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By Mayor Sam Hosler, Town of Kearny
Businesses, organizations, and families need a financial plan. Whether simple or elaborate, such plans are tools for meeting our goals, anticipating problems, and developing our resources as we meet our needs.
The Town of Kearny held a work session for the Town Council and all the department heads last week with Pat Walker, the town’s financial consultant. The purpose was to look at a list of town needs developed by each department, find the cost of those needs, and begin gathering the information necessary for the Town Council to come up with a strategic financial plan to meet those needs over the next five years.
It soon became evident that this will be a difficult task. Right now, Kearny simply does not have the resources to meet those needs. The population is not growing and our tax base is declining. Moreover, the town’s contingency fund (the “rainy day” fund) has been heavily used in the past few years, and the town’s old infrastructure leaves us vulnerable to expensive emergency repairs.
Mayor Sam Hosler, Town of Kearny
Everyone at the gathering agreed on the extent of the needs. It was also agreed that our plan will involve developing financial resources and/or eliminating services. That sounds pretty obvious, I know, but towns (especially small ones like ours) are intended to protect and serve the citizens. Towns must meet the standards of a business (except for making a profit) but are also meant to reflect the needs and values of our public welfare.
Another work session will take place in December, and a stronger outline for a plan is expected to emerge.
On another subject, I have been asked several times when the town will have its election. I’m not surprised with the question, for we used to have a separate time for electing local offices. The State of Arizona changed all that. Town positions are now at the same time (and on the same ballot) as state and federal elections. In other words, Debbie and Sam are on the same ballot as Donald and Hillary… only way down at the bottom! The early ballots are now open, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Be sure to exercise your privilege.
Finally, take time this weekend to visit the Farmer’s Market sponsored by the Copper Basin Chamber of Commerce. It’s this Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. on the spacious lawn of the General Kearny Inn. I hope there will be many offerings, and lots of us to take advantage of them.
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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