Sedona AZ (November 9, 2015) – The Sedona Oak Creek Unified School District (SOCUSD) released the following information today:
Community members participating in a three month solution seeking process to address declining enrollment in the Sedona Oak Creek Unified School District (SOCUSD) developed a three point approach with a priority on researching a possible restructuring or reorganization to create a more cost effective and efficient curricular model to maintain quality education and achieve necessary cost savings.
SOCUSD Roundtable meeting was organized and facilitated by the school district
Results of the community involvement will be presented at the December 1 meeting of the SOCUSD Governing Board which will provide direction for a formal presentation, including cost analysis, in January 2016 for a potential new district model. If approved, changes would be implemented for the 2016-17 school year.
“The community input into this process has been significant in helping determine a direction to move forward and reflects a very broad base of interests on both sides of the issue,” SOCUSD Superintendent David Lykins said. “Restructuring achieves three key goals: allows us to keep high quality programming in place, run leaner on a fiscal level and get appropriate and equitable class sizes across our district.”
Nearly 80 people representing parents, teachers, administrators, community members and students attended the Community Roundtable at the Hilton Sedona Resort on Saturday (November 7) to “continue engaging the community in being part of the process to determine how best to address our current reality,” Lykins said.
Sedona Oak Creek Unified School District Roundtable November 7 meeting attendees social networked comments which included that their questions were not being acknowledged by the District panel facilitator, including queries about a recent 18,000 raise for its Superintendent, David Lykins.
In addition to a possible restructuring, feedback included developing a marketing plan to increase student enrollment and identifying ways to reduce administrative costs.
Lykins told the group that enrollment has been steadily dropping over the past 10 years from a high of 1,438 K-12 students in 2005-06 to current enrollment of 1,142. K-8 numbers have dropped from 929 in 2005-06 to 668 this year while 9-12 grades have fallen from 509 to 474.
Based on the current 40th-day weighted student counts, the district will lose $468,418 in budget dollars for the 2016-17 school year. Over the next four years, the impact to the total maintenance and operations budget will be more than $1.2 million.
“Restructuring the district will be emotional for many of us, our employees and the community, should that be the direction we take,” Lykins said. “But the community involvement in this process has really shown their understanding of the challenges we face as a district and is a credit to their forward thinking and willingness and need to be involved in addressing the problem.”
For more information about the Sedona Oak Creek Unified School District, visit www.sedona.k12.az.us or call 928-204-6800.
Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!
We’re really going to have to try to get marijuana legalized in Arizona – for the sake of the kids.
Did you know that Colorado has SO MUCH money for education that they are building new schools, teachers are getting raises, new computers will be available for ALL students, and by 2020, high school seniors will be given full college scholarships? We need that and we need that yesterday.
Schools need money? The government has a new (and very dangerous) way of helping to make ends meet. Have we learned nothing from Nazi Germany?
http://massprivatei.blogspot.com/2015/11/dhspolice-are-paying-kids-to-spy-on.html
“We know that we cannot do this work alone. That’s why we have expanded our collaboration with key stakeholders not only within the DPS family – including our own police officers, citizen patrollers, academic team, principals, staff, parents, students and our contracted security officers – but among outside partners and police agencies,” said Police Chief Stacy Brackens.
Thank you TeaParty/Arizona Liberty for your continuing Education Budget cutbacks.. Arizona ranks near the bottom for education and Teacher compensation.
Well done..
I wonder why enrollment is declining?
Could it be the City of Sedona is no longer a good place to live, for families and others? I moved here 24 years ago with my then 4 year old daughter.
I certainly would not move here to raise a child now. I would not move here to retire.
When a city is over run with too many tourists and traffic, no one wants to live there. When there is bumper to bumper traffic, tourists go somewhere else. The city council, chamber of commerce and tourist businesses are killing the goose that laid the golden egg.
Very short sighted. If you wanted to destroy a beautiful town. Well done.
@jess Lookin
You can leave now…
No one will care
Don’t let the door hit you in the ass
Why?
Maybe the parents don’t like the kids being turned into little soldiers of a police state, being taught spying on the other students for 50.00 or the fact that they no longer need to learn to write. The power of all the schools being taken away and given to a small regional committee who already know the outcome of the meeting as well as the pretend game of citizen engagement. We are in big trouble.
http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d13/tables/dt13_206.10.asp
Parents have many choices for educating. They are not held hostage by a school district. If they school doesn’t perform they go elsewhere. The whole issue of spying for money starting at school level is no different than the City of Sedona paying the regional chamber monies intended on the city limits. It sets the stage and mind set for corruption and special favors. By limiting people you limit your own growth. Sedona is shrinking because of this.
