RSS Electronic Edition | Newsletters Subscribe | Customer Service Contact Us | Community Buy Photos Modmomsclub

Local

Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009

Modesto City Council hopefuls weigh in on budgeting, city services

E-Mail Print

With jobs disappearing, retirement savings shrinking and home values plunging, voters will bring a full plate of worries with them to the ballot box Nov. 3.

In Modesto's three City Council races, voters are watching candidates closely for signs of how they'll handle tight budgets while continuing to provide city services.

"People are saying, how do you think we got here and what should we do to get out?" said Modesto-based political consultant Mike Lynch. "All the legs on the tripod are significantly weaker than they were before. In the past you might have an employment worry, you might have had a home value worry, you might have had a pension worry. Now you have all three.

"It's a quantum leap in the intensity of concern."

With that in mind, The Bee asked City Council candidates the following questions

---

Given that the city budget isn't likely to improve next year, what would you do with existing resources to improve public safety? Where would you cut next in the city budget? If the budget improves, what would you fund?

District 5

Joe Cataline

To improve public safety, Cataline said he'd like to see the Police Department refocus its efforts. Cataline said officers have told him the gang unit sometimes finishes work at 8 p.m. He'd like the unit to work later into the night, when more gang crime happens.

He's interested in expanding the gang injunction into other parts of the city and increasing programs for young people. "We're not going to see our long-term crime rates drop if we don't put more effort into working with young minds," he said.

As for budget cuts, Cataline said, the first place that needs cutting is the City Council's salary. "We just have to be smarter about how we manage our resources. I think it would show great leadership if (council members) took that salary rollback." (City council members' salaries increased from $9,600 to $24,000 a year in 2008.)

If the budget picture improves, Cataline said, his top priorities would be funding police, ending brownouts at fire stations and restoring help for youth activities.

Kristin Olsen

Olsen said she'd like to see the Police Department look at how it prioritizes functions. "The Police Department has a patrol unit, a traffic unit, a gang unit, all working within the department," she said. "We need to prioritize those services so that the police department is able to be as responsive as possible to the citizenry, and also make strides toward fighting crime."

Another important step is to form partnerships with businesses, churches and nonprofits to craft a "holistic approach" to public safety, Olsen said.

If more cuts are necessary, Olsen said, she wants to "look at all of the departments, line item by line item, to look for any potential efficiencies."

She suggested reviewing city insurance, workers compensation and disability contracts to see if the city could save money. Her first priority when the budget improves is to fund law enforcement.

District 4

Joe Muratore

To shore up public safety, Muratore suggested using the neighborhood-based model that's worked well in La Loma. The La Loma Neighborhood Association runs a private security patrol and organizes residents for community cleanups.

He said that can be replicated in other parts of Modesto. "It goes beyond just police and fire; it's about neighborhoods that are well-lit, that Neighborhood Watch is happening, and that neighbors are keeping an eye out for each other," Muratore said.