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Show PAGE 4 THE ZEPHYR JAN-FE- B 1991 art interview with the commissioners-elec- t Jim Stiles conducted an Interview with Commlsslonere-ele- ct Manuel Torres. The Interview has been edited for clarity and length. David Knutson and THE BUDGET Zephyr: First I'd like to talk to you about the budget the perception among many that you're raising taxes, cutting services, and Increasing salaries for county employees. Dave: That's pretty accurate. When the budget was presented to us, the requests exceeded our anticipated revenues by half a million dollars, so we had to start cutting back those requests to get as close to our anticipated revenue as possible. They werent new requests; they were ust requests from existing departments and programs that had Increased their requests. So thats where we started cutting. So basically the level of service Is going to remain the same as last year, or maybe a little less because the cost of business goes up. The first thing we looked at was raises, because peoples' salaries are as much a part of doing business and adding services as the cost of gasoline, or utilities, or anything else. Those services rely on the people as much as anything else. You can't expect people to provide a service for the county for free and do It out of the goodness of your heart Zephyr: You're talking about a 5 raise for appointed employees and a 10 raise for elected officials. Elected officials choose to pursue that office and when they do. they know what the salary Is. So why do you think the county Is under some obligation to give them a raise? For Instance, the Sheriffs salary Is $32.000 and I'd bet there are a lot of people In this town who wish they were earning that much. It would go up to S35.560 with this raise. Dave: There are a lot of people In town who make more than that, who wouldnt take on the responsibility of sheriff for that amount of money. Although elected officials know how much they're going to make when they run, I don't think any of them anticipate that theyll never make any more. With the exception of the attorney and the sheriff, no elected official has received a raise In six years. The sheriff got a raise last year, and that was an attempt to bring his salary up to what It ought to be. I believe the deputies should not make as much as the sheriff and weve had several Instances of that happening. Last year, If we hadn't given Jim Nyland a raise, Doug Squire would've been making more than Jim. Thats not to say Doug Is making too much; Its saying Jim Isn't making enough. Zephyr: You said there wouldn't be any cutback In services, but In trying to read your proposed budget public health could be cut as much as $20.000. Mental Health could be cut 10.000 and with matching state and federal funds, lose as much as $100.000. Parks and Recreation, cut $15.000. the Rodeo cut 11.000. the high school Rodeo, cut $1.000. Those are real cuts. Dave: I look at It as, what Is an essential service? Law enforcement, maintaining all those things are essential services that are records, assessing and collecting demanded by the citizens that we provide. Some of those others are not So first we went to the programs by law and not necessarily services that a county could I mean, a rodeo Is not an essential service. The Close-U- p normally provide. program for the high school kids Is not essential to the community. The fair Is not Now the health and mental health we cut that because we didn't understand the situation and with the understanding that we could put some money back In. (Editor's Note: It appears at this time that public and mental health funding will be But salaries are a part of You to essential services. have compensate them to expect them to do a decent providing job. I remember when we were In boom times, no one would work for the county; they'd laugh at you because It paid so low. Of course, now we're In a recession and not a lot of Jobs, so It looks pretty good and It Is pretty good. Zephyr: But thats the point We're In a recession. Money Is tighter than If s been In a long time. Now, when It's a struggle for the average citizen to get bv. you're saving; We're going to take a bigger chunk out of vour tax dollar so that we can raise the salaries Is non-manda- ted ed.) of a few. Manuel: You Just said the magic word... the average person to get by. What about the county employees? They have to get by. I think people have to understand, Jim, that these guys arent being paid a vast amount of money. I would guess that half of them are living very meek; they have to watch their budget so we have to look at what's fair to those people. You know the federal government gets a raise every year, and I dont agree with that I havent had a cost of living raise In 15 years. But those county salaries are so low, It almost embarrassed me. Those people have to live. Its a fine line there, no doubt about It And another thing.