Turlock Chamber of Commerce News Newswire

Assemblyman Bill Berryhill

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Regulating Ourselves into Bankruptcy

Assemblyman Bill Berryhill

A study quietly released last week by the governor highlighted the absolute abuse financially speaking this state is taking from over-regulation. The study – which resulted from the passage of Assembly Bill 2330 written by Democrat Juan Arambula in 2006 – was completed and returned to the Legislature showing once and for all the cost of state regulations on small business in California. It was written by two Sacramento State professors who worked independently of the state.

This study wipes out any doubt that this over-regulation is sending business out of state. We now have the smoking gun.

Nearly a third of the state’s entire $1.6 trillion economy is consumed by regulation either directly or indirectly, it said. Direct costs of the regulation were $176 billion, causing job losses of nearly 4 million. If averaged over each small business in California with 20 or fewer employees, the impact is over $38,000 per household or over $13,000 per resident.

California businesses are a prisoner of this state’s own overregulation, but there are logical and practical solutions.

We can place all revenues from fees and fines that mini-governments like the California Air Resources Board and the Department of Water Resources levy into the state general fund. This makes these boards and commissions accountable to the legislature.

Each regulation could have a sun-set or time frame that it is enacted before it expires. This would allow the legislature to review the costs and impacts of these regulations and decide whether to renew them or let them die.

Legislation is needed to require reports on each new regulation much like the California Environmental Quality Act requires for each building project. We need to know the impacts these regulations and bills have before they are enacted.

A comprehensive review of state regulations now needs to take place to decide what needs to stay and what needs to go. Small businesses in California need to have a California address, not an out of state one.

Finally, any new regulations need to be based on sound science not Hollywood science.

The full study is available online at http://sba.ca.gov/Cost%20of%20Regulation%20Study%20-%20Final.pdf

CSU Stanislaus President Ham Shirvani

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

CSU Stanislaus must re-invent itself to serve students in economic downturn

Ham Shirvani, President of California State University, Stanislaus

As California and the nation struggle with the severe impact of the worldwide economic downturn, California State University, Stanislaus is waging its own battle to cope with its share of a massive $564 million state budget cut to the CSU system.

The cuts we faced at CSU Stanislaus totaled $13.5 million for the current 2009-10 academic year, resulting in reduced enrollment, a 5% cut of classes, lay off of part-time faculty and lecturers, a 30% student fee increase, elimination of some management and staff positions, and unpaid furlough days for the remaining faculty, staff, and management.

Despite these difficult actions, CSU Stanislaus remains committed to providing top-quality education for its students. We must be willing to re-invent how we deliver education in order to maintain academic quality and accessibility.

Today, we are tightening our belts. But I am committed to leading CSU Stanislaus toward a bright future, where we apply our brightest, boldest, and most innovative thinking to discover ways to offer quality education at even greater efficiencies.

For the latest news about the CSU Stanislaus budget, a “Budget Central” link is on the University Web site at http://www.csustan.edu/Budget/.

County Supervisor Vito Chiesa

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Collaboration: Effective Public-Private Partnerships

County Supervisor Vito Chiesa

Public-private sector collaborations just might be the wave of the future. Governments have a demanding task when it comes to protecting public interest while servicing the diverse needs of their constituency. Unfortunately, citizen needs continue to increase while budgets continue to be tightened. The challenge for elected officials becomes how to deliver existing government services at lower costs and with more expediency. Strategic solutions must be identified.

Public-private collaborations may be one such solution. These partnerships can ultimately provide a more cost effective and efficient delivery of government service. An example can be seen here in Stanislaus County. Just this week, the County aligned with a private non-profit to provide low-cost spay and neuter services at the new animal shelter. This is a service that the County could not have provided had it not been for this collaborative effort. The County will provide a location; the private group will provide the expertise and together will fill a need within the community. When working together, great things can be accomplished.

Turlock Unified School District

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Turlock Unified School District

Great things are happening in the Turlock Unified School District. Music is being heard throughout the halls at all grade levels, exemplifying yet another reason that Turlock stands out in excellence among California schools. Turlock provides a comprehensive music curriculum from grades 1 – 12. This support allows our students to receive a truly well-rounded education. It sends a clear message that education in the Turlock School District is an investment in students’ entire well-being.