City council is to blind to see they are killing the golden goose. Now the citizens, kids, and businesses pay for their lack of integrity by endorsing bad behavior. The City, Chamber & lodging are stealing Sedona’s future. Look around NO city funds advertising for those OUTSIDE the city. Go yell at them. 14 million and counting…………. (just to the chamber!) When will you have enough?
It is the same issue.
I find it unconscionable that the Superintendent is giving an absurd raise in light of the district problems. Out of integrity Mr. Lykins should have refused it. He does not deserve it. If he earned the raise, I’d be the first to say he should get it, but he hasn’t and his present salary finds him living quite well without it.
Not so some of our children in Big Park.
It is beyond WRONG that a Kindergartner in Big Park goes to a classroom filled with First and Second graders of which one is a special needs child booted out of an east coast school and sent here to live with relatives. This child has extreme emotional belligerence issues that requires specialized schooling Big Park can’t and shouldn’t have to offer.
I believe in integrating special needs children or mainstreaming WHEN APPROPRIATE. But special needs by name implies SPECIAL NEEDS. Not a mainstreaming option is right for every child and the best education may be a one on one. It is about developing a successful child.
The Kindergartners in this class are traumatized and unable to emotionally or cognitively process this child’s outrageous and sometimes cruel behavior OR the behaviors of MUCH OLDER CHILDREN. As a result Kindergartners and First Graders and Second Graders are learning misbehavior and experiencing anxiety in this classroom with ONE teacher for the entire age group!!! WAKE UP SEDONA PARENTS AND COMMUNITY. These young children are experiencing PTSD in school. No Kindergartner should be in a classroom with children in first or second grade, as no first grader belongs in a second grade classroom. Developmental stages. Learn and apply what we know, Mr. Lykins. Then run with the money.
I agree with Karen. It is a shame to see these kids punished and deprived because of actions of other students and their needs and time being taken away from their learning.
Sedona and the region is full of those that feel they deserve more than the rest. The children and their parents are the one that pay. Driving us out. Unfortunately the Chamber is entitled to millions of taxpayers money without those that worked hard to collect those taxes any benefit.
Make a change take the money back and put it to good use EDUCATION. Sedona only future is with the children and families.
What great comments here. As long as you all stay silent then it will be the same old same old. Since the politics are now hurting your own will you stand up?
One common cause, united. The people make the community. Unite put your personal issues aside. Right is might.
Is Sedona hopeless? Just for the old? Your right @Jan take back your money, take back your city, take back your community. One common cause. Unite in fairness.
@West Sedona Resident
As unofficial spokesperson for the Council and Chamber, you represent the face of the problem which causes no one to want to move to Sedona and start a business. Young and successful entrepreneurs tend to have children. You, then, are the reason enrollment is in sharp decline since your tendencies lean towards an anti-business and pro-socialist welfare state. You will be found out and you will be leaving Sedona, one way or another, whether you like it or not. And, don’t let the door hit you in your communist ass on the way out!
@Karen maybe you should think about how you treat the citizens and businesses in the city limits. You have promoted giving millions to charity like the chamber limiting the citizens. Now that the table is turned why shouldn’t your kids pay for the handicapped kid? They should learn patience and accept they don’t matter. Society has to pay for retarded people. Just like the citizens and businesses the work or live in the city limits. Sad that you don’t see that by hurting them you hurt yourself as now they have no money to contribute to a better system. But you do. There is private education systems here. You make enough to afford.
Big Park isn’t in Sedona city limits. We voted wisely to NOT be in the city limits. The school district doesn’t get funded by the City. The city got involved with the performing arts center at the high school and it fails to be promoted except as a Sedona Film Festival venue. All this drivel about Yavapai College campus to get free classes for a few old people who can afford to pay is typical of the city council redundancy. Yavapai College should work with SRRHS for classroom space! Most AZ schools and local colleges have facilities sharing agreements.
@J Rick
Yea OK Tea Party/ AZ Liberty Ricky..
Proven once again, your a blow hard.
Hey lets blame the school decline on the Sierra Club instead of looking at the funding cuts to education caused by Your Tea Party.
