On 04/01/09 the Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted in a 2-1 decision (Supervisor Martyn voted in support of) to deny the approval for Sheriff Babeu to apply for 30 positions to the COPS Hiring Recovery Program Application. The COPS Grant is a federally funded program through the U.S. Department of Justice that will fully fund law enforcement positions for three years.
Sheriff Babeu wished to submit an application for $7,335,570.00 to fund the requested 30 positions that would be used to supplement the shortage of man power and develop specialty positions within the department. As stated the grant would pay for 100% of the salaries and benefits of the acquired positions for the first three years. The fiscal responsibility of the fourth year would fall to Pinal County. The projected cost of the fourth year is $2,242,020.00.
In a time where the crime rate has spiked in Pinal County, County Manager Terry Doolittle has told Sheriff Babeu to cut his budget again . . . an additional 8%. This has limited Sheriff Babeu’s ability to adequately staff and provide Public Safety to the Citizens of Pinal County. Sheriff Babeu has stated, “Public Safety must be at the top of our collective priorities. We need more Patrol Deputies to serve our increasing population and to properly address the significant rise in crime during this economic downturn.” He has made this point time and time again to the Board of Supervisors. Yet, he is still told to cut his operating budget an additional 8%.
Sheriff Babeu has taken the initiative to find monies available to his agency to make Public Safety a top priority. He presented one of these ideas today and was turned away by Supervisor Rios and Supervisor Snyder. Supervisor Martyn gave a strong statement in support of the grant and made the point that in three years, 30 new deputies will be needed to provide adequate Public Safety for the Citizens of Pinal County.
Both Rios and Snyder acknowledged the fact that the Sheriff’s Office is understaffed, and acknowledged that in three years 30 new deputies may be needed to provide adequate Public Safety. Yet they felt the future fiscal burden was too much for Pinal County. If they (Rios and Snyder) acknowledge that the manpower will be needed in three years, how do they expect to fund it then? They were given the opportunity to have those positions now and at no cost to the taxpayer for the first three years. They chose to turn it down. Are they not going to fund more deputies for the Sheriff’s Office? Do they expect Sheriff Babeu to use his current staff to handle the increasing population in Pinal County as the crime rate rises?
Rios and Snyder referred to projections that County Manager Terry Doolittle made regarding the economic downturn that Pinal County is currently facing. Statements were made by Doolittle that led people to believe Pinal County may not be out of its troubled economy by 2012. Yet, in previous Board of Supervisor meetings, Mr. Doolittle has made statements that Pinal County is approving more permits for construction each year. The elected officials dote on statements that Pinal County is the State’s fastest growing County and the second fastest growing County in the Nation. Yet, where is the growth in infrastructure and services for the Citizens of Pinal County?
The fact Pinal County is growing is just that, a fact! This can be shown by the steady increase in calls for service to the Sheriff’s Office as well as increased response times to calls. In 2008 the Sheriff’s Office average response time was over 18 minutes to priority 1 (emergency calls) county wide. Is this acceptable to you? It is not acceptable to Sheriff Babeu! He is trying to make it better! Yet, our elected officials do not want to help. They do not have Pinal County Citizens' welfare in mind when making their decisions.
The Pinal County Deputies Association and employees (who are Citizens of Pinal County) stand behind Sheriff Babeu 100% in his decision to go for the grant money. Ask a deputy why the County Manager and two of the Board of Supervisors do not support Public Safety for the Citizens of Pinal County. If you have any questions regarding this statement, please contact Jeff Pizzi, President of the Pinal County Deputies Association at 480-734-7369 or Aubrey Keck, Treasurer at 480-214-9224.
Pinal County Board of Supervisors votes to turn down grant money for Sheriff's Office
While the Board of Supervisors would like "give" Pinal County Employees a 5% across the board pay cut.....
Inquiring minds want to know . . .
1. What happened to all the interest money that was accrued while all Pinal County employees were forced to take mandatory compensatory time instead of paid overtime? There has never been a clear accounting of the disposition of that interest money.
2. From where did the “slush fund” money come? This is the money that County Manager Doolittle assured attendees at the Board of Supervisors’ May 13 meeting, could be moved to cover the five million dollars shortfall that resulted in the County asking all employees to take a 5 percent cut in pay along with no COLA and no step increases.
