It's Our Money

It’s city budget time!

The City Council will vote June 20 to approve the All Funds $155 million 2017-2018 budget, so if you have any concerns about how our money should be spent, now is the time to make your concerns known.  A special budget session for residents will be held Thursday, April 18 at City Hall.  https://www.costamesaca.gov/index.aspx?page=28&recordid=4173. The link will lead you to the proposed budget as well, and there are copies in the libraries and in the City Clerk’s office.

Also on June 6 residents have an opportunity to speak for 3 minutes at public comments at the Council meeting.

But please be aware, if you are old, maybe a LTR (Long Time Resident) Council member Righeimer might chastise you from the dais for your comments for the sole reason that you are old, your house is paid for and you are out of step with the times and trends of younger folks. In his opinion your old opinions really don’t matter in Costa Mesa anymore. 

During public comments at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, I voiced my concerns about the proposed budget which includes the Lions Park Library Project.  

My main concern is borrowing money, even $18 million, which may not be the wisest decision.  Many sources point to another recession coming our way. We should also be building up our reserves beyond $45 million and replenish our self-insurance fund. And the coming tsunami is the increase in employee pensions in the next few years, projected to be $7 million on top of the $22 million we’re paying now. These concerns can’t be ignored and I often take advantage of public comments to exercise my First Amendment right of free speech to share those concerns, as a taxpayer, with the Council. 

Also, some of us really don’t like the proposed library design because it’s too massive; the 2 story white building looks out of place in Lions Park.

Losing many meeting rooms at the community center is another issue, although eventually the old library will be reconstructed and have meeting rooms, and the new library will have meeting rooms too. 

Cost of additional library staffing has not been discussed by the Council, as well as how the proposed library coffee shop will affect the local businesses on Newport Blvd. and at the Courtyards.  

It’s wrong for Council member Righeimer member to demean any citizen for voicing any concerns. The Council member should just listen politely.

My recommendation for a new library has always been for the library groups to raise some of the money from private donors, who may want to sponsor a whole wing, or room, to access library grants and for the City to save the money and not acquire debt.  

The difficulties of our City during the recession taught me many lessons about thrift and living within our means and having reserves. Thankfully we made it without going bankrupt because we did have plenty of reserve funds. 

All this is to say that community involvement makes for a better community.  Even if elected officials don’t agree with you, and think you are too old and should just be quiet, we should never be intimidated because it’s our duty to speak up about important city issues.   We're not dead yet and the collective wisdom of our years should be valued.