When the Mammoth Town Council met last Thursday night, none of the private anger, threats of re-call or blistering condemnations about government cuts made it to the public forum. The atmosphere was civil and for several hours, citizens did stand up to support specific services. Some strongly stood up for new taxes to help pay off the big $29.5 million debt. Others said whatever happens, the town’s people have to pull together.
Privately, more than a few citizens have nearly foamed at the mouth over the proposed cut of seven police officers, Whitmore pool and other jobs. Officials have made it clear that something has to go to come up with the $2 million annual payments to MLLA.
Assistant Town Manager Marianna Marysheva-Martinez literally let her usually severe hair style down around her shoulders and the tone of the public talk was relaxed too. Martinez told the crowded room that the Council could not currently balance the budget on taxes that have not been voted on nor on tax measure money earlier committed to other things.
She did spell out the possibility of an admission tax on lift tickets and other event tickets, an increased utility tax and sales tax plus an additional parcel tax. All of that could raise as much as $5 million per year. On top of that, another option is to allow more single family homes to do transient rentals for more taxes. Martinez also made it clear that the Town is down to the limit and needs to build strong reserves. She said that cuts have to happen as soon as possible and that new taxes would take time to collect.
People lined up against the wall of the Council chambers and one after another, gave a view of the tough situation. Sean Turner, business owner and recreation commissioner supported cuts and borrowing from tax measures. Former Councilman Kirk Stapp said it is his personal belief that Mammoth Mountain is partially responsible for the lawsuit judgment and so a lift ticket tax is appropriate. If not a new tax, he said, shift current tax measure money. Stapp said, “Without taxes, services will be drastically reduced.”
Others spoke against more single family homes renting out to tourists. Still others supported funding Mammoth Lakes Housing to maintain what amounts to a multi-million dollar asset in the Town’s infrastructure – low income apartments and homes.
Mono Supervisor Larry Johnston who is the Vice Chairman of Mammoth Lakes Housing, called the organization an economic machine that has generated $68 million in the community.
Asked by Councilman Rick Wood if Mono County would help the Town keep Whitmore Pool open, Johnston said the County already spends $120,000 on Whitmore and has agreed to pay $65,000 more to help the Town keep the Animal Shelter. He did say if the Town would make a formal request for help, the Supervisors would be happy to consider it. But he made it clear that the County government is “not much above water.”
Then Flossie Coulter, long time resident and co-founder of the Jazz Jubilee, laid out the evening’s game changer. She said pass tax measures and get out of the problem a lot sooner. Coulter said, “You can put the blame wherever you want on this lawsuit, but we’re all in this together.” Rick Wood asked her if she thought the community would support new taxes. Coulter said, “It would take a lot of work, but I don’t see a better alternative.” She said with the new taxes Mammoth could keep its police and recreation facilities. Said Coulter, “We could keep the things a viable community needs.”
Johnny Goetz agreed that if the community “works as a team we can make it happen.” Goetz said $29.5 million is a lot of money but “nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity.” Some said it would be a tough climate in which to raise taxes. Still others did support new taxes.
To recent talk that the Town should get rid of one or both of its expensive managers – Dave Wilbrecht and Marianna Marysheva-Martinez who cost more than half a million combined – Mayor Matthew Lehman stood up for them. He said they work all hours of the night on issues that are far more complex than people think.
Now the issue moves on to a November 7th Council meeting for deliberations over cuts and plans. The public will be invited to comment and question then, too. Final decisions are set for December 5th.
The people in Mammoth Lakes can’t really afford any more taxes. Not with the state of the general economy in the U.S. and California. Please see the article from the Mammoth Times, written 6/8/2012 regarding the report by FTI Capital Advisors, titled “Impact of Potential Tax Increases on Mammoth Lakes… Read more »
Forget the budget..Hows my hair…?
(re-posted from another area, but applicable to this one as well) This issue of cutting the police department arose because they represent such a large part of the city budget and nothing to do with whether the department is too large. The issue at hand is the court ordered payment… Read more »
Please contain you hairstyle observations and comments to a minimum, Bennett.
Somebody might start dissing YOUR hairstyle.
Meeeeooooooowwwwww!
(wink)
LOL @ Meeeooooww .. OK that made me laugh …. levity
There will always be the usual regulars from down south who have been coming here to recreate for years … because they always have. The others (who still have the $$$) are preferring to fly from L.A. to Salt Lake City to ski in the more upscale resorts like Deer… Read more »
Rusty will never go for a lift ticket tax. Besides it’s not his problem. But as usual the town wants bailed out by the man in black.
At one point a few months back, Rusty did say he would consider backing a lift tax, depending on which way the Town went.
BK
Thats what I was asking…
As I stated. yes it is implying that wearing hair down is interpreted as being lax. This is to be expected considering it is not the town managers pay in which we are discussing when taking measures to reduce the budget defecit. So everyone, let your hair down and be… Read more »
What’s your point?
Benett Kessler
“we should be thanking her for saving our A..” Please describe exactly how she’s “…saving our A….”. Because I don’t see how the current mediated settlement is saving us from anything. At 2 million dollars a year plus the possibility of not being able to make those payments and the… Read more »
@ Ken.
It almost sounds like you agree with me that….
The govt. Has gone wild
Time to get rid of the Beast
GGW
Well, there’s government and then there’s government. I do agree that the “Tax’em to save our butt’s” crowd has played that to it’s limit.
It’s not all or nothing though. And I don’t feel personally offended that a person has thought ahead to his/her retirement and has made good choices.
