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Finance Director resigns
Art Wuerth, the finance director of the City of Ocean Shores since April 1, 2009, resigned on Wednesday.
Early Thursday afternoon, Wuerth said he will work a few days next week, then shortly after return to Tumwater; rather than crunching numbers here, he’ll be raising dahlias there.
Wuerth, 59, previously worked for the state of Washington for 30 years. He “came out of retirement” last year to take the Ocean Shores job, and said he accepted a challenge from then-Mayor Dean Bunkers:
“I promised Mayor Bunkers I would help get the city back in fiscal stability.”
Proudly noting “I was Mayor Bunkers only hire,” Wuerth added “I was really never long term. I was interim.”
Wuerth said he pictured himself as Bunkers’ “loyal lieutenant,” and felt they were always on the same page.
Bunkers abruptly resigned earlier this year. “He left prematurely,” Wuerth said, “and I’m leaving prematurely, now.”
Wuerth said his work on the current Ocean Shores budget was effective. “I made responsible revenue estimates. The city will meet the revenues.”
Wuerth was not nearly as close with Mayor Garland French, and both described the finance director’s departure as “mutually agreeable.”
To illustrate their different viewpoints, the strikingly different take on each of the current Ocean Shores economic situation:
Wuerth: “The city hasn’t adopted a philosophy of living within its means yet.”
French: “I think we’re doing a good job of managing our budgets.”
French added that 2010 revenues look extremely promising. “The indicators are all positive, sales tax is up from last year . . . building permits are up.”
I think we’re doing a good job of managing our budgets.
As for Wuerth’s replacement, French said “it’s being aggressively worked on.”
In the short term, the mayor added “we have people in place” to take over Wuerth’s daily duties.
oh, by the way, i took my dogs to the beach this am and saw where some knuklehead had driven thru the dune grass about 2o feet up the dune. that sure ain’t treading lightly.
well stated,T.Tib.
Wise people look at three things before coming and especially retiring in Ocean Shores
The city government hasn’t gotten better in 50 years always living beyond its means and never finding permanent solutions to its many, many problems.
The weather.
Lots of summer tourists doing vehicle spin outs on the sandy beaches but spending little money and leaving plenty of trash.
If these things make you happy you will love Ocean Shores.
The loss of a competent finance director and a previous competent mayor will make you even more happy with the situation here.
yo Birder…………..well thought out. i sure wish i’d have done a financial check on os before i got here.
I don’t live in OS yet, still contemplating what my retirement years will be like. One factor is how well run is the government and if the rudimentary budget items that CAC outlined aren’t already in place, well, all I can say is wow. I think I’ll just have to go into a wait and see if this burg ever grows up and budget like real folks!
Now it is time to look for someone that really knows the new software and can implement it with detail that allows us to see where all the money is going. We need to be able to expand out the detail and also roll up the totals to clearly show how well department heads are managing. Also we need to break out the details under all the nondescript titles we currently have. If it is mowing, then show it. If it is trash, show it. If it is gas for vehicles, show where it is going. If it is revenue from fines, show where those fines originated. If it is permits, then show new construction or upgrades. Then the council becomes aware of what is happening. We need to get a better finger on the pulse of the city.
We need to see if we are generating enough revenue to cover particular services. We also need someone that can identify revenue opportunities that are being missed. Are we using the meter reader efficiently to identify work done without a permit. That is revenue lost to the city both at the time of permiting and future tax revenue.
Thank you Mr. Wuerth, and thank you CAC….exactly my thoughts when I read Mayor French’ statement,
“The indicators are all positive, sales tax is up from last year . . . building permits are up.”
That sent chills down my spine, have we learned nothing at all? It sounds like a certain distant relative of mine that uses bankruptcy, every 7 – 10 years as a way of managing her finances. That is EXACTLY the attitude that got the country, indeed the world in the position we find ourselves in now, and we will not get out of this position until we learn to change our way of thinking! Mayor French, please, please….rethink your attitude towards city finances! Robbing Peter to pay Paul and counting your taxes before they are earned is a young, irresponsible mans way of handling things. I will accept my discipline if you choose to edit me Tom, I had to say this…I feel it very strongly.
Thanks Art. I think you have clearly stated the reality here when you stated: “The city hasn’t adopted a philosophy of living within its means yet.”
It appears that you and many of the citizens see this reality. When will Council, Mayor and Staff realize this. We need to go back to 2001 and work forward as if we never had the Utility Fund money and see what the budget should have been. That means that revenue from Property Taxes increased 1% plus construction per year. We also need to look at our revenue generation from all departments and see if they are paying for themselves. If you use it, you pay for it.
Take off the rose colored glasses. Revenue may be up, but look at what the state announced today!! Look at the Stock Market!! Look at the jobs situation!! How many hotel/motel and tourism employees will have jobs come Labor Day?