|
If you want an early head’s up about what is going on in this community, you need only attend the weekly Chamber Forum (a.k.a. “Meddlers”) in the Rose Room at City Hall on Tuesday mornings or the monthly Chamber of Commerce Board meeting in the conference room at the Creekside office complex. Informal reports—typically from Placer County Supervisor Jim Holmes and an official from the city—lend an insider’s view to the back story of what’s happening here.
These sessions produce breaking stories often enough that at least one local newspaper columnist bases the sum of his reportage on what he learns. Kudos to him because he’s willing to show up at the ungodly hour of 7 a.m. – the regular start time for both meetings – to get the poop.
Two big stories were tipped at last week’s Chamber Board of Director’s
meeting (I’m a recently sworn member, and I managed to struggle out of
bed at oh-dark-thirty and got there on time):
Supervisor Holmes revealed the County faces a $23 million dollar
shortfall in revenue sharing from the state and he talked about ways in
which the County hopes to make up this staggering loss. One big chunk
– as has been reported locally since – will be saved by not filling at
least 70 vacant staff positions.
City Council member and former mayor (a sizeable fraternity in this
burg) Bob Snyder next reported that a deal has been finally struck with
Costco to purchase a tract across from the movie theater on Nevada
Street to build a superstore. The fact that negotiations were in
progress was one of this town’s worst kept secrets, but the reality
that this behemoth is truly coming is staggering news to Auburn’s small
businesses because of the potential hit many expect to take.
These two news stories are joined at the hip, and here’s why:
Both Placer County and the city of Auburn have been blessed by the
seemingly unrelenting prospect of growth and, over time, both entities
have created massive organizations and infrastructures that must be
constantly fueled with taxpayer dollars. In his Sentinel column last
week, Joe Carroll shared some interesting trivia that puts these
burgeoning bureaucracies in perspective: The current head count at the
County is 2,844, making it one of the largest (if not largest)
employers in the county; and the city of Auburn maintains a fleet of 85
vehicles to service 12,500 residents, including 29 police vehicles to
patrol 7.4 square miles. The cost to sustain both of these categories
is mindboggling, especially with hard times forecast.
In an editorial last week, Auburn’s daily newspaper suggested the
impending financial implosions looming for our local governments can be
solved with three words: “Automate. Delegate. Eliminate.”
Ahhhhh ... I don’t think so; we’re not going to manage our way out of
this crisis any time soon. The way I see it, there are three ways out:
finding a way to continue a high rate of economic growth; fundamental
changes in our approach to government; or a combination of both.
At both Placer County and the City of Auburn (and most civil
employers), the largest millstone and continuing liability is funding
employee pensions. From the cops to public works, the hook has been
“thirty and out.” Hang in there, and big daddy will take care of you
till you check out of this world, an incredible future liability we’re
committed to for the legion of workers on the county payroll.
Big business walked away from that concept years ago because it was an
unsustainable model (think Social Security). Perhaps it will take
creating a “second tier” of employment category for new hires, but
sometime soon, public pensions must go the way of three-martini lunches.
At the same time, the County’s drunken building binge must stop. In a
few short years, the DeWitt Center has gone from the likes of a West
Virginia trailer park to an exclusive, gated community. The contrast is
remarkable. Let’s take a breath here and review future plans that
should be continued only if construction can be funded without breaking
the backs of taxpayers (especially businesses that are being saddled
with license and fee increases that would choke a horse).
Looking specifically at the city, you really have to be amazed at the
municipal infrastructure in place to service such a small town. No
doubt our staff is wonderful and they work hard, but I’ll bet the same
resources could handle a town triple our size in both population and
area. At the end of the day, our traditional, embedded processes are
antiquated and unaffordable long-term.
Our elected officials understand that the only way to keep the
lifeboats on deck instead of in the water is to do whatever it takes to
sustain growth. The mantra is “grow or die.” So for you naive
Auburnites who plan on protesting the development scheme for Baltimore
Ravine, “fogetaboutit.” Hearings will be held ... to be sure ... the
Planning Commission will invite public comment, as will the City
Council. But this project is a slam dunk because, quite simply, it
feeds the municipal machine; it keeps the plates spinning in air.
For the longest time, I have dreaded the notion that Costco would open
a store in Auburn, but my conclusion is I’d rather see it built within
the city limits than a few miles distant in the county. At least we get
the sales tax benefit and maybe, just maybe, local merchants will
benefit from the increased traffic in town ... if they don’t go under
first.
I sense there is a day of reckoning coming soon, but I do know one
thing for sure, thanks to some years of living on this planet: there is
a cycle to all things, and somehow we will manage to survive.
Gary Moffat is a journalist and he owns Carpe Vino in Old Town Auburn. He can be reached at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed