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    Home » Opinion: The Economic Future of Cottonwood
    Cottonwood City Council Elections

    Opinion: The Economic Future of Cottonwood

    May 13, 20181 Comment3 Mins Read
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    logo_opinionBy Stephen DeVol, Publisher
    Sedona.biz
    (May 13, 2018)

    It was a scene to behold. In spite of the Mayor’s late agenda postings, the council chambers were packed to standing room only. Citizens were imploring and appealing to maintain services for their constituents’ needs. There were fears of slashing budgets, cutting services and eliminating landmark events, all the while people were yelling for and against raising taxes.  The arguments seemed simple: just raise sales taxes by .65% and voila! A balanced budget. However there are the undisclosed impacts of raising taxes that tell the real story that affects every citizen of Cottonwood. We need to look more at the how issues are interrelated to one another. This especially includes the people on the lower end of the financial spectrum. Their plight is especially ruinous with increased sales taxes.

    The average person in Cottonwood makes $19,914 per year. More than 25% live on or below the poverty level. For a family of four, an increase in sales tax can take an unimaginable bite out of the family budget. It’s a vicious downward cycle. And it is bad for the local economy because the more city taxes, the less low income people have to spend at the local stores. So, the city has less income to work with. Raising taxes actually lowers the local economy.

    With all this hoopla about shortfalls in the budget why is the city considering adding more debt? Granted, the palace at Riverfront Commons would make a handsome addition to city managers’ resumes. Now is not the time to add more debt to the taxpayer’s shoulders. Councilor Deb Althouse said “there are more options available.” Why not spend some energy to explore these options, rather than kick the can down the road simply because it is easier and more expeditious? The city has made some concessions already by rolling back new hires, merit increases and cost of living increases. What about bloated salaries of some managers? The city is talking out of both sides of their mouth by saying the budget needs trimming and at the yet same time they’ll add more unnecessary expenses. “Streets and sidewalks are more important than a new city hall.” said Budget Manager Linda Lennon.

    Riverfront Waste Water Disposal Plant was barely mentioned in this budget work session. The implications of this project are understated and the ongoing debts not yet known. Since the waste system is not yet completed many hidden expenses are not known or divulged.  Fees levied do not include future maintenance and debt retirement. Cottonwood has two waste disposal facilities. One is not finished and the other is in need of maintenance. Who’s in charge of planning for this eventuality? Do we really need a second waste treatment plant?

    Mayor Tim Elinski made the suggestion that a budget committee be formed prior to the full council consideration on budgets. Councilor Ruben Jauregui objected to this proposal saying that in the past this was already decided by former councils. In the end it was affirmed that any discussion was to be held in open session by the full council.

    Councilor Tosca Henry, in her councilor statement, advocates for sustainable economic growth, fiscal responsibility, and transparency, as well as open lines of communication between Council, administration and community members. It seems that a more in depth analysis is due before any increase in sales tax is warranted.

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    Sedona.biz Staff

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    1 Comment

    1. Sherry Twamley on May 13, 2018 5:20 pm

      Well said, Steve! Unfortunately a majority of Cottonwood city council members decided to continue awarding their estimated 205 full time equivalent (FTE) employees the 3-to-5% merit increases without cuts, against objections from Mayor Tim Elinski. The average merit increase paid last year was 3.4% according to city records. Even worse the gap between the average city taxpayer’s income which is $19,914 a year (Census) and the mean average City employee’s pay with benefits, continues to widen significantly. The City’s estimated labor costs including salaries, benefits, workers comp, Social Security and payroll taxes for FY 2019 starting July 1st, 2018 is in the neighborhood of $22M per total personnel costs. Let’s say it’s $21M to be conservative which is $1M over the previous year’s budget for the sake of discussion. $21,000,000 dividied by 205 employees = $102,439 mean avg. per city employee. The gap between the avg. worker in Cottonwood versus the avg. city employee’s total compensation including salaries with benefits, is an astronomical $82,525!!! How can city leaders believe that is fair and reasonable? Outrageous.

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     THE MOMENT IS UPON US

    Dear Sedona,

    The moment is upon us. The time for a united effort to shift the focus back to our community is now.

    The ability to thrive in our community, our environment, our workforce, and the tourist industry, is entirely possible because we have all the resources needed for success.