Well Ken, For one, we’re not paying the $43 million so there’s a $14million dollar savings on the principle! Second, a BK would have cost us millions more just to hit the wall again and perhaps spend millions more on attorney’s. As far as selling assets, I’m not opposed to… Read more »
20 years times 2 million dollars a year is 40 million. Without considering future penalties for payments missed or loss of public services. Your hypothetical scenarios not withstanding. That’s what you call “Saving our A..”? You must have a prescription for something good to feel positive about that. Now please… Read more »
Yeah I hear ya on the airport issue, I don’t believe the airport should be run by the county or the town, or be be subsidized either, that is how I see it, others don’t and that is cool. On the other hand, private ownership while it is my choice,… Read more »
“Saving our A..” Don’t delude yourself. Humungous salary for part-time work, doesn’t even live in this community. Free rent when she’s in town. Travel expenses paid for. Sounds like a “nice work if you can get it” deal to me. I don’t think the President of the United States has… Read more »
tax tax tax
this is all they know..
pensions for everyone
Regarding the negative comments on MMM and Dave, Most of the comments are understandable in the eyes of “the regular Joe or Jane” here but truthfully, we should be thanking those that hired MMM as well as MMM! Her job was to come in and dissect every inch of our… Read more »
so if she is doing such a great job…why does mammoth need two town managers?
what a waste
govt gone wild
Types of Corruption Found in Local Government There are several types of political corruption that occur in local government. Some are more common than others, and some are more prevalent to local governments than to larger segments of government. Local governments may be more susceptible to corruption because interactions between… Read more »
101: Why don’t you write a letter to the editor?
This is a small town, JeanGenie.
A very small town.
With lots of nastiness that goes along with any small town.
It won’t be long before that nastiness matches Bridgeport.
This post is too long. Please keep them brief.
Thanks,
Benett
Not only is it long but it is un-attributed plagiarism.
At least he should have included this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_local_government#Types_of_Corruption_Found_in_Local_Government
It would be nice if certain controversial topics could be addressed in a a mere sentence or two. Especially in these divisive times. The reality of political corruption has become so widespread that most people think they can get the full picture by a couple of (mostly contradictory) posts. Or… Read more »
Hey Small, What are you talking about? Are you saying my comment was nasty? I couldn’t read that post because it was too long, so I suggested 101 put it in the editorial section. Bishop can be a nasty little town, but there are plenty of good people also, Bridgeport… Read more »
Good points .. I think people know more about what is right and what is wrong, than what meets the eye. The blind eye can not see what it refuses to see. And power sometimes is difficult to overcome. But giants can be chopped and toppled. Just have to uncover… Read more »
I think your thinking is a bit short sided! She’s been dealing with business and challenges that seem to require another head so to speak. This isn’t every day business so the need is there! Not to mention, as I said earlier, this is a special talent for a specific… Read more »
As an outsider in this community, MMM put a halt to John Eastman’s personal ploy by disallowing Eastman to place his future son-in-law in a cushy position at the airport.
Maybe she should be encouraged to dig deeper and deeper to uncover more of this type of corruption.
On the other hand, maybe our Town Manager #2 has uncovered massive corruption in this town already. If so, this might explain why MMM gets a huge salary, free housing, free transportation from her home down South, perks, more perks …
Show me a small town with only one money-generating business (skiing) – and I’ll show you a gazillion ways corruption manifests itself. Don’t think for a moment that our elected officials (attorneys, developers, real estate rental agents, etc.) readily use the statement “I recuse myself for the following conflict of… Read more »
Ive got an idea. The “Managers” don’t know how to manage without surveys. No one wants to loose any of their “pet” projects, so… Tax every mixed drink and beer served in Mammoth one dollar. The entire bill would be paid in less than a year. Because… the council and… Read more »
@ Put up A dollar a shot or pint for the town is an insanely simple solution to the $ problem. Most of the money spent on the Cops in the evenings is over alcohol related indents. Most of the problems in residential neighborhoods with adjacent dwellings is over partying.… Read more »
Vote with your money, that is all these town leaders are interested in. VOTE NO ON ANY NEW TAXES ! Cut tourism and airport funding to pay the MLLA settlement. Business interest can figure out how to get their air customers without the voters tax dollars. Cut town management salaries… Read more »
who cares how someone wore their hair. This manager is getting the wrong attention. It is comical actually, whats going on. These people are taking huge money from the town with their crazy pay, cutting your law enforcement and telling the town people how their future will be. LOL. Mammoth… Read more »
Dear concerned,
Personal details of public officials sometimes reveal something of importance. Even hair styles. Flip responses can miss the mark. Calm observation can help with understanding.
Benett Kessler
Grow a backbone and stand up to the town managers. Take $125,000 each and that is 1/4 of a million dollars. quit with the crazy talk and start cutting salaries. It doesnt matter if they work long hours, we all do.
Mr Mayor, the two road workers you laid off worked all hours of the night too, but for a lot less money.
And at the end of the day, you can see the work they did
Federal taxes are going up for everyone come January 1. State tax hikes look like they are winning in the polls as well, and those are retroactive to last January. So Coulter’s solution – raise local Mammoth taxes in addition – is a retrograde 30s style statist dream come true.… Read more »
Well said.
Oh so since we can’t make it to the meetings to foam at the mouth in front of all to see we must not be serious eh? Town council you guys are so ridiculous. And “Mayor” Lehman you’re such a schmoozer. Why don’t you publicize how the two town managers… Read more »
We elect the council. What this means is those councilmen can do what they please with our money, behind closed doors or in the open field. Everything is stacked in the councilmen’s favor. They can make side deals. They can push through developments that make the councilmen rich.They can bribe,… Read more »
If you made it to the meetings then you would have heard how the town managers are spending their time, and if you attended then you could have spoken up in person so you could be heard. I did. Plenty of others did.