Get Involved
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008This past week, Lori and I attended Ward III’s “Conversations with Karin” and Ward I’s Information Session. Both of these events related to the City’s $13.6 million deficit. At each of these meetings, the council member asked her constituents to contact their respective offices with constructive suggestions on budget reduction methods. They also asked the constituents to identify core services they felt were essential and what services could be put on the back burner or reduced. After talking with some of the residents here in El Cortez, here is what we sent to our council office.
“El Cortez Heights Neighborhood Association has a number of suggestions to be considered for the City of Tucson budget:
Make sure that all employees are practicing energy conservation measures – perhaps a small reward for the best suggestions, compliance or reporting of waste. These measures include turning off lights, computer screens, printers, copiers, radios, televisions, and other electrical equipment, as well as minimizing use of personal coffeepots, heaters/fans, refrigerators and microwaves. If computers are left on over-night for updates and backup, insert an end code to shut down non-essential systems after completion of the program.
Carpooling, trip circuits and transit bus use should continue to be encouraged, both to-and-from work but also for city errands.
Substantially increase fees for use of city facilities by non-city residents, such as parks programs. Increase fees for city residents with a true sliding scale available.
Establish a “one-stop” certification of low-income status (perhaps in conjunction with Pima County), instead of every agency having a process (parks, other assistance programs). A letter can be issued using a single standard, such as the federal poverty guideline, with levels of low-income determined. Then a true sliding scale for services can be established, with those at a slightly higher level paying slightly more. For instance, the parks facility fee at Northwest Neighborhood Center could be raised to $25.00 per quarter for residents, $40.00 per quarter for non-residents, with sliding scale for the rest – 40% off for seniors and youth, 60% off for those 135% to 185% of poverty with the letter, 75% off for those under 135% of poverty with the letter, or some other such arrangement. Classify them into groups (A, B, C, …) to create easy lookup charts for the staff to use.
Encourage partnerships with other agencies and the University of Arizona or Pima Community College. Many university departments seek opportunities for their students to gain practical experience in the field of their major. Class credit can be given instead of compensation. For instance, the Department of Nutritional Sciences has a USDA grant which uses KIDCO for teaching opportunities in health. The University is able to supply materials and free instructors in nutrition to help satisfy the state requirement for education in exchange for the “captive audience” of youth in the program and the reporting of time by the KIDCO staff. This arrangement results in a win-win situation for both groups and saves the city money in operation costs.
Recreation Centers should concentrate on their core usage. This may mean transporting seniors to another center to leave the first center open later for use by more youth and neighborhoods. All programs do not need to be available at all centers, which may require residents to travel a little further for service. This was already done with the year-round pools.”
I am encouraging everyone to take an active roll in this process. Our representatives cannot know what is important to you if you don’t inform them. Take a look at the services you currently enjoy through the City that are essential. You can call the Ward III Office at 791-4711 or email our council aide, Tamara Prime at Tamara.Prime@tucsonaz.gov. GET INVOLVED.