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Retired parks director warns budget cuts have reduced services, urges caution on tax promises
Summary
A retired parks director said recent budget decisions have reduced essential services across parks, police and fire, citing closed pools and fewer lifeguards; he urged the council to avoid further tax cuts that would reduce services and noted concern about officer retention.
Jose Aldi, a retired parks employee who said he worked 30 years in parks and recreation, told the council that budget reductions have hampered city services. He said staff shortages have forced the city to operate only one public pool and to privatize some facilities because lifeguards are not available. Aldi argued that repeated calls to lower taxes without addressing staffing needs would degrade essential services including parks maintenance, police and fire staffing and leadership retention.
Aldi urged council leadership to consider the long-term effects of cuts and to prioritize employee recruitment and retention, saying senior sergeants and long-tenured staff provide critical institutional knowledge. Council leadership acknowledged the comments and said the deferred second reading on the rebate would allow time for further public input and deliberation.