Appreciate the threats……you don’t scare me little man
But Karen, don’t you get it? The “city” of Sedona (incorporated portion, that is) has now delegated for Yavapai College to work with the “incorporated city” financed regional Chamber of Commerce to solve the problems. Doesn’t that “chamber” already wear enough hats since admittedly at the most recent City Council meeting they are in contact with City Hall on a daily basis? Which is the dog and which is the tail in this scenario?
And speaking of the distinction of Fire and School “Districts” versus “incorporated City of Sedona” you are correct although it appears most recent City Council Members have no concept of designated “City Limits” as being their legitimate and authorized area to govern. No Siree – their extent of control as guided by the arrogant Chamber of Commerce continues to overstep their jurisdiction because, like their egos, their lofty positions indicate the sky’s the limit.
But, of course, since the CEO of the “Chamber” is unable to accurately ascertain the physical location of their own members, why should we expect less? And it makes one wonder if even the City Staff is so inept or overwhelmed that they, too, are unable to figure out how many legitimate, tax paying businesses, including lodging facilities, are located within Sedona City Limits.
Maybe a good starting place for Yavapai College would be to offer remedial courses in incorporated municipality responsibilities, including limitations, and a geographical map and through review of legitimate jurisdictions within the entire Verde Valley and beyond.
And yes, J. Rick, all indications support that you you are absolutely correct in your assessment of West Sedona Resident.
It seems to have become common practice to ignore the fact that incorporated Sedona encompasses two counties which means those of us in Coconino County pay our property taxes for services in that jurisdiction, which includes a sizable amount of rebate to the city for flood control.
Now wouldn’t it be interesting to know just exactly how those flood control funds are being spent since the “threat” of imposing Special Improvement Districts is constantly held over our heads because the concept of those high and mighty folks in charge of “city government” accuse of us not paying our fair share. My Coconino County Property Taxes certainly reflect differently. Maybe the problem is how my taxes are being spent? (for such things as a city financed Play House for the Red Rock Theater Group?) More food for thought! Yes indeed, everyday in Sedona is reason for feasting on food for thought but not always in the manner of Thanksgiving blessings.
Be grateful, Karen, that you in the VOC were smart enough to reject incorporation but still merit many benefits from City of Sedona since they don’t know the difference between who they should or should not be serving. Confirm that with Enchantment and the Hilton or any other Chamber of Commerce members outside City Limits.
Eddie S. Maddock
West Sedona resident says:
Hey, let’s blame the school decline on the Sierra Club instead of looking at the funding cuts to education caused by Your Tea Party.
I agree.
Yes, it is that simple, people on this blog do not want to pay any taxes,
Arizona is 48 or 49 in school funding nation wide.
Easy to fix, just up the state sales tax 1cent and property tax a little, state income tax can go up also.
Yes” Tax and Spend” to keep our teachers and improve our schools…. Just because people retire doesn’t they should stop paying for services or pay less.
By the way the average age of Sedona residents is over 59…. hum is that why enrollment is falling? Average home over $300,000
Sedona is a tourist town and always will be.
West Sedona resident, this group sees all Sedona problems stemming from the chamber…. and visitors. Lets all remember they pay the bulk of all taxes.
. ss
@steve segner
No Steve, according to city documents, the citizens of Sedona pay most of the taxes, not the tourists. We also have one of the highest sales taxes in the country.
Of course, as you and your tourist business get the benefit of the money the city gives to the Chamber, more taxes would be fine with you.
When our homeowners association asked the city when they would pave our deteriorating roads, first the city tried to deny they had agreed to maintain them. Then they said they would, someday. Maybe after they have turned back to dirt?
But there are millions available for the Chamber of Commerce and art. In most cities the Chamber of commerce is self supporting. Not in tourist town Sedona.
Chalk up one more lie from Steve Segner. That visitors pay the bulk of the taxes here is B.S. The former Budget Oversight Commission did a study a few years ago and found by looking at more than sales and bed tax revenue, Sedonans pay at least 50% of the taxes.
Unfortunately, the City of Sedona is unrealistic about the impacts of tourism on our economy, as well as how much the quality of life is deteriorating for all. Loading more tourists into our small, crowded town is not solving the City’s problems. Tourists use our parks, roads, sewers, trails, emergency fire personnel, police, AND jam our streets. They do not pay their fair share. Funding should come from tourists to pay for the public services they utilize. The Chamber’s cozy relationship with City government is costing far more than the $1.5 Million in pork it got this fiscal year.
