SanTanSun; 6-6-15: Opinion

Opinion

www.SanTanSun.com

June 6 - June 19, 2015

43

Community Commentary

Chandler budget process a thoughtful one

Financing County is a real challenge

annual Neighborhood Excellence On June 11, the City Council is award winners and I launched my Teen scheduled to vote on the final adoption Leadership Academy in March. of the 2015/2016 Fiscal Year Budget and We welcomed many new businesses to Capital Improvement Plan. While this plan Chandler including the General Motors contains no increases in City property Innovation Center on the Price Corridor. or sales tax rates, we Others expanded their remain guarded in our presence like Garmin and forecast. At the same Intel, both opening new time, I am optimistic that research and development our community continues centers in West Chandler. to move in a positive The business community direction. Chandler is, as continues to find Chandler this year’s theme so aptly as an attractive place to projects, the place to be! locate and grow.

Chandler’s solid Thanks to our financial foundation is management team and the product of more than budget staff for their two decades of sound dedicated work to prepare financial planning. Policies a prudent, sensible plan. that have been strictly This financial roadmap is adhered to by those you the product of a long and have entrusted with your Mayor Jay Tibshraeny. transparent process—and Submitted photo hard-earned tax dollars. many hours of work on The 2015-2016 budget the part of our City staff, shows a slight increase from the prior the City Council, and you, the residents year, and we again are able to fund road of Chandler. Through public meetings, projects, build parks, and maintain basic surveys and our popular Budget Connect services and infrastructure. I remain online forum, we have developed a confident that we continue to move in a comprehensive fiscal blueprint that positive direction in terms of our fiscal this community can take great pride in. sustainability and economic growth.

All reasons why we have been able to We celebrated many successes over maintain AAA bond ratings from all three the past year. We opened Valencia and rating agencies.

Centennial parks, and constructed a Thanks to my fellow city new fire station to help us more quickly councilmembers. They remain, as do I, respond in times of emergency. We committed to an unparalleled quality of continue to construct and widen roads life for our City and residents. We live in South Chandler, aggressively maintain in a tremendous community. One we and improve others, and have undertaken confidently call the “Place to Be!” some critical new utility projects.

We continued to focus on Mayor Jay Tibshraeny can be reached neighborhoods and celebrate residents. at jay.tibshraeny@chandleraz.gov My Listening Tour continues, and seems or via Twitter at www.twitter.com/ to grow in popularity with each stop. jaytibshraeny.

In February we announced our second

BY MAYOR JAY TIBSHRAENY

Share your opinion with SanTan Sun News!

We know you have an opinion!

Share it with the SanTan Sun News.

Please keep your Letters to the Editor around 200-300 words, or they may be edited for length. Include your first and last name, community or development

In addition, several judgment orders at You might have heard the Board of the Maricopa County sheriff office have Supervisors recently passed a $2.2 billion proven costly. The Melendres judgment budget for the new fiscal year. It was a alone will cost an estimated $23.8 million unanimous vote. But it was not easy. in the 2016 budget on top of $28 million As an administrative arm of the state, already spent. And the Durango Jail is in the county implements state laws and such disrepair, we must replace it. We have provides mandated services. As such, much no other option. of the county’s fortune is tied directly And yet, we approved a $2.2 billion to the states. And Arizona’s total budget, barely $12.4 budget was in a crisis earlier this million over last year’s. Only year. Facing a $1 billion budget seven county departments saw deficit, Gov. Ducey and state increases over last year, and all legislators fashioned a budget the significant increases were that required many groups, public safety related—adult including the county, to share in probation, juvenile probation, the pain. In fact, the lawmakers sheriff’s office, county attorney approved a state budget that and superior court. In contrast, shifted some $32.2 million in 40 department budgets state costs to Maricopa County remained flat or reduced their alone. Coupled with year-overoverall spending. We also year state-imposed transfers made technology investments, Denny Barney. and cost shifts totaling over which will ultimately save on Submitted photo $269 million since 2008, this personnel costs and increase is a difficult challenge. And it’s efficiency. getting harder.

Ten departments submitted zero-based When you factor in rising criminal budgets this year, an initiative I started justice costs, increasing caseloads and last year as chairman, following the good public demands, then mix in sluggish results ZBB had produced in Gilbert. This revenue growth in both sales and property is fiscally prudent and allows us to keep a taxes, our county administrators and pulse on incremental increases in spending. elected officials are being asked to perform It is said that a budget, any budget, minor miracles. public or private, is the ultimate policy You may have read about child tool. The county budget, like your family dependency cases arising from parental budget, reflects priorities. At Maricopa abuse and neglect. In fact, Maricopa County, our priorities are clear: Public County Superior Court is facing safety joined with fiscal prudence driven dependency caseloads almost three times by mandates. Also key is bringing business what they were in 2007. Additionally, principles to government, improving Superior Court has an increasing efficiency and reducing regulation where percentage of active cases pending trial possible while increasing customer service. and a lower percentage of completed I don’t expect future budget years to get trials. Capital trials as well are on a steady easier. However, I do feel confident that as incline. And when the courts are backed a county we are making many of the tough up, defendants spend more time in jail—at decisions today that will prove wise in the $85.49 a day. It would be cheaper to put future. them up in a hotel. Another growing cost: Health service for the inmates, specifically, Denny Barney is Maricopa County pharmaceutical costs. supervisor for District One.

