Gold plated parks in Goleta

Some people claim that government is inefficient. What follows is just one example of that inefficiency.

A recent story in the Santa Barbara New Press, "Goleta turns green for parks upkeep (5/8/05)" amplifies government inefficiency: "Santa Barbara County, which has handled park maintenance duties under terms of a $551,735 annual contract with Goleta since the city formed in 2002, will cease providing services on June 30." "At the county, parks officials say they are working with Goleta on a smooth transition. They (the county) expect to lose four positions as a result of the switch."

Now let's say just for the sake of argument that the parks employees are paid a "living wage" of $12 an hour, plus benefits for their work and that they work full-time. The extended cost would be around $20 or so - that's about $166,400 a year for wages.

What did Goleta get for the other $385,335? I certainly hope that the City of Goleta requires an accounting of expenditures from the County to justify these costs.