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Fiscal Responsibility and Our Tax Money
Times are hard for all of us, with rising energy prices and the economy in general. We are all forced to watch our money and budget. We expect our city leaders who are accountable to us, the taxpayers, to also budget and be frugal with the tax money entrusted to them.
Currently, the city of Rocklin pays a Public Relations firm to help Rocklin’s City Council members write speeches and provide advice to the tune of $250.00 an hour. Rocklin paid out over $8,200 of our tax money to the same Public Relations firm for a one day event in November of 2007 to make the announcement that Rocklin was the first Climate Smart City in the state. Our tax money was also used to have this PR firm monitor both the Placer Herald and the Sacramento Bee during the Measure H campaign to the tune of $155.00 an hour.
My question is if the city council cannot write their own speeches, why can’t qualified city staff who are already on the payroll help write these PR speeches? Why can’t city staff who are already on the payroll organize a one day event, without paying an outside PR firm $8200. And I am sure the city of Rocklin can find paid city staff to monitor what is printed in the Placer Herald and the Sacramento Bee without being charged $155.00 an hour.
These are tough times and it is imperitive that the people’s hard earned taxes are used wisely. As a taxpayer I would say the city of Rocklin needs to tighten its belt and cut the frills of hiring a PR firm to do something that city staff could do.
Note: This information was received by invoking a public records request to the city of Rocklin. Below are some of the official documents received from the city:
$8,200 Paid to Public Relations Firm by City of Rocklin for One Day Event
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