The Walnut Creek Masters (WCM) adult swimming program was shocked to learn preliminary recommendations coming out of the Walnut Creek City Manager’s office would cut funding for the position of adult swim coach and program director, ably filled for the past 30 years by Kerry O’Brien.
O’Brien’s work is recognized nationally while the WCM program, comprising over 400 active adults, with numerous revenue generating sanctioned meets, is a model program copied widely across the U.S..
WCM Members, led by Team Captains, Mike Piazza and Mary Williams, and its board are busily pulling financial documents together to make sure Walnut Creek City Council knows the program—which generates $150,000 just in daily swim fees to the city—is at worst revenue neutral. They plan to hand deliver documentation to the WC City Manager’s office (Asst City Mgr Lorrie Tinflow), each Council Member.
WCM members are encouraged to be present at at each of the upcoming City Council meetings scheduled for May 18, May 25, June 1, June 8, and June 15, and to send letters to the Mayor Of Walnut Creek
US Masters Walnut Creek Letter 5-5-2010
Bill Gram-Reefer is Editor & Publisher of Halfway To Concord, founded in 2004. Halfway To Concord is the leading online source for community-driven political news, events, and opinion for Contra Costa County and the San Francisco East Bay.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Absolutely BGR – Review is the key. This is also why across-the-board reductions are bad. Some programs should be eliminated, others should perhaps be fully funded. A recession is a really good time to take a look on what should be offered, to what extent, and how they should be paid for.
@Jason — If a program can document that it makes money for the city or at the worst offers break even in addition to the program benefits, then the political bean counters should look elsewhere to balance a budget. Let’s cut budgets of loser programs not winners like WCM.
Every level of government should review programs and do a cost/benefit analysis. This is essential in a declining revenue situation.
I applaud this group for working up a financial presentation not simply asking for their program to be funded. I also applaud Walnut Creek for reviewing the services they offer.
I know… Instead of cutting the budget lets just keep spending more… Sheesh.