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The City of Walnut Creek
is facing a severe city budget deficit due to declining city
revenues. Among the many current budget cut proposals is the
elimination of City funding for our WCM coaches. Coach Kerry has
been a full time City employee with benefits for 29 years, and our
assistant coaches have been part time City employees for many
years. Currently our coaches are paid by both the City and
WCM.
Last week, members of
the Board met with the City’s Director of Arts, Recreation
& Community Services to gather information about their current
recommendations for budget cuts, particularly those that will
affect our Team, and explore the degree to which they will continue
to support Walnut Creek Masters. We were assured that Walnut
Creek does not want to lose the Walnut Creek Masters swim
program.
We will be speaking on
behalf of the Team to oppose the proposed coaching budget cut at
the upcoming Walnut Creek City Council Meeting, scheduled for
Tuesday evening, May 4, beginning at 7 PM. The WCM board is
committed to maintaining our program’s excellence and our
coaching staff, despite this unexpected proposed change. If
the proposed elimination of City funding for our coaches is
approved, we will investigate new funding models for our coaches
and members that will keep our coaches with the Team and keep our
member costs affordable.
The May 4 meeting is
open to the public. If you would like to offer comments, we
encourage you do so in writing or via e-mail to City Council
members (mayor@walnut-creek.org).
We will keep you advised
as this situation develops. In the meantime, please feel free to
approach any one of the Board members with your questions or
concerns.
Mike Piazza and Mary
Williams
Team
Captains
Board
Members:
Amy
Beisheim
Hector
Chao
Jack
Daniel
Kara
Gray
Gene
Hart
BJ
Henry
John
King
Chris
Stewart
Lisa
Ward
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