Patrick asks Lucinda Jackson, Kati Moulton, Dot Jager-Wentworth, Tamar Shirley…

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Where is the $$ going?

With Eureka’s yearly unfunded pension liability payments increasing from $5.7 million in 2020 to $9.1 million in 2031, how much of the 1.25% sales tax money ($9.6 million anticipated revenue) will go to restoring support for the Eureka Police Department (this year loss of $900,000 and 6 staff, including 4 officers; 19% staff reduction since 2016), and go to support other worthy aspects of public safety, such as the Children and Families Mayor’s Initiatives, and how much of this tax revenue will simply go to unfunded pension liability?

— Patrick

Responses

Lucinda Jackson

Below is my position on budgeting and economic stability issues facing Eureka.

 

BUDGETING AND ECONOMIC STABILITY

Issues

·        The City of Eureka’s budget does not align greatest needs with available funding or seek outside funding sources (such as grants)

·        The City of Eureka uses short-term solutions (such as tax increases) to address long-term needs.

 

Solutions

·        Strategically align existing funding with the city’s greatest needs.

·        Analyze existing programs and services to look for inefficiencies and streamline those programs and services to optimize cost effectiveness.

·        Seek state and federal grant funding for special projects, programs, and services.

 

For more information about root issues Eureka is facing, please visit my website at https://lucindajacksonekacitycouncil.squarespace.com/rootissues. .

Kati Moulton

Anyone with a high interest credit card can tell you that getting rid of debt is top priority for a healthy budget.  Paying off the City’s CalPERS debt will save Eureka millions of dollars.  It’s those millions of dollars we can put towards needed services.  Failure to address debt will only leave us in a bigger and bigger hole.