Multicultural Center Management Switch Saves Taxpayers Money, Cuts Jobs

10.19.2009 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Salt Lake City taxpayers could save half a million dollars if Salt Lake County begins to manage the city-owned-and-operated Sorenson Multi-Cultural Center on the west side, according to county Parks and Recreation Spokesman Martin Jensen. The savings would come primarily from reducing the number of employees, but Jensen says this would not reduce service levels.

“Really, the intention of the county is to seamlessly continue all existing services to the patrons and the community of the Sorenson Multicultural Center,” Jensen says. “So within just a week or two people won’t be able to notice a difference in the level of service at all.”

Currently, the city operates the Multi-Cultural Center for $1.2 million a year, while the county operates the Steiner West Pool and fitness center next door for about $200,000. Jensen says tight budgets at the city and county forced them into negotiations over how to make running the facilities more efficient.

After negotiations, the county offered to operate both the pool and the Multi-Cultural Center for a $900,000 subsidy from the city, saving money for both city and county taxpayers. Jensen says it really seems like a win-win situation, except to the employees.

“It does unless you’re one of the people that, you know, work for the city and they feel like the carpet’s being pulled out from under them and their jobs are all being taken away,” Jensen says.

The county would consider rehiring many of the current employees, he says. The city council will discuss the issue tomorrow, but the final decision is up to Mayor Ralph Becker.