Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/207831
Sarasota News Leader November 8, 2013 Page 59 to do a rowing facility, we'd still be talking coining money. They put a bunch in reserves, about schematics right now. It would never which was a good thing they did. be where it is today. That's government, right? They were also wasting a lot of money. They had two [Human Resource (H.R.)] depart ments. One H.R. department was a regular News Leader: How about other economic H.R. department: benefits, hiring and firing. development grants? The other was called Total Performance Ramirez: If you're going to take money and Management. The county wanted to act like really provide jobs, why don't we look at an a business, and a business is for-profit. The county is not. So they did performance metindustry? Talk to the colleges. rics, workshops, and I had a tough time with I worked in the semiconductor industry, that because it was my tax dollars. So they had and I went to Tempe, AZ. I lived there two daily workshops at lunchtime and included years. And one thing I learned was how workshops on how to deal with difficult chilclosely the businesses worked with the uni- dren, how to handle your aging parents and, versities. They became the research arm of my favorite, "mocktails," how you make fake the businesses. They have bright minds, and alcoholic cocktails for the holidays. These the universities can get grants from different were taxpayer-paid workshops. sources. The semiconductor companies have their own research firms, but they use this as an additional research arm at the same time News Leader: But doesn't the county have to and they don't have to pay for the benefits work to attract the best employees like anyand the employees. It's just a win-win situ- body else? ation: The university benefits because they Ramirez: I think having a raise is important. have the students going in there to work with That is different from mocktails workshops. the businesses, and the businesses benefit This one department, which is now disbanded, because they have these new employees they wasn't necessary. Those are the kinds of bendon't have to pay for. When you go to a place efits they have at Google and Facebook. like Tempe, or Mesa, all around Phoenix, you have these hubs of high-tech semiconductor companies. News Leader: Do you believe the claim that employee morale is low at the county? News Leader: Did you agree with the decision Ramirez: The morale is low. The problem is, it was pointed to the wrong person, when to offer county employees raises last year? you see a county commission not only attack Ramirez: During the boom times, the county each other. And look at how they went after was putting money aside because they were the county administrator.