3. How much other “soft slush money” is lurking in the newly adopted tentative budget?
4. Explain why the County Manager and the Board of Supervisors failed to publish the tentative budget at least two weeks prior to the May 13 meeting. What happened to the Board of Supervisors’ promise of transparent and open meetings? Why did they attempt to sneak the tentative budget through without giving the citizens of Pinal County an opportunity to voice their concerns?
5. Explain why only the Sheriff and Judge Olsen were allowed to speak during the discussion phase of the tentative budget presentation. Many others had signed up to be heard and their requests were ignored.
6. Explain why the tentative budget was “railroaded” through without adequate discussion and review.
7. What happened to the money that was supposed to be returned to the county from the Stan Griffis adjudication? There has never been a clear accounting of the disposition of that money.
8. How much in pay cuts are County Manager Terry Doolittle and other upper level appointed county employees going to take?
9. How much in pay cuts are the elected Board of Supervisors and others volunteering to take? Are they going to share the pain?
10. We learned in a letter from County Manager Terry Doolittle, published on May 14, that 50 people are going to be terminated to help balance the budget. How are the County Manager and the Board of Supervisors going to assure that the process of laying people off is fair and impartial, and not used to retaliate against any employee who is not part of the “Good Old Boy” system? Are they going to keep people with the most seniority? Are they going to force people into early retirement without giving them at least three months to enroll and finalize retirement programs?
11. The county has promised transparency in all of its dealings. While they proclaim the “glass is clear”, the contents remain murky. County Manager Doolittle, in his tentative budget presentation to the Board of Supervisors on May 13, bragged about the county’s accomplishments including lowering property taxes for fiscal year 2009/2010. After the presentation and before the Board of Supervisors voted to adopt the tentative budget, County Manager Doolittle told Sheriff Paul Babeu, Judge Carter Olson and the citizens attending the meeting that he had twelve million dollars in the Master Facilities Plan fund that was, in essence, a slush fund that could be moved to cover the five million dollars in purported shortfall that required the lay off of 50 employees and the mandatory five percent pay reduction for all county employees. He also told the attendees that the county had a seven million dollar rainy day fund, which he didn’t want to use to keep employees from being laid off and/or forced to give up five percent of their pay. He mentioned another fund with more than 26 million dollars that was held in reserve to keep the county’s “A” rating for borrowing purposes.
No copies of the tentative budget were made available to any other county department head, nor were any copies made available to the meeting attendees as is customary. With this in mind, please explain the county government’s definition of transparency.
12. Why are the Pinal County Board of Supervisors lowering property taxes when, supposedly, they don’t have enough money to run the county?
(This was sent out to all local media)
Board of Supervisors agrees to hire 15 under the COPS Grant in special meeting on April 3, 2009.
Board of Supervisor Agenda item for April 29, 2009
P. Discussion/approval/disaproval of a request from the sheriff to reclassify eight (8) vacant Detention Corporal classifications creating two (2) Lieutenants, two (2) Sergeants, and five (5) Detention Aide positions to provide greater management supervision on all shifts. The reclassification will result in a savings of $19,569.00. This request has the favorable recommendation of County staff. (Manny Gonzalez)
ATTENTION!!!
June 3,2009 Pinal County Board of Supervisors Meeting
(10) Work session for discussion of the FY 2009-2010 Tentative Budget including, but not limited to, possible reductions in force, possible reductions in salaries/wages, possible use of cash reserves and/or other adjustments or reductions in programs or services during FY 2009-2010. (Manny Gonzalez)
(11) Discussion/approval/disapproval of the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Budget Resolution 060309-PCB authorizing a reduction in force. (Manny Gonzalez)
(12) Discussion/approval/disapproval of the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Supplemental Funding Program for new positions, equipment, facilities, IT, and vehicles. (continued from 5/13/09) (Manny Gonzalez)
(If the last meeting was any indication, Calls from the publick WILL be ignored....)
From: President, Jeff Pizzi - June 3, 2009
re: 5 % Board of Supervisors meeting....
