As a coalition of Sandy City community and business leaders, we are committed to increasing transparency in our city government and restoring honesty, integrity, and fiscal responsibility to Sandy City Hall. As we have researched our current administration, we are shocked and disappointed by questionable charges made by Monica Zoltanski. We are also concerned about an increasing number of misrepresentations made by Ms. Zoltanski. As voters, we expect our leaders to be honest with us, yet it appears we are seeing the same old D.C.-style electioneering with officials saying one thing and doing another.
As we work to promote transparency, here are FIVE things you need to know about Monica Zoltanski:
- Monica