    Still, we need a council that isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions, that makes decisions based on data and facts, and through discussion, rather than moving and voting in group unison as they so regularly do.

    This is my home. I have been a part of the Sedona community for 28 years. I witnessed the road debacle, the lack of planning, the city circumventing the local businesses ability to thrive, while making choices to expand the local government and be in direct competition with private industry.

    I am a unique candidate because unlike the incumbents, I don’t believe the government should expand in size, nor in operations, nor would I attempt to micromanage every aspect of our community.

    City government should stay in its lane and allow the competitive market of local private industry to prosper. And it should defend our community from corporate takeover and infiltration of our town.

    I do not agree that we should sign onto International Building Codes and regulations by signing Sedona up to the ICC. It is imperative that we remain a sweet, rural community.

    Where are the arts? Where is this organic thriving element that we allege to be animated by. Where is our culture? Where is our community?

    The discord between the decision making process and the desires of the community have never been more clear. It has been nearly a decade in the making.

    It is time for a new era of energy to take charge. An energy that is reflective in the ability to succeed rather than be trapped in out of date consciousness.

    It has been a great honor meeting with each of you. I hear your concerns over the insane and out of control spending and I echo them. A budget of $105,000,000 in a town of 9700 residents is completely unacceptable. A parking structure (that looks like a shoe box) originally slated to cost 11 million, now projected to cost 18 million, is incomprehensible. Especially, considering there is no intention of charging for parking.

    For those who are concerned that I lack the political experience within our established system- that is precisely what Sedona needs… Not another politician, but instead a person who understands people, who listens to the voices within the community, and who will act in service on their behalf with accountability, for the highest good of Sedona. What I am not, will prove to be an asset as I navigate the entrenched bureaucracy with a fresh perspective. Business as usual, is over.

    Creative solutions require new energy.

    Every decision that is made by our local government, must contemplate Sedona first.

    • Does this decision benefit the residents?
    • Does this decision benefit the local businesses?
    • Does this decision actually help the environment?
    • Will this decision sustain benefit in the future, or will it bring more problems?

    What we have now is a city government that expands to 165 employees for 9700 residents. Palm Desert has 53,000 residents and 119 city employees. Majority of our city department heads are not even in town. I find this problematic.

    Efforts towards championing in and courting new solutions for our medical needs are imperative. We are losing our doctors. We must encourage competition with other facilities rather than be held hostage by NAH, who clearly have their own set of dysfunctions.

    We must remember that so many move to Sedona for its beauty, hiking, and small town charm. Bigger, faster, and more concrete does not, in broad strokes, fit the ethos of Sedona.

    The old world must remain strong here in balance, as that is what visitors want to experience. Too many have noted that Sedona has lost its edge and charm.

    As Mayor I will preserve the rural charm of our community, and push back against the urbanization that is planned for Sedona.

    As mayor I will make it a priority to create opportunities to support our youth.  After school healthy, enriching programs should be created for our kids, and available to the Sedona workforce regardless of residency and regardless of school they belong to.

    As Mayor, I will create an agenda to deliberately embody the consciousness of our collective needs here, allowing private industry to meet the needs of our community rather than bigger government.

    I hope to have your vote on Aug 2nd. I am excited and have the energy to take on this leadership role with new eyes, community perspective, and the thoughtful consciousness that reflects all ages of the human spectrum.

    Thank you deeply for your consideration.

    Sincerely,

    Samaire Armstrong

    Sedona elections
    Armstrong vs. Jablow: The Main Event
    Ready to Rumble

    By Tommy Acosta
    In the Blue Corner stands Scott Jablow and in the Red Corner of the ring stands Samaire Armstrong, ready to rumble to the bitter end in their fight to become the next Sedona mayor. Jablow weighs in with 1,137 primary election votes (36.13%) under his belt, having wielded his advantage as sitting Sedona City Council vice-mayor to his favor. He brings his years of serving in that capacity into the fray and waged a solid fight in his campaign to make it to the run-off. Armstrong, however withstood a blistering smear campaign from the other opposing candidates and their supporters to make it to the final bout with 967 votes under her belt (30.73%), an amazing feat for a political newcomer. Unfortunately, for the other two candidates, Kurt Gehlbach and sitting mayor Sandy Moriarty, neither put up enough of a fight to make it to the championship bout. Read more→
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