Today was another work session and no final decision has been made. The subject was tabled to June 17th, when another work session will be held. Employees are allowed to write their name down to speak at these sessions. I encourage all employees county wide to try and be there. If you cannot be there, and have not expressed your feelings via email, I encourage you to do. The final vote and plan of action for the budget is set to be approved on June 24th.
President Jeff Pizzis address to: (6/3/09)
Chairman Snider, Supervisor’s Martyn and Rios,
Thank you for allowing this to be read. I apologize for not being here in person to speak to you. I have made my personal stance and the Pinal County Deputies Association stance obvious to you previously….We are against any possible cut in wages no matter what the amount. Employees have already sacrificed 5% this year in their step increase and COLA.
Over the past weeks, I have received numerous emails from employees, as I’m sure you have as well. The one story that I have heard over and over is how OUR employees spouse is jobless due to the current economy. Their families are relying on one income, the income provided by the Citizens of Pinal County for the thankless job the employee does for the county. They have cut costs at home and are at the bare minimum to survive. A 5% cut in wages will push them below that minimum forcing them to the extreme. Some employees have stated that if the cut in wages becomes a reality, they will be forced to find work elsewhere. This in turn will lower the quality in service we provide to the Citizens of Pinal County.
Our County government has a history of making unwise decisions. From waiting until growth is nearly complete to collect impact fees in urban areas, to failing to keep roads up with the expanded growth, to preventing additional seats on the Board of Supervisors, which was authorized after a census count, and to allowing a corrupt county manager to take the blame for crimes committed to stop the investigation into corruption within the County. These decisions have affected this County in numerous ways. It has given the impression that we are still a rural county that does not know what we are doing, rather than the second fastest growing county in the nation, and the place to be.
Now this current County government is faced with one of its most important decisions. Whether or not to balance the budget by cutting the employees wages, or use the 29.5 million in the general fund to cover the deficit. It is time our County government makes the RIGHT decision. The decision that shows we are the County citizens want to be in… the one that takes care of its employees. Make a stand and do what is right, vote against any cut in wages.
Thank you,
Jeff Pizzi-President
Pinal County Deputies Association
On Wednesday, June 24, 2009, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted to accept the budget without the 10% paycut to employees or further layoffs.
HOWEVER, Mr. Dolittle noted that the economy will be monitored quarterly and the paycuts and layoffs can still occur. With that hanging over our heads we will have to be ever vigilent of what the Board of Supervisors does at it meetings. Keep in mind that we have already loss step raises and C.O.L.A. which amounts to about 5.5% we are not getting and a further 10% would actually add up to about a 15.5% loss overall.
The Deputies Association is very concerned that the rest of the county's employees have not been actively involved in monitoring their own losses, especially, when the projected layoffs are aimed directly at them. Does anybody out there know what the rest of the county is doing?
We expect to hear again from the Board of Supervisors before the end of the year about further recomendations. So, STAND BY TO STAND BY!!
When a win is not a win . . .
Comp-Time Issues.
There has been a lot of discussion and decension about comp-time issues; especially within detentions. The subject has been brought up many times before. The questions are;
How much comp-time can I accrue?
How do I take comp-time off?
Can they make me take comp time off?
Comp-time (according to the Fair Labor Standards Act(FLSA)) can be given to an employee at the standard overtime rate up to 240 hours. However, police and fire can accumulate up to 480 hours. Once you have the maximum number of comp-time hours is accrued the employee must be pait at the overtime rate. The employer can pretty much dictate when an employee is going to receive comp-time instead of paid overtime. The county has been guilty in the past of haveing employees accrue over the maximum amount and then when the employee tried to take vacation, finance would deduct the time from the employee's comp-time instead. This resulted in many employees losing vacation time at the end of the year.
So, how do you take comp-time off. In theory, at least, you earn the comp-time just like you earned your pay. So, you would think that, like your pay check, you could use it how you wanted. The administration, however, does not see it this way. Apparenty, since money itself is not involved, they feel that they can dictate how the employee uses it. Court cases have regularly over ruled the employers in favor of the employee in this issue, but every new group of administrators insists on being retrained.
According to the FLSA an employee should be able to take comp-time off when requested. The employee should give the employer reasonable notification in order for the time to be scheduled. Case law has interpreted the FLSA in this way. Case law also indicated that the employee can not be forced to take the time off at the employer's discretion.
.