With regard to school funding, the Sedona area electorate, unlike some other places in Arizona, has voted for all School District Bond Overrides. That the average age of Sedona residents is increasing (due to the declining population) is attributable to the high cost of living and the excessive traffic in town.
We ALL pay taxes don’t let those who are using YOUR taxes for thier special interest groups let you otherwise. Your PAYING. @Steve Segner why don’t you give back the 14 million you the chamber and lodging have STOLEN from the taxpayers to PAY for your advertising. The lodging has taken it to far. You underpay the workers to pad your pockets. A city the size of 10,000 should NOT be paying for anyones advertising. Go back to selling dogfood. Your not welcome and not local. Your trying to tax so YOU can spend. The word is getting out.
GIVE it back and let the city gift it to the schools. JA ur r! Everyone knows ur r LLL.
Just because CC is old and stupid doesn’t mean we r. The lodging and tourist industry in Sedona (chamber) stifle and abuse by underpaying, cutting hours and playing games with employees. If the employees don’t go along they are let go and can’t find work. They only give workers hours on the weekends and holidays when tourist are here. The WORKER bees are leaving THAT is the reason school enrollement is down. J. Rick Normand is 100% correct.
Meanwhile they r smoke n mirrors claiming to be the sole income for the city which is a l i e! The managers are the only ones making $$$$. I hear a book is being written about the corruption in Sedona: How to destroy a small town Sedona AZ
@J. Rick Normand right on! Can you please take SS with JW?
@steve segner
No Steve, according to city documents, the citizens of Sedona pay most of the taxes, not the tourists. We also have one of the highest sales taxes in the country.
Of course, as you and your tourist business get the benefit of the money the city gives to the Chamber, more taxes would be fine with you.
The other important fact those who lie and spread disinformation ignore, both the school district and the fire district are NOT part of the city of Sedona. The city of Sedona could cease to exist and the taxes that support the school district and fire district would not change.
When our homeowners association asked the city when they would pave our deteriorating roads, first the city tried to deny they had agreed to maintain them. Then they said they would, someday. Maybe after they have turned back to dirt?
But there are millions available for the Chamber of Commerce and art. In most cities the Chamber of commerce is self supporting. Not in tourist town Sedona.
J. Rick Normand said ” the problem which causes no one to want to move to Sedona and start a business. Young and successful entrepreneurs tend to have children. ” This is correct. Thank you J. Rick. Why would anyone younger than 50 want to move here? Why would anyone want to move anywhere where the incomes are low, jobs are scarce, education insufficient? Why would a young entrepreneur come to Sedona to invest and build a future?
First of all Sedona is not sustainable as the City has not invested in economic development and the people. One sided economics don’t work and in the case of Sedona it has enabled and endorsed special interest groups to control City Hall and its funding. Brick and Mortar stores can’t compete with online today.
For the City to throw millions of dollars year after year to a private for profit membership based organizations, regional chamber-lodging without any say so or representation from the in city businesses is discrimination. It is not tracked or neutrally audited.
By doing so the City discredits their purpose of incorporation. It abandons its residents and businesses by not giving them their own voice and vote.
Diversity, Strategic Planning, Sustainability are getting lost. The locals are the stabilizers in our economy. They are our taxpayers, workers, volunteers, small company owners, parents, property owners.
We all want to live in peace. Sedona has become so politically charged with millions of dollars being funding to special interest groups. The “in City” Businesses and residents are the ones paying. While the region of non tax contributors get to play with the funding from the taxpayers. This is the reason why most states prohibit this and why the City of Flagstaff and the City of Prescott do their own target marketing, In house.
The platform of incorporation is very much distorted. By the City endorsing and enabling the Chamber to be their own performance reviewers they have enabled and endorsed abuse of the locals and the businesses in the foot-printed city limits. The chamber cannot prove one cent of return on investment and say a bunch of garbled goop. The unit of measure is clear since they only market their members. Their members within the city limits should be the ones to review the job, not themselves. Just think about it, if you let your employees review and give themselves raises how many wouldn’t give themselves an A+ and a raise? How many students wouldn’t give themselves straight A’s?
Effective Local Government Management skills are getting defused. http://icma.org/en/university/about/management_practices
Whenever you put money between the common goal then the money becomes the controller. That is why there is a conflict of interest here. The business owners, workers, and residents did not give up their vote or voice to the regional chamber or anyone else. Let’s be respectful.
