No Services Roadmap: Sparks Agenda

With the City of Sparks budget deficit, it seems “the powers that be” are hoping to avert layoffs due to lack of funds. The Sparks City Council on Monday will vote on Agenda Item 9.2 to establish a Voluntary Employee Separation Program not to exceed $2,200,000 from the general fund and $1,000,000 from all other funds, thus proving the City of Sparks is “Wishin’ and Hopin” that they have a whole bunch of interested employees saying goodbye.

But what about all that institutional knowledge that will be exciting the front door? Will Sparks become Washoe County Government who’s crack team can’t get a senior a hot meal?

A Voluntary Employee Separation Program screams of the economic repercussions that have devasted Sparks since Mayor Ed Lawson took over the helm when Mayor Ron Smith passed away.

Under Lawson’s leadership little old Sparks has joined a long list of cities in financial crisis. Sparks, like communities across America, faced the daunting task of rebuilding their economy, three years past COVID, and restructuring how their government operates. Has Lawson stepped up, with these “voluntary” layoffs it sure doesn’t’ seem like it.

Lawson has to bridge a $14-18 million budget in Sparks.

Sparks City Council Agenda 9.2 - January 27, 2025.

But city officials know the cost of the program is difficult to estimate because it is unknown how many of the eligible staff will avail themselves to this program, but the City Manager has provided dollar amounts.

Does Sparks have a plan for their many programs and services as long-term employees walk away retirement check in hand, and, if few eligible workers reject the VESP offer, years of service knowledge walk out the door to be replaced by what?

Has there been a thoughtful, collaborative process?  Is Sparks getting ahead of the hard decisions, the greater the long-term threat posed to essential services and the staff who provide them without these VESP layoffs.

Lawson is supporting Mayor Hillary Schieve and Washoe County Commissioner Alexis Hill with support of State Senator Skip Daly’s Bill Draft Request for Fire Regionalization, (yes, we’re all waiting to see it) something that needs to happen for both the City of Reno and City of Sparks facing huge budget issues.

Is Lawson the right choice to lead the regionalization charge for the City of Sparks? Lawson hired a fire chief, fired a fire chief, and then had to pay the fire chief when he sued Sparks for wrongful termination. Sparks citizens got to watch the mess play out on YouTube and in the national press.

With Ward 5 Councilmember Joe Rodriguez having a background in fire and is employed by the State of Nevada we would urge Sparks to remove Lawson from any role. Also, with Rodriguez we’d all get the scoop on what “tax” Daly, Schieve, Hill, and Lawson want to impose on the residents of Washoe County. Who knows, it might take a tax, but who’s checked it out? You know, where’s the study?