Regarding the Aug. 27 article, “Santa Barbara Talks Priorities If Voters OK Half-Cent Sales Tax Hike,” let’s get real. Open the books more than the minimally required public information and highlight the bloat and gross mismanagement in city services.
Personnel, including salaries and benefits, are the costliest burden in any public entity.
As per the California State Comptroller’s Office (which is reported to the state by the local entity) more than $125,508,398 in wages and $27,158,306 in benefits (retirement and health) was paid in 2023 for 1,787 city employees in a city of 85,679 residents.
The highest reported salary is $467,796 for a fire battalion chief.
In comparison for 2023:
Thousand Oaks:
- 122,643 population, 607 city employees, $39,261,897 salary and $9,569,722 paid benefits
Redondo Beach:
- 68,239 population, 794 city employees, $56,002,221 paid wages and $11,955,340 paid benefits
Santa Barbara:
- 85,679 population, 1,787 city employees, $125,508,398 paid wages and $27,158,306 paid benefits
The City of Santa Barbara is mismanaged and bloated. Therefore to the City of Santa Barbara:
DO NOT:
- State that the cost of living in Santa Barbara justifies city employee salaries
- Justify city employee remote work
- Justify lack of response from city employees to local business and residents
- Disguise the burden of city personnel costs by feigning social service needs
DO:
- Get your fiscal house in order
- Have transparency in public reporting of public fund expenditures AND public fund revenues, including funding allocations dedicated to social services, including grant funding and carryover of unspent funds
- Expect city employees to report to worksites, provide work product as evidence of time/effort, meet productivity goals and respond to inquires within 24 hours
The data are evident (according to Government Compensation in California found at publicpay.ca.gov). The City of Santa Barbara is mismanaged in comparison to like communities in our state.
Santa Barbara voters, please do your homework, vote down this sales tax increase, and demand fiscal and personnel accountability. As real property tax payers and business owners, we deserve this at the very least!
Lisa Del Amo
Santa Barbara
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Here we go again. The City of Santa Barbara can’t manage its budgets and is trying to sneak another half-cent sales tax on us.
Oh, it’s only a half-cent, no big deal, you won’t feel it. We really need the money for, housing, library, La, La, La.
Wait a minute. We don’t know exactly how we are going to allocate it. Just vote for it and the council will take care of spending it appropriately.
NO, NO, NO! FIGURE OUT HOW TO APPROPRIATE WHAT YOU HAVE!
With this tax increase, the sales tax will be up to 9.25% — almost 10 cents on the dollar. So when you spend $100, Santa Barbara gets $10. When you spend $1,000, the city gets $100.
City Council, here’s an idea: Let’s reduce your pay by half and give it to the city. This way you get a better understanding of what you’re asking for and how it impacts your life.
Bart Bader
Goleta
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Regarding the Aug. 25 article, “A Burning Question: What Is Future of New Fire Station 10 in Goleta?,” I’m very glad Noozhawk decided to do an article on Fire Station 10.
It is long overdue, both the article and the station.
This fire station is an absolute necessity BEFORE all the new residences are built at Glen Annie Golf Course and other western Goleta areas.
The “new” expected timeline of three years is still too long for it to be built. You can bet future wildfires won’t be waiting three years.
Come on, Goleta, this is so delayed, it’s been practically relegated to the rear-view mirror. Get it done.
Carrie Terzian
Goleta
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I fully support a new fire station in western Goleta. As American Medical Response continues to cut costs and have fewer ambulances at the ready, we need more fire trucks and ambulances.
The solution would be to add ambulances to the system, but AMR will only do what the contract says.
I say give the ambulance contract to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department for a few years.
Christopher Schumaker
Goleta
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Regarding the Aug. 27 article, “Santa Barbara County Supervisors Approve Climate Action Plan in Split Vote,” while it is appropriate for all of us to do everything that we can to minimize waste and pollution, we seem to forget that the climate has always been changing since the planet was formed eons ago.
Since our tiny bit will have minimal impact on the overall climate, perhaps we should be careful not to negatively impact the lives and livelihood of our citizens as we attempt to do good.
When I read about these plans, it makes me think of a bunch of ants running around on a log floating down a river, all thinking that they’re steering.
Art Thomas
Santa Barbara
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Regarding the Aug. 23 article, “Officials Outline Potential Threats to Santa Barbara County’s Economy,” I see our county leaders producing the State of the County annual report chose to meet at the “high-bar” Ritz-Carlton Bacara.
They seem to be enjoying glasses of wine. I just wonder who pays for that ballroom and amenities? Do we not have county facilities to announce such important aspects of our future?
And what’s with the wine at a “news conference?”