School funding goes through the county, they county pays based on enrollments. The superintendant should not be paid so high when what he manages is not performing and shrinking.
Donna Joy Varney
Volunteer President and CEO
Sedona Community Organization, Inc
A grassroots Non-Profit 501C (6)
If you don’t speak up the City Council thinks you agree with them.
Get a protected voice here http://sedonacity.com/SedonaPeoplesVoice.htm
In city businesses get listed complimentary here http://www.SedonaCity.com. Regional businesses supporters get listed here http://www.VisitSedonaNow.com
@Steve Segner – And just how old are YOU to be passing judgment?
Didn’t someone mention you previously lived in California? Well, many of us did and we didn’t whine and cry because we couldn’t afford to live in Beverly Hills or other more affluent places. It was common practice to commute 70+ miles or so on a daily basis to get to our jobs. And, in fact, isn’t it true that at least some local employees prefer to live In Cottonwood and elsewhere?
You are out of touch with reality but not without reason since you manipulated the last election and had “your” people elected – including your ” Gal Sand.”
Of course, the appropriate people to credit for that turn of events are those Sedona registered voters that DIDN’T BOTHER TO EXERCISE THEIR VOTING RIGHTS!
Yes, you should applaud the lazy old farts in Sedona that couldn’t even take time to fill out a ballot to vote for council and, especially, the revised community plan that has given the green light to these eager-beaver council members to shift into high gear to create the ill-conceived “community focus areas” – more traffic clogging monstrosities notably for “community benefit.”
Oh well, at least those who voted in favor of the monster “plan” will have a selection of community “gathering” places to visit – that is if they are within walking distance because we will no longer be able to drive cars – or weren’t you aware of that? It should be a keen incentive to lure more tourists which raises another question. Why did city planners ask for local participation to revise that plan when you, yourself, admit we don’t matter? It should have been another chamber of commerce decision qualifying that ONLY Sedona visitors be given a voice in what will become of future Sedona. (As if that isn’t the way it already has been.)
Get a grip, Segner.
And the Tea party/AZ Liberty mentality goes on and on and on!!
Same old cast of characters complaining…
Donna, just looking(julianna), I’m sure Sharlett in thier some where, and of course the two strange bedfellows ESM and little Ricky(self proclaimed smartest tea party people in Sedona)..
@Steve Segner. Question: And what age group do you attempt to reach with your Destination Marketing? Is it targeted to your preferred younger generation? Or could it be you are seeking a more “mature” city-tax offering audience that will actually have the money necessary to spend to support the lodging industry in the manner to which they’ve become accustom? Clearly that’s a priority for the highfalutin patrons that will actually stay in Sedona for more than one or two nights.
If your targeted-market visitors can’t afford $300k (low end in Sedona) houses then surely they can’t afford to purchase high-end art which, by the way, is quite commonly shipped to purchasers thereby avoiding collection of city sales tax.
You can’t have it both ways, Stevie, or weren’t you taught that by your parents or better yet learned it in school since that’s the subject of the above article.
And BTW, there’s a flip side to the coin. FYI realizing at the time Sedona incorporated that this indeed was a tourist town, it was soon suggested when resorts expanded that employee housing be incorporated within the expansions as is provided in other comparable resorts as Aspen, CO. Well, that went over like a lead balloon as developers saw lost revenue so the absurd compromise of other approaches to “affordable housing” came into play that for the most part failed miserably.
Then, of course, was Nepenthe, be-all solution to “affordable housing” which would have been true had that developer not been able to “beat the system” by clever and questionable under-the wire but legitimate manipulations, turning that project into the exact opposite. And you think you know everything?
And as for costing those of us living here more, we can thank tourists since especially our former and excellent VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT could no longer handle the capacity to care for the number of tourists! Do you really think the reason for multiple stations is because the fire district just wanted to raise our county assessed property taxes? If so you are wrong and surely you must know it! And you have the audacity to say we don’t pay our way? Nonsense.
Why is it that so many of us can see what’s going on here but our blind elected officials (city council) and city staff members continue to look the other way and insist on biting the hands that feed them? Without the voting public that approved incorporation they WOULD HAVE NO JOBS! It wasn’t Jennifer W. and her Chamber of Commerce that made it happen.
