many in the community that there is now a need for such a facility in Carson City and I agree. However, I question why have we planned for and actively pursued building a complex far beyond funds currently in the budget?

As we are doing with the water and sewer budgets, can we expand the duties of the oversight committee to review Question 18 budget? Is it possible an efficiency study might reveal cost saving?

Question 18, annually, brings in approximately 2 million dollars. Our annual city budget is roughly 63 million dollars that is in part by using our current real property tax rate of $3.56. For bonding purposes to build the MAC, if we were to take just one penny of that rate and dedicated that towards bonding for the construction of the MAC building that would generate roughly $48,000.00; two penny’s would give us $96,000.00 yearly.

I further purpose a 1% increase in room tax collected from lodging, this would increase our bonding ability by another $125,000.00 yearly.

I suggest we build the MAC at Mills Parks, and then allocate one million dollars to the Boys and Girls Club to build their own attached recreational facility, and they would be responsible to raise any additional funds, beyond the one million.

Using both methods for bonding capabilities the yearly estimated allocated funds collected, would be between $173,000.00 and $221,000.00 yearly. This could cover the 2.9 million dollars needed to build the MAC, and yield one million for an attached gym at the Boys and Girls Club.

The second project for discussion – the Animal Shelter

Feedback from the community gained by walking neighborhoods, emails, phone calls and group meetings overwhelmingly urged the Board to make the animal shelter a high priority. We need to respond to the requests of the community.

A quick jump start for building the shelter, we could lower the overall budget to three million dollars, by building a smaller facility at this time, one designed to easily allow for expansion as funding becomes available.

The city should provide two million dollars of funding, by capturing $500,000.00 (+/-) from the existing budget, and then increasing our bonding capability by taking one or two pennies from the current $3.56 real property tax and dedicate this money towards construction. Then, volunteer groups, CASI, and other such supporters, shall procure additional funding.

Previous discussions explored deferring bonding from the sewer treatment plant to purchase Empire Golf. Can similar type actions be taken to build the Animal Shelter with other such bonding?

Our community needs a new animal shelter, and my proposal will help ensure one will be built.

The third and final project for discussion, the Revitalization of Corridors

The Redevelopment Authority, annually, collects roughly 1.9 million dollars. My perspective is that Carson City intended the usage these funds to: thoughtfully maintain and engage commercial activity by keeping a pro-business policy.

I purpose an immediate freeze on the access and usage of any of these funds – except the $500,000.00 dollars allocated for auto-dealerships; the $60,000.00 towards the mortgage on the BRIC building; and $225,000.00 to cover one city staff member’s salary, and office supplies.

Furthermore, I propose that this staff member will work with the Redevelopment Committee, to make recommendations as to how the remaining $1,000,000.00 dollars in funding will be allocated to various projects, such as corridor revitalizations, as they were originally intended to be used.

I believe the Board has a moral responsibility to evaluate how best to maintain, preserve and improve our community and both the Brewery Art Center and the Carson City Community Center can best provide these navigational means necessary to make that happen and help our community to prosper. I believe the Carson City Community Center must be placed in first position in receiving any of these funds. The funding for the Brewery Art Center and all corridor revitalizations can then follow suit.

In conclusion I would like to make a Motion

That staff places an immediate freeze on the usage of any Redevelopment Authority funds – except $500,000.00 dollars allocated for the auto-dealerships; $60,000.00 for the mortgage on the BRIC building; and $225,000.00 for staff and supplies. All remaining funds must be allocated for improvements within Carson City per the committee recommendations.

That staff shall put together a budget for the Animal Shelter in the amount of three million dollars with two million dollars provided by the City from monies captured by streamlining the existing budget and by increasing our bonding capability by securing one or two pennies from the current $3.56 real property tax. Additional funds shall be procured by fund raising and donations.

That staff shall freeze the 5.7 million dollars presently available for the MAC building. Then securing one or two pennies from the current real property tax rate of $3.56 along with a 1% increase in lodging room tax both will be dedicated towards bonding capability, and will continue until there is adequate funding to proceed.

Staff shall then present an agenda item to the Board within 30 days for approval of bonding capability as outline so the Board can proceed forward with the projects.

After making this motion, no Board member seconded the motion. It died.

Then Supervisor Brad Bonkowski made a motion to impose a one-eighth of one-percent sale tax, Supervisor Karen Abowd second the motion.

The Mayor, Bob Crowell, Supervisors: Brad Bonkowski, Karen Abowd, and John McKenna voted to approve this new tax.

I voted against it.

After the vote I did tell the Board that I would work with them as these projects came forward.