The City of Turlock is on the verge of bankruptcy. Decades
ago, city leadership was financially sound, building a reserve account to spur
economic growth and to have in case of a rainy day.
It may not be storming yet, but the threatening black clouds are inching toward
us rapidly.
The City Council is in a tough situation. Today, the city spends far too much
on health insurance for employees, leaving the Council with two choices. First,
it can distribute an RFP to seek a new insurer, which may help bring down the
ballooning cost of premiums and care. Second, it can cut this benefit
altogether, saving the city millions on expenses.
Unfortunately, this means cutting benefits for our city’s first responders,
too. Police and fire service make up 73 percent of Turlock’s total budget,
including equipment costs, technology, payroll and benefits. The Council, along
with the police and fire departments, must find a way to agree to changes. A
new city manager, with a strong background in finance and a record of making
tough choices, would help the city through this difficult period.
Finally, Turlock needs to hear today what would happen if the city is forced to
file for bankruptcy. We can hardly afford the necessary amenities for city
hall, let alone large-scale projects that are well outside the current budget.
— Larry Rumbeck