In fairness to city staff, however, their “bosses” are the city council council which members at times do not abide by staff recommendations. However, official “bosses” of elected officials “allegedly” are the registered voters who made it possible for them to be seated in their Ivory Tower. How quickly they forget as proven by their devotion to the special interest “regional” Chamber of Commerce and affiliates whose members take precedence over and above legitimate licensed Sedona city based businesses that pay the bed and sales taxes that are, in turn, GIVEN to the Chamber of Commerce and largely spent promoting non-contributing competitive businesses.
Yes – GIVEN – because to date no official outside audit has been taken that proves what, if any, return on investment exists.
@Steve Segner I am a business owner in the tourist industry. I was NOT asked if I wanted to GIVE the chamber millions of the taxes I and others collect. You are HURTING the fellow businesses with your actions.
Jim L said:
We ALL pay taxes don’t let those who are using YOUR taxes for their special interest groups let you otherwise. You’re PAYING. @Steve Segner why don’t you give back the 14 million you the chamber and lodging have STOLEN from the taxpayers to PAY for your advertising.
Jim l, One more time please shows us all how you came up with the $14,000.000 number.
Stolen? City approved the bed tax, Jim, 8000 people make there living from tourists, and tourists pay the majority of taxes. So Jim l what have you done for Sedona lately?
Thanks @Enough Already for bringing Nepenthe into this conversation. You are correct, it was conveniently located for affordable living (walking distance for shopping, etc.) but the units, and very nice at that, were quickly sold for commission by realtors to investors who then rented them out and NOT cheap or affordable as intended.
Wasn’t that a John D. Miller project, the same as the City Hall facility, another huge Sedona controversy and to this day a pricey maintenance cash hog. Of course, that information is no doubt of public record. However, it raises another couple of questions. Would that developer be the same John Miller that ran for city council a few years ago but didn’t make the cut? And is it one and the same John D. Miller now sitting on the School Board, prime subject of this article relating to the failing School District?
Very interesting.
@STEVE FUNNY There isn’t 8,000 people in the city limits that work. Did you forget we ARE retired?
What does Sedona have to offer?
Notta …… you’re doing a great job JW…….. getting smaller by the day.
P.S. the only whiner is you. Control freak…… good one…. when they don’t go along with your socialist ideas call them names. Great behavior counselor.
@Wes says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
November 18, 2015 at 10:22 pm
@Just Sayin’
I mean really why should you have the twinkles in your hair and you dispatch all of us with out them? Do those twinkles infiltrate your brain? PLEASE!!!
Oh, and while you were not trying to make a bigger point (?) – you made it when you said ” I mean really, we have all of those red mountains to look at why should we invest in any beauty for our roads.”
good night Jessica
@steve segner – could you think of a new concept as to why our local schools will have a deficit of some $500k? ………. Perhaps as a result of them not living within their budget?
Am I wrong that they have a certain amount of revenue in – which they can spend – but they over spend to the tone of $480k and we are supposed to feel bad or pay more taxes?
Hell! What planet do you live on?
As far as I know the Lodging Council/Chamber just did their own spin and twist on getting the .5% increase. My lodging friends tell me there was NO vote of those business owners who pay dues to be members of the Lodging group…to agree to that increase. @”Business Owner” says: ” I was NOT asked if I wanted to GIVE the chamber millions of the taxes I and others collect. You are HURTING the fellow businesses with your actions.”
How do you answer that one?
@West Sedona Resident: My friendly advise to you is to stop trying to blame the Tea Party for all your screw ups……. Twinkle, twinkle…;-)
Carol, yes you should feel bad, we all should, should we be proud that our school funding 48 nation wide!
No we just say it is someone else fault.
As for .5 % funding we had over 4 votes at the Lodging Council, all in favor and several meeting with the city council, all public.
You friend did not come to meetings; we invite all hotels every month.
How are we hurting other business? Bed and tax was up over 20% and
Business is up all over town.
You just hate the idea that advertising program is working.
Jack M said
@STEVE FUNNY there isn’t 8,000 people in the city limits that work. Did you forget we ARE retired? No 8000 people work in Sedona, you are retired. Jack perhaps you should look at Sun City, Sedona is tourist town not a retirement town, and remember in Sun City you will pay taxes and common area fees, but then nothing is free unless you live in Sedona.
ss
You are so full of it. GO back to selling dog food.
Master liar.
Isn’t it amazing how Steve Segner is so selective in addressing issues that suit his purpose.
For example, he ignored the comments referring to his influencing the outcome of the last election – how “his” candidates got elected.
