It’s not that scientific of a process and will take some time to see if in fact it had a negative impact on San Mateo business, but worth looking at.

I would much rather have the distinction of not having the highest sales tax on the peninsula and see what “creative” solutions our city government is now forced to come up with.

There should have been a plan B…Mr. Weiss, what is our next step?? We are looking to you for guidance.

“In the midst of uncertain financial times, this budget implements City Council’s priorities while maintaining a reasonable financial position. Fund balances are up, costs are under control and, in general, the City fares well financially in comparison to some of its neighbors. Prudent financial management by maintaining prior budget correction strategies has avoided further budget cuts. The budget is balanced in both the near and long term and includes the provision of a new accounting pronouncement for post employment benefits beginning this fiscal year.”

Jan, I can appreciate your passion and energy, however, it’s hard to take your arguments seriously when your arguments are not only unsubstantiated but are discovered to be incorrect.

Just for fun, here’s some homework for you.

Below are the top 15 earners for the City who are NOT associated with fire or police.

Mark Weiss, City Manager, $212,489
Brian Moura, Asst. City Manager, $191,498
Jeff Maltbie, Administrative Services, $184,632
Barry Weiss, Parks & Rec Director, $173,485
Al Savay, Community Development Director, $164,302
Constance Dillard, IT manager, $131,436
Deborah Nelson, Planning Manager, $130,358
Christine Boland, City Clerk, $129,025
Robert Lanzone, City Attorney, $128,897
Janet Beaugh, Human Resources Manager, $128,017
Rebecca Mendenhall, Finance Officer, $126,771
Mark Sawicki, Redevelopment/Housing Manager, $125,347
Christopher Valley, Building Official, $121,037
Paul Baker, Public Works Superintendent $117,378
Marilyn Maytum, Senior Accountant, $103,499

Note #10 on the list — Janet Beaugh. Wonder if she calls herself ‘Jan’???

Number 4 on the list is Barry Weiss. Any relation to Mark? In the private sector, that would be considered highly unethical and would likely be disallowed. In government, isn’t hiring your relatives considered corruption?

Also note #9 on the list, Bob Lanzone, who (according to the city budget on the city website) billed nearly $400K in legal fees in 2008. I have to wonder why, if he’s earning a salary, his law firm is also billing for legal services. Isn’t that double dipping?

Incidentally, Community Development Director is a new position created in 2007. The pay for that position in 2007 was $135K, and in 2008 it was up over $164K. I’d sure like to have a $29K raise in a single year!

For those who want to look in to this further, I found this info on the San Jose Mercury News web site:
http://www.mercurynews.com/public-employee-salaries

No Disrespect to you but I think you Don’t get it.
So let me ask again.
First where did I call someone a name that was inappropriate.
Okay where was I condescending. If I was I do apologize for that part . I get a little emotional at times because I am passionate about our City.
And By the way I never did say ALL the City Employees.
People just do not understand how City government runs. All they see are the salaries.

Also You mentioned positions created in the last 5 years.
Again what are those positions I have not researched that. Also you might know what positions where cut too.
Also you mentioned the VP of the US. The Mayor of San Jose. I think you forgot the Governor too.

Again you think he is to high compared to those people. What about the Peninsula Cities.
Do you know when City Employees got a .7 Percent raise in their Retirement funding formula. Before the previous City Manager retired. This city Manager got rid of that for new hires. As a mater of fact the City Council at that time approved it.
This City Manager inherited all the problems that his successor created.

If you read my previous posts you would have seen that I mentioned that I said what is our property tax money was the City gets compared to Belmont.

How did I get that info. I called them to find out.

All of my info I got from watching or attending Council meetings and my contact with City Departments.
Please feel free to contact “any” Council member or city Dept.

I did not waste my time with Newspapers or Web Sites in looking up info. None of what I said is a rumor or what ever you mentioned.

However please feel free to publish your research after you call City Hall.

Being opposed to Measure U does not mean that you are not someone who volunteers in this city or cares about the many great things that it has to offer. I personally volunteer a ton of time to many great city programs and to our youth via sports and rec programs. I do feel that if you can’t afford something, you need to cut it until you can afford it once again. Our children should be taught this as it could benefit us all when they are older and in charge of the rest of us!

Also, this tax if passed will not be temporary. Please show us the last time a tax that was retired after its initial period. It does not happen.

Lastly, whoever the next Mayor is (I think its Randy Royce?) can you please place two entirely new members from the city council onto the Fire Board? Matt Grocott has never seemed to work for the citizens of San Carlos as much as he tilted the advantage of the split towards Belmont. Bob Grassili probably just gets bullied by Matt or he is just incompetent, either way, time to switch it up.

That issue is next and will come around for more funds shortly… I don’t need someone representing me who calls himself an Architect when he is no such thing. He is a draftsman and seems to have a hard time living with that moniker. I don’t know any nurses running around calling themselves Doctor.

VOTE NO ON MEASURE U!!!!

Having said that, I am STRONGLY against Measure U and just voted NO. We are not the federal government here in the City of San Carlos – We must live within our budget, period! Good times come and go but we seem to always try and project the city’s future based on only the good times. Time to come down from the clouds and into the real world.

We do not have to live with contracts. They can be fought and the federal government has delivered plenty of recent precedent for breaking contracts. The current city staff getting pay raises in times of economic turmoil is just ridiculous! Not being held accountable for their failures is just unacceptable!

Most of us probably assumed that people who choose to work for the public sector do so for lower salaries, good benefits and job security. Looking at our own city’s employees, I would say that they have fantastic salaries, healthy raises, iron clad benefits and retirement. Oh and despite doing a lousy job, great job security!!!

We need to change that proposition and bring things back to reality. Remember, we are the ones allowing this to happen so we can be the ones to change it. No more business as usual.

Asking tax payers to bailout the poor decisions of those entrusted to steer the ship is unacceptable. Vital services will not be cut first so please quit scaring the less informed.

Seeing those city employees rallying for Measure U is gross but I guess it is their right if they are truly doing it all after work hours. It is not beyond the City of San Carlos to get behind certain issues and use our precious funds to illegally campaign. They did it a few years ago for the failed parcel tax scheme. This is a fact and I have copies of the expenses which I had to fight hard to get. They called it a “Community Update” but I have never seen one since…

Let’s put the city and its workers on notice – Vote NO on Measure U.