EGEDC Dead; Does the city really need to add more staff?

As reported in this morning's Sacramento Bee, it appears the Elk Grove Economic Development Company (EGEDC) will have its lifeline cut at tonight's Elk Grove City Council meeting.

As noted in the story, after three-quarters of a million taxpayers dollars, the city of Elk Grove garnered two quantifiable businesses that located in Elk Grove because of their efforts - a Burlington Coat Factory (more retail jobs) store in the former Mervyn's and new Ford dealer in the space formerly occupied by the previous dealer. The new dealer came after they received a multi-hundred thousand advertising taxpayer subsidy.

Now, it appears Elk Grove City Manager Laura Gill and conjunction with Council Member Sophia Scherman is pushing for the creation of yet another city staff in the form of an economic development director.

We hope the city council ponders these questions before using taxpayer dollars:

Do we really need this position formalized? Can't we use existing staff to perform that function without adding more personnel? Is Gill trying to build an entrenched bureaucracy loyal to her?

Private enterprise has tightened the belt; shouldn't we expect the same out of our local government?

As for Council Member Scherman, where are your principles? As dyed-in-the-wool Republican, shouldn't you be advocating smaller, leaner government?