But more important was the reference to the number of “old farts” that didn’t vote! And that he should be more considerate to the retired people that have money to spend when they visit Sedona.
Pick and choose, Steve, but like it or not people can see through the hate you and that weird West Sedona Resident continue to dish out. Pathetic that you can’t see the benefit of having lazing 50’sh people (not all retired) that most certainly do pay their way and contribute to your greedy welfare.
What DID Sedona do before you decided to grace(?) us with your presence? Yep, pretty amazing ~
During the recession the same people complaining on this site today were gripping that the city of Sedona, and chamber we doing nothing for small business.
The lodging council took the lead, along with the chamber, to do something. We asked the city council to up the bed tax .5% and asked that the moneys be used for advertising Sedona.
All the meetings of the Lodging, and city were open to the public, and still are! The city reviews the program twice a year at public meetings.
So what is the problem? Well it is ” Donna ” and a few ” T ” party types that never go to any meeting and do nothing for the city but complain.
Donna just goes on and on and on about the chamber and the graft / payoffs but she never comes up with any facts…just I have heard or a friend said all B .S. Fact, Visitors pay the bulk of all costs of running the city; city records put it at 65% plus, if you don’t believe me call the city. Fact The city did not give the chamber $12,000,000. Fact The city gives the chamber nothing it pays the chamber for services rendered by contract, and are overseen by the city manager and city council. Fact the advertising program is working and retail sales were up by $40,000,000 last years.
Fact, Look around, building everywhere, new business opening every week? Look a Lisa’s new restaurant and L’auberge
Million-dollar remodel. Fact, Sedona is on track to get back to 2008 visitor levels. Fact over 8000 people makes their living directly or indirectly from our visitors. Fact, we would not have any of the services we now enjoy if not for our thriving tourist industry.
I also find it interesting that nothing is mentioned about parking meters up town, one clear example of the city doing something to fix traffic and raise money. But that would be against the rules of your little club ” NEVER ” actually support something the city or chamber does.
ss
Steve S is right on about the Tea Party mentality on SE and thier BS Tea Party/AZ Liberty Rhetoric ..
Right on Steve….
Steve I am a chamber member but your wrong the chamber is only marketing themselves and their members. They don’t provide any services for the city or the businesses in the city limits. Your wrong on this one.
Amazing said:
For example, he ignored the comments referring to his influencing the outcome of the last election – how “his” candidates got elected.
Happy to answer, first a question did you vote? did you give $ to any candidates ? for local office or national office? if not why?
I did, I gave to almost everyone running , even our president…. that is how the system works….I did everything I could the help them.
Next election get out and help the people you want in office, you can bet I will be helping and spending…..
ss
@steve segner.
I know you don’t like being called a liar, but I and most people hate being lied to.
“Fact, Look around, building everywhere, new business opening every week? Look a Lisa’s new restaurant and L’auberge”
L’aberge, a new business, what 25-30 years ago?
“Fact The city gives the chamber nothing it pays the chamber for services rendered by contract,” So, I get the City of Sedona to give me a contract where there is no accountability, and no defined measurements, because I helped elect the city council. I use the money to support businesses outside of the city, the city has not given me anything?
What planet are you from Steve? Liars planet?
ANOTHER FACT, THE CITY OF SEDONA CONTRIBUTES NOTHING TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY ARE ENTIRELY SEPARATE ENTITIES. Check your property tax bill.
You liars try to tie them together to get more funds for yourself. “For the children, for safety.” No just to line your and those who are connected pockets.
The citizens of Sedona are waking up. Your lies and desperation show you are rightly afraid.
We would expect no less from you, West Sedona Resident, than to support a fraud, Steve Segner.
Based on various comments to this site in the past, he claims “residency” in Sedona City Limits by claiming his El Portal business address in order to register to vote in city elections. However, in a letter to the Sedona Red Rock News dated October 30, 2015, he appropriately identifies himself as “Steve Segner, OAK CREEK CANYON” definitely outside City Limits.
And this the same Steve Segner that based on his “just trust us solicitation” the City Council bought into his bill of sale and awarded the advertising contract to the Chamber of Commerce which to date has provided nothing but smoke and mirrors in regards to what, if any, return on that investment has benefited the City of Sedona.
