Opinions

Convenient omissions in Gray-Jackson's criticism of Mayor Sullivan

I must respond to a recent commentary by Anchorage Assembly member Elvi Gray-Jackson criticizing the financial management of Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan's administration, specifically pointing to the implementation of the municipality's new operating system and concerns regarding police staffing. Ms. Gray-Jackson conveniently omits key factors that led to the current challenges and leaves out appropriate measures taken to meet these challenges.

Regarding the implementation of SAP, the new municipal operating system, it was known for a number of years that serious problems existed within the PeopleSoft operating system. After years of neglect, the municipality's technology infrastructure was in dire need of an overhaul. Despite knowing that the PeopleSoft financial system was inefficient and outdated, the Begich administration failed to perform the necessary upgrades to properly maintain the system, resulting in PeopleSoft no longer being able to provide support. After a rigorous selection process, SAP was chosen as the new enterprise system. Consultants were hired by the administration to assist with implementation. After 18 months of struggling to adapt the SAP system to accommodate city requirements, the consultants were replaced. The new firm, Pelaton, is making great progress toward implementation. It is important that the municipality not repeat past mistakes when the system was never fully implemented. It has taken more time, and more money, to get it right but Anchorage will have a high-quality system capable of functioning well into the future, and associated cost savings and efficiencies.

With respect to staffing at the Anchorage Police Department, it is important to focus on the results they are achieving, not on the number of officers. When comparing five-year crime averages from 2009-2013 to 2004-2008, there is an overall decline in total crimes reported per 100,000 people and a decline in five of the seven categories reported, including murder and aggravated assault. Remarkably, fewer crimes are reported today than 30 years ago, despite an additional 100,000 residents. These results speak highly of the hard work and dedication of our police officers and chief, who, along with all city departments, have faced significant budget challenges.

These budget challenges are a direct result of rushed action taken in late 2008 by Ms. Gray-Jackson and a majority of the Assembly. In the midst of the most severe recession in 70 years, the most expensive and longest-term labor contracts in city history were approved. As revenues were declining, the Assembly decided to make city government dramatically more expensive. One of the reasons that AO-37 was implemented and should be retained with a yes on 1 vote in November is so labor-backed Assembly members can never again commit millions of dollars to labor interests at the expense of taxpayers.

Despite these challenges, the Sullivan administration has committed to increasing the staffing at APD. Academies were held in 2013, and a graduation is upcoming for the second academy of 2014. This recruitment and training effort will add approximately 70 new officers to the force and allow the chief more flexibility in deployment so that the city may continue to decrease crime in Anchorage.

It was my privilege to work with the Sullivan administration in achieving the goals of fiscal stability and taxpayer accountability. These results are represented by five straight years of budget surpluses, restoration of our depleted operating reserves, tax relief for our citizens and a highly coveted AAA bond rating, the top rating a city can achieve and one only earned by those cities that exhibit the highest level of financial management. The Sullivan administration deserves credit for providing the leadership and direction that achieved these results. I am very proud of our hardworking city employees and our mayor who are committed to making Anchorage one of the best places to live, work and play in the country.

Chris Birch is a professional engineer. He represented South Anchorage on the Anchorage Assembly from 2005 through April 2014.

The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.

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