Jeff Campbell
Goleta
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The description of the “White, Hispanic” or “White, non-Hispanic” is gibberish. Who are the “others” and what is the ACTUAL breakdown of the make-up of our population?
Marilyn Gilbert
Montecito
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Regarding the Aug. 28 article, “Santa Maria Airport, Agencies Reach Settlement Over Tiger Salamander Claims,” how ridiculous — a critter no one will ever see or interact with, besides those paid by a shakedown to do so.
The Center for Biological Diversity and others continue to sue over the Endangered Species Act, which is proven to be ineffective in promoting recovery of species.
Species continue to decline under the ESA and onerous incentives and lawsuits, never envisioned when the original law was passed, cause the public to not want ESA-covered species anywhere near their property.
The Santa Maria Airport struggled for almost 40 years to develop underutilized land. Now, since a tiger salamander was found on the 365 acres, this land has become a liability.
As a result, the airport will be paying $2 million to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for a “California Tiger Salamander Mitigation & Conservation Account” and not ever be able to develop the land.
Environmental activists time and again demonstrate only the pretense of scientific knowledge as they garner other people’s money to keep lawyers and themselves employed.
J.W. Burk
Santa Barbara
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I wanted to make everyone aware of the joke of the City of Santa Barbara’s permitting process that had a huge negative impact on an entire block of businesses.
The entire first block of West Anapamu Street had “No Parking Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.” signs covering the entire block for weeks — but with no work dates.
It is mandatory to have work dates posted and work actually done during the posted times. After I called to inquire after weeks of no work and closed parking, finally the job was started two days later — AND COMPLETED WITHIN A FEW HOURS.
Why was this not followed up and checked on? How did zero city staff notice this for weeks? Why — again — do small businesses suffer from the incompetence and negligence of others with no consequences?
Weeks of an entire block of parking shut down for three hours of work! These signs cost businesses thousands of dollars in lost revenue and many unnecessary unhappy customers.
Bob Ficarra
Metro Entertainment, Santa Barbara
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Dr. Bonnie Franklin’s Aug. 27 commentary, “Don’t Let Your Dog Walk Be a Heatstroke Trap,” is an excellent column on watching out for our pets during hot days.
This subject needs to be expanded by the affect of hot asphalt or sidewalks on dog paws! On even not-so-hot days, the asphalt/sidewalk can be VERY hot for dog feet!
This needs to be called to attention because, somehow, we humans don’t think of this. It’s like dogs are like horses, with steel shoes. Not so.
Dr. Franklin, please write about this. Thank you.
Hillary Hauser
Santa Barbara
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The 2024 election season is upon us and I want to urge the citizens of Goleta to vote based on local issues, not by party lines.
Ask yourself: Have the incumbents delivered what you want? Are you happy with the Old Town restriping? Are you satisfied with the streets you drive on? Are your sidewalks repaired? Do you support raising taxes and fees to address the crib wall or capital improvement projects that lack adequate funding? Does a $32 million train station meet a need in your life?
If you answer yes, then vote for the incumbents.
If your answer is no, then I urge you to vote for candidates who support the issues you support.
Too often local government elections are drawn into the cauldron of social issues that drive national elections. Locally, our votes should be nonpartisan based on local issues and your needs.
Karen Lovelace
Goleta
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As retired Lompoc Unified School District teachers and longtime Vandenberg Village residents, we are delighted to support Tracy Phillips for school board District 1.
Phillips has the experience and the skills to do an excellent job as a decision-maker for our school district.
As a school board member, Phillips will have to make important decisions regarding a multimillion-dollar budget and creating a top-notch educational program for our 9,000 students.
She will have to understand the curriculum and how to support that curriculum in every classroom. We feel she is the only candidate in District 1 to bring these skills to the board.
Phillips has come out in support of the school bond. Her opponent did not support putting the school bond on the ballot.
Phillips understands that our facilities need upgrading and our students deserve this modernization.
She understands that to have quality schools, we need to update our 50-year-old campuses. Our students deserve campuses that support their learning experiences, just like other districts throughout Santa Barbara County that have supported their own bond measures.
Phillips brings a valuable viewpoint to the school board as she is also currently teaching at Allan Hancock College. She understands that AHC offers our students the opportunity to advance their technical and educational skills both while they are in high school and if they choose to pursue a certificate or AA degree.
Phillips does not see the school board as an opportunity to advance any political agenda. She is a career educator who will bring her experience and understanding of curriculum to every board meeting.
She is known for her quiet and diligent approach in the classroom. We look forward to her work on behalf of all students, parents, and, just as important, teachers!
We urge you to vote for Tracy Phillips for LUSD Board District 1.
Chris and Marell Brooks
Vandenberg Village
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