- - these programs like city rec, the rodeo I think they were fine and dandy when the county had money to support them. Now that the belt has tightened up, Its CEDfiR BREAKS CONDOS Center r 4th East Moabf Utah 84532 time to say the essentials come first I don't understand. Zephyr There are some Increases In the budget that really Let me run some of this bv you. For Instance. In 1989. $600 went to Central Services; this year that amount has lumped to 55400. Could they be moved to the courthouse to save the rental costs In their Western Plaza office? Dave: Theres not right now. Were going to move the attorney In here to save rent Weve Just about utilized all the space there Is. We're going to move the JP office In here to save rent Also In Central Services, the county has taken that program over entirely the city doesnt fund any of It Zephyr: How do vou determine that Central Services Is essential, and something like the Little League program for kids Is not? Dave: In my mind, there's two things: One, theyre mandated by law. Second, If If s economic development If II bring In money. Central Services had an Impact In 1990 of $5 million. That's a good program to fund In my mind. Manuel: Let's talk about the Little League. A lot of people didn't realize that a new Rec Board was formed last year. And through the Rec Board, theres funds that are available through State PILT monies. Now youre really not cutting that program off because I feel like the commissioners need to go to that board, and say: you need to put some of that money Into City Rec. Zephyr: Isnt most of that money tied up In the Equestrian Center? Dave: Theres some left over. I haven't quite been able to get a handle on that I know when we set that up, I told the Rec Board that although the main purpose exactly. of the board was to fund the Equestrian Center, I made sure there was monies left over so they could fund other programs of their choice. Whether that money can be used or kept In a trust as a back payment, Im not too sure on that But I know that In the beginning, all the money that came to the Rec Board was not earmarked for the Equestrian Center. Zephyr: Have vou been In contact with anv of the Rec Board members about that funding? Dave: They're looking Into tt. Zephyr: Theres a bio chunk of money In the budget for drug enforcement It lumped from S98.000 In 1990 to $358.000 In 1991. Where does this money come from? Dave: Grants and forfeitures. Forfeitures are projected revenues, but are fairly accurate. If s as accurate as our property tax estimates. Zephyr: Last year the deputy county attorney's position was funded bv drug monies. When we ran out the county assumed responsibility and paid for the position out of the general fund. In this year's budget vou have, for Instance, an expenditure of almost 92.000 for a dog. What happens If drug monies run out again? Are vou going to assume responsibility for the dog? Dave: Oh, yeah. Well keep the dog. Thafs right about the attorney funding. Zephyr: When vou accept this money, and run the risk of having to assume responsibility If the drug money runs out can we afford this? " Dave: Thafs a bridge we have to cross. Ifs a possibility. If It happens, well either have to drop the program, or fund It through the general fund. Zephyr: The bottom line on all this Is: youre going to have to raise taxes. Dave: Uh,yeah. Zephyr: How much? Dave: About $200,000. First, for the last four years, Instead of raising taxes as we should have, weve been eating up our fund balance. It used to be $300,000. Now Ifs all gone. And since we were coming to the county with a bond election on a Jallcourthouse of that $200,000 Increase Is monies facility. The bond didn't pass, and now three-fourt- hs to fix the roof. If the bond passes next time, a large portion of that Increase will be absorbed by the bond. But weve got to do something with that roof, and we have to deal with handicap access. We didn't budget anything for that With some modification of the Jail, we can buy ourselves another year. Also, our revenues have gone down because we no longer have state prisoners. Manuel: My eyes were opened by all this because I thought the county was an Increase every year. It seems like my property tax goes up every year. But getting people dont realize that the general tax to run Grand County hasn't gone up for six years. Ifs these special service districts that raise the taxes. And It's going to be our Job to get control of these special service districts. They're creating these tax raises. Zephyr: Youve defended appointing board members to special service districts. Dave. But from what Manuels saving, thafs exactly the problem. The citizens have no control over these special service districts. They're not accountahla. Manuel: Except to the county commissioners. And thafs what has to happen. Dave: And thafs the brouhaha going on with the third commissioner right now. drug-sniffi- ng CEDAR BREAKS CONDOS offer a vacation home away from home, for one night or more. You will enjoy the comfort of newly furnished suites, with 1 or 2 bedrooms with king or twin size beds, full bath and kitchen. Each has a dining area and offers a direct dial phone, cable television and stereo system, as well as books and maps of the area for you to study. A pleasant atmosphere is created by live plants and collages of Indian petroglyphs crafted by your hostess. Several condos have private balconies with a view to the majestic La Sal Mountains. Laundry facilities are available in the building. 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