And who is the loser here? As this City Council cries to Yavapai College about getting their “fair share” from the taxes paid to support it, they continue to dump on honest, City based businesses that receive nothing but a kick in the rear end if they don’t pay for memberships to the Chamber and Steve’s Lodging Council, while at the same time businesses outside city limits who do not “pay to play” city sales and bed taxes get top billing from City Tax Revenue. It is the City of Sedona – all of us legitimate residents – that are being shafted and there’s no ifs, ands, or buts about that.
And since either way Segner lives within Coconino County, why is he yammering about a college for which he doesn’t even pay taxes? The only thing the two of you prove, WSR and SS, is that birds of a feather not only flock together in Sedona but they are also very good at breeding contempt. And sadly enough the entire City Council and most likely even certain staff members are members of your club.
For those that insist Sedona should only be a tourist town.
Would you want your children to walk any distance in a town that was mostly populated by strangers?
Would you want your teenager to learn to drive in a town where lost tourists make constant illogical lane changes or stop just anywhere to take a picture?
Would you want to drive your child to soccer, baseball, a friends house or piano lessons in a town with bumper to bumper traffic?
Would you want to live in a town with no children?
We have to take our town back. It may turn into a solely tourist town, but not fit for residents or their children to live in. Declining school enrollment shows this is happening NOW.
Right along with you Steve
Fact: Donna has lots of competition that she hates.
Fact: Donna has too much time on her hands because she has no business. She has no business because we now have CHOICES. “A friend told me” that most people go elsewhere because those CHOICES offer better baked goods.
People don’t get it, without the Chamber bringing all of those people who can’t drive around round abouts, we would REALLY have to have a PROPERTY TAX.
Without a “City of Sedona” we would have less taxes and less tourists. If you try for a city property tax you may well find yourself without a city trough to feed from.
@ Robert O
Some city or chamber employee making an idle threat of a “city property tax”.
Lest they forget, the Village of Oak Creek, VOC, does just fine without a “city” at all. No million and a half dollar donations to the Chamber of commerce, no city workers working 4 days a week with a month paid leave/ vacation the first year of employment.
It’s way past time to just shut down the city scam. It was a mistake, mistakes can be corrected.
Your grasping at straws SE WSR RO. Clearly we are waking up. What City drives business out of town? Natta. What City pays for Corporations advertising? Do they need a tiny town to pay for their ads? You think because the CC and Staff are not educated & unprofessional then you can get away with it.
Hotels are in the TOURIST business and spend MONEY on advertising because that is the COST of doing business. The city is NOT in business to make more money for the greedy hoteliers. They you saw a way to TAKE advantaging of the tiny shrinking town.
Play the blame game. The residents that don’t contribute, a bakery, and the T Party are ALL to blame. Yep they are all to blame, NOT! Come on, Get REAL SS, WSR, & RO you are taking advantage.
The Chamber and lodging council has violated their Non Profit status. They are a 501 c6 trade association. They are doing the job that is ordinary done by a for profit company. They are for PROFIT. The IRS would love for you to file against them.
The process for filing is https://www.irs.gov/uac/IRS-Complaint-Process-For-Tax-Exempt-Organizations
File these forms Form 211 & Form 13909 for BOTH Sedona Chamber of Commerce and the Sedona Lodging Council.
They are STEALING public-taxes money! MILLIONS!!!!!!!
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f211.pdf
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f13909.pdf
SEDONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC 45 Sunset Po Box 478 Sedona, AZ 86339 EIN: 86-0134659
AZ 10669612 SEDONA LODGING COUNCIL, INC. Steve Segner President PO Box 2634 Sedona AZ 86336
The more people that file the better. Lets get these RATS out of stealing public taxes funding their ads.
Robert O,Is that what they call tax and spend. Tax the Sedona Citizens and spend it on special interests-Chamber of Commerce. Line the pockets of the takers and freeloaders.
You know what’s funny about a Donna Joy
Just looked at her web page….
Totally doesn’t cater to locals…does not seem to care about the “average Sedona resident”…overpriced baked goods totally and very confusing webpage..
She more then anyone “benefits” from the increased tourists in town, cause thier ain’t no locals going to buy overpriced baked goods…
Best around is Basha’s bakery for sweets rolls and baked goods at the most Readonable prices around…
Any visitors voming to town take note
Robert O, yes it really is that simple.
Jess Lookin says:
Would you want your children to walk any distance in a town that was mostly populated by strangers?
This comment also says it all ,
So Sad, and the answer is yes, or else kids would would only meet people like Jess, and not real people that live in the real world.
ss