BY DENNY BARNEY

name in Southern Chandler (Cooper Commons, Ocotillo, Sun Groves, etc.) or ZIP code and daytime phone number for verification. Anonymous letters are not typically accepted. Email is the preferred submission method, to Letters@

SanTanSun.com.

All submitted Letters to the Editor and Community Commentaries become the property of the SanTan Sun News and may be reprinted in part, quoting the letters’ authors, or in their entirety. Your submission to the SanTan Sun News is considered your permission to print your

written opinion. Opinions expressed in Community Commentaries, Letters to the Editor or cartoons are those of the author, and not that of the SanTan Sun News.

Have a story idea or news tip? Know of an interesting photo opportunity? How about positive feedback or constructive comments? We’d like to hear from you. Email us at News@SanTanSun.com.

Deadline mailing address:

PO Box 23 Chandler, AZ 85244-0023 telephone: (480) 732-0250 fax: (480) 883-8714 ©2015 SanTan Sun News

For News Tips, Editorial Articles, Opinion or Classifieds, email is preferred. news email address: news@santansun.com ads email address: ads@santansun.com website address: www.santansun.com

Editorial and Advertising 5 p.m. Thursday, June 11, 2015 for the Saturday, June 20, 2015, issue

35,000

Total Circulation 27,250+ Driveways Fifty square mile coverage area from Price/101 to Greenfield and from Frye to Hunt Highway.

Proud member of the

executive editor

Christina Fuoco-Karasinski associate editors

publisher

Steve T. Strickbine publisher emeritus

Laurie Fagen

account executives

Tracy Walsh Tracey Wilson

website maintained by

Susan Kovacs, n-ergizing

school contributors

JoAnne Cawley Amy Fricke

Ken Abramczyk Michele Sonkin

art director

writers

Nicole La Cour Helga Benz

Sydney Bowen Lynette Carrington Tracy House Alison Stanton section editor

Meghan McCoy

Erica Odello graphic designers

ad design

Paul Braun

44

Opinion

June 6 - June 19, 2015

Community Commentary

Real skills for real jobs Here at ICAN, we have been focusing on The abundance of these jobs is youth for over 25 years. We provide a safe, great—but nearly 80 percent of the new free place for youth to come after school blue-collar jobs require some training, and provide them with real life skills and typically less than a year. That is where decision-making tools.

ICAN’s new program comes along. Our We work passionately to ensure that program will identify students for the they all graduate from high school. But what program (starting as early as junior high happens after that? Off they go into “real school) and work with them on what it is life” and we hope for the best. This will not they want to do—whether it be learning be the case anymore. ICAN is entering into a a trade or attending community college partnership with the Chandler Compadres to or university. We will then sponsor that create the ICAN Start Working program. student to be trained through partners such Does this mean more college as TechShop Chandler, or attend a Maricopa scholarships? Not necessarily. College is a Community College. The students will then wonderful option for many be placed in internships and youth and we are so happy apprenticeships that will for those who choose to hopefully lead to full-time go that route. But for even work. If ICAN invests $800 more youth that we work for a student to be trained with, college is not a viable as an apprentice welder, option. They would be on they have the opportunity their own financially; facing to make $48,000 when they mounting student loan debt work full time—that’s a pretty just to make it through. good return on investment.

So often we see that So what can you do to middle-skill jobs are quickly help? Maybe you or someone overlooked as a viable you know has a business that option for many. employs skilled workers.

According to a recent We hope that you would Becky Jackson. series by USA Today, consider working with ICAN Submitted photo an estimated 2.5 million to provide opportunities new, middle-skill jobs are for interns or apprentices at expected to be added to the workforce your place of business. Maybe you know a by 2017—accounting for nearly 40 percent high school student or recent graduate who of all job growth. These jobs require would be a great fit in this program. We are some training, but far less schooling than kicking things off this upcoming school year a bachelor’s degree. These middle-skill and look to the community for support and jobs include radiation therapists, elevator encouragement with this exciting program installers and repairers, and dental that will surely impact us all. hygienists, all with a median wage of more If you would like to participate in some than $70,000 per year. way with ICAN Start Working, please Arizona has one of the top 10 metro contact Melissa Jimro, chief programs areas expected to create the most middleofficer at (480) 874-7591 or melissa@icanaz. skill jobs by 2017. Between 2010 and 2020, org for more information.

52 percent of the job openings in Arizona I am very encouraged by the response will be middle-skill. According to the from our community, donors and academia National Skills Coalition, middle-skill jobs to make ICAN Start Working a fundamental account for 53 percent of Arizona’s labor program to assist our youth in being market, but only 47 percent of the state’s responsible members of our community, no workers are trained for these jobs. The matter what path they decide to take. gap is widening as more and more baby For more information, visit www.icanaz. boomers, who make up about 20 percent of org, read the full article from USA Today or this workforce, retire. Our society’s push to visit the National Skills Coalition. get all young people into four-year colleges (also known as the “one road to heaven” Becky Jackson is president and CEO of approach) contributes to a nationwide ICAN: Positive Programs for Youth. shortage of skilled workers.

$

3

OFF

—Any Surgery— With coupon only.

Valid only at Chandler location. Expires 6-30-2015

Spay Neuter Clinic AFFORDABLE VETERINARY CARE

BY DR. SARA KOEHN

Services by Appointment: Spay and Neuter, Vaccinations, Dental Cleaning, Microchipping, Leukemia Testing, Heartworm Testing and Preventative $28 .......Cat Neuter $47 .......Cat Spay $59 .......Dog Neuter (<40 lbs.) $81 .......Dog Neuter (40 - 70 lbs.) $71 .......Dog Spay (<40 lbs.) $103 .....Dog Neuter (40 - 70 lbs.)

Extra charges may apply to heat, pregnancy, retained testicles and dogs over 70 lbs.

2040 S. Alma School Rd., Ste. 25 • Chandler SW CORNER OF ALMA SCHOOL & GERMANN, NEXT TO FRY’S

480-814-1008

www.SanTanSun.com

Letter to the Editor

Voucher system is the answer to investing in schools I read both the opinion pieces on spending and education, on May 2 and May 16. The two writers agree with each other that the answer to everything that is wrong with the world is giving more money to government. That includes taxes which go to public schools, regardless of what the taxpayers think of said schools.

I have always thought of investing my money in anything as a voluntary action.

Government confiscating it and doing with it as it will does not constitute an investment, nor is there any measurable return on that money from my perspective.

The fact that charter schools, religious schools, private schools and homeschooling are all becoming wildly more popular by the year tells me there are some people out there who agree with me.

Arizona is fortunate to have either the largest number or nearly the largest number of charter schools. I know that really rubs the public school apologists the wrong way, but it is a good start to taking back some of our power when it comes to using taxes for education. If the writers of the pieces had their way, there would be no choice but public/government schools.

As it is, because we don’t have a voucher system, we also don’t have the ability to take our tax dollars with us to the school of our choosing. It is a step in the right direction to fund charter schools along with government schools, and parents can decide which suits their children better. I won’t be happy though, until the tax dollars go with the student to whatever school his or her parents choose—and that includes religious schools. And don’t bother with the “separation of church and state” nonsense.

It does not apply here. The fact that parents would take their own hard-earned money and put it into their children’s education in any school they wish does not mean the state is establishing a religion. It would be allowing parents the freedom to practice theirs.

I can’t quite make the connection that Ms. Bivins makes, that somehow men and women making different wages are connected to not throwing more money at public schools. First of all, if you delve into the details of the so-called “wage inequality,” you will find that men and women tend to choose different career

paths and occupations. Many women go into fields that do not pay as well as the fields many men go into. Shocker! Also, women with children tend to not wish to work 80 hours per week and never see those children, but men are often willing to work longer and harder and sacrifice more of a home life than women are.

It’s generally more of a function of the differences between men and women than any intentional squashing of women’s wages. Yes, I know that people are taught in college now that there aren’t any, and that Larry Summers got fired from Harvard for admitting there are. I still don’t get why this has anything to do with giving government more money to waste.

As for the classroom in a double-wide trailer, I’m not sure why that is such a disaster. My daughter went to Catholic school with no air conditioning for several years until the school raised enough to put it in. It was certainly uncomfortable but the reality is that schools do have budgets and have to live within them. Have you seen the Taj Mahals they build these days?

Hamilton High School, for instance? Is all that really necessary for students to learn to read, write, do math, and learn history and science? The problem, as I have said, is that the schools can do whatever they like with the tax money they get because they are going to get it no matter what.

For public school advocates there is never any other issue but money. Give them more and they will do better at educating students. Trouble is, that equation doesn’t seem to hold true. Spending more does not necessarily equal better education.

And it doesn’t allow the marketplace to impact the outcomes. Charter schools are a good start, but vouchers would be the real solution. The fact that public schools advocates hate that idea should tell you all you need to know. This is my third letter on this topic and I don’t believe, from the responses I saw, that anyone who supports public schools regardless of their performance read any of them. One last time: Giving more money to government with no control as to how it is disbursed is never a good idea. Never.

Jan Pfahl Chandler