A website to inform Murrieta residents why ballot measures C,D and E are bad for our city.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Measure E - [ cheap is not always cheap ]

     The proponents of Measure E say Murrieta’s City Manager pay is in the top 18% of all the State. This is true.


     It is also true Murrieta is the 2nd safest City in the nation, the #1 city projected by Forbes best positioned to come out the recession on the up side, and a city with the best schools in the state. Murrieta didn’t get these rankings by chance, and certainly not because they hired mediocre staff. Murrieta is where it is today because only the best available city staff were hired.

     Measure E affects only the City of Murrieta, and no other city.  If it passes, the current salary of the City Manager will be cut by almost 30%, but not so for other cities. 

     Murrieta residents have said over and over again they want better shopping opportunities, quality health care, better employment opportunities, large parks, and to feel safe in their City.

     The City Manager’s function is to lead the City into procuring all of the above, and more.  The position DEMANDS experience and skill in finance, economic development, labor negotiations and more.

     The City Manager is at the top of the chain, even over the police and fire department chiefs.  If the City Manager’s pay is cut the 30%, so too is the pay of the direct reports, including the fire and police chiefs.  With these multiple staff positions affected by the cuts imposed by Measure E, the staffers will leave Murrieta for other cities paying market rates, leaving Murrieta no choice but to hire the mediocre and less qualified applicants.    

     The message compensation experts have for small business owners looking to pluck top talent at bargain rates from today's crowded job market is "you get what you pay for and that it makes good business sense to offer-market rates no matter what the job market looks like today". With Measure E affecting only Murrieta, the salary cuts will take Murrieta out of the current market.

     Settle for cheap now and you settle for cheap tomorrow in the quality of life and other reasons why you selected Murrieta as your home.

     If you appreciate Murrieta’s rankings, if you want quality over quantity, and if you want to continue to feel safe in your City, then the only choice on November 2nd is to

vote NO on Measure E,
then vote NO on Measures C and D

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