Statistics support the correlation between participation in music and increased language/literacy abilities, higher test scores, and reduced high school dropout rates. Just as instruction in math and reading begin in elementary school, the commitment to allow children to begin to read and perform music beginning in first grade is paving the way for outstanding ensembles at the high school level. Turlock Schools are very proud to offer all students classroom music from 1st through 4th grades, and ensemble opportunities from 5th grade through high school. It is one of the only districts in California to offer all facets of performing ensembles: Band, Chorus, and Orchestra, in all of its schools.

This commitment to the performing arts has really begun to pay off in the outstanding performing ensembles in our high schools. Numbers are swelling in all of the groups, and promise only to increase with more students coming up through elementary and junior high school levels. “This is only good news for our high school programs,” says Dan Ijams, Coordinator of Music for Turlock Schools.

Music programs throughout the district have received national and international attention, with many students performing in state and national competitions, honor ensembles, and internationally through tours that have brought the sounds of Turlock to several countries throughout the world.

It is with great honor and appreciation that we are able to continue providing a comprehensive, balanced and sequential music program to Turlock Unified School District students taught by highly qualified music educators.

Rep. George Radanovich

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Is Washington D.C. Doomed to Repeat Sacramento’s Mistakes?

Rep. George Radanovich

Over the years, Californian’s have gained a unique perspective on the consequences of bloated government, burdensome regulations and sky-high taxes. While there are some who believe that continuing these same methods of dysfunctional government and irresponsible fiscal policies is the answer to California’s problems, I am reminded of an old saying: “When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.”

Our state is now faced with near insurmountable deficits as we look to the federal government for more bailout money. Entrepreneurs and businesses are leaving the state in droves as we increase taxes that make it near impossible to run a successful business. Worse, draconian environmental regulations are dramatically restricting water flows from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that have cost the Valley 40,000 jobs and almost $2 billion of income.

Despite the hole that California finds itself in, our federal government is repeating California’s mistakes with the same, economically crippling results. The federal budget for fiscal year 2010 is $3.5 trillion, which will increase our national debt to $11.5 trillion by 2014. President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus bill has not saved or created the jobs that it promised—in fact we have lost 3 million jobs since the beginning of the year. On top of that, Congress is on the verge of passing an $800 billion national energy tax and a $1.2 trillion government takeover of the healthcare industry that will place extraordinary mandates on small businesses and the middle class.

Congress needs to stop digging and start filling in the fiscal hole that we are in—big government, higher taxes, and excessive debt didn’t work for California and it’s the wrong way for Washington to address our nation’s economic recovery.

Turlock City Mayor

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Message from the Mayor…

The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Turlock is in the process of adopting the 2010-2014 Five Year Implementation and Housing Production Plan. This plan is critical for the economic development of our city. Proposed projects include the following from the 2009-10 Fiscal Year adopted budget:

Ø Construction of Public Safety Facility (Majority likely to be funded from new bond proceeds)

Ø Infrastructure Improvements in the Westside Industrial Area

Ø Columbia Pool and Park Improvements

Ø Columbia Park Water Feature

Ø Carnegie Rebuild

Ø Downtown Property Acquisition and Parking

Ø Debely Field Improvements

Additional Proposed Projects:

Ø Downtown Property Acquisition

Ø Gateway Improvements – Blight Removal

Ø Renovations to War Memorial Building

Ø Renovations to Existing Fire Station #2

Ø Renovations to Police/Fire Training Facility

Ø Improvements to Pedretti Park

Ø Improvements to Regional Sports Complex

Ø Lighting and Sidewalk Improvements in the area Wakefield School

Ø Improvements to Fulkerth Interchange

Ø Youth Center

Ø Bike & Skate Park

Ø Regional Recreation Center

Ø Business Stimulus Programs

Ø Intersection Improvements Golf Rd / Golden State Blvd

Once adopted, this plan will provide a roadmap as the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Turlock seeks to fulfill its mission which is to improve the blighted areas of Turlock , revitalize neighborhoods, promote economic development and the creation of jobs, provide affordable housing and encourage citizen participation.