HomeMy WebLinkAboutSupplemental - Letter from Jerry Moreland Seal Beach City Council May 24, 2019
Re: 2019-2020 Proposed Budget
Since we are only allowed five minutes to address the council, I thought it would
be easier to put my concerns in writing.
GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE SUMMARY
The 2019-2020 budget proposal is $38,711,800. Vs $35,205,300. for 2018-2019.
The increases for three departments, Gen and Admin, Police and Public Works are
VERY high. The increase is primarily due to wage increases. WHY? I know we are
adding to the police department, but the other departments shouldn't have such
an increase. The City of Seal Beach ranks 93rd out of more than 1,350 companies
and cities when it comes to employee compensation.
The total expenditures are $3.5 million dollars higher for 2019-2020!!!! Does the
staff think we have to spend more because we have more?
Police Support Services $230,000. Increase?
West Comm JPA $857,500?
Planning $180,000. Increase?
Engineering $90,300. Increase?
Why the $50,000. Increase in the city council spending?
Why the $108,000. Increase in the city managers budget?
Special Projects, $60,000, increase?
Joint land use study $288,400. ?
Community Development $183,000. Increase?
Salaries $63,000. Increase?
Building and Neighborhood Services $120,000. Increase?
Administration and Engineering $143,000. Increase?
Air Quality Improvement
Contract $31,000. For what?
City wide grants $893,000. ?
Park and landscape Services $10,000. Increase, what about maintenance for the
new park on 1St. St?
Legal Services $507,000. Why is this so high when we pay an attorney $20,000. A
month retainer?
Finance Department $320,000. Increase?
Information Systems $807,000. ???? Why so high?
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS $8,369,000.
Citywide financial information system. $200,000.?
Citywide IT assessment $1,200,000.?
Adolfo Lopez slope repair $235,000. ?
Almond Ave. fire hydrant relocation $100,000.?
Zero Tower safety improvements $100,000. ?
Main St. improvements program $400,000.
Main St. improvements program M2 $300,000.
6th St. alley sewer repair $649,000.?
This is only a small list of items The city council should be concerned with. I have
asked before about our city manager getting an additional $1,350.00 per month
for a personal trainer and Joe Bailey getting an additional $850.00 per month for
his trainer. Where would these be located in the budget? Both of these
employees are well paid. Shouldn't they be responsible for their own trainers?
Where is the income/expense for Sunset Aquatic Marina located in the budget?
If the beach and pier were turned over to the Coastal Commission, what would
the ramifications be? The city would save MILLIONS of dollars each year.
Measure BB was passed to help the city with its deficit spending. Perhaps a more
diligent staff and council would have been more concerned with the spending
habits of those involved in the past.
I hope you have our concerns and the future of the city in mind when you go
through the budget process.
Thank you,
Jerry Moreland
116 4th St.
Seal Beach, Ca 90740
Masterind@msn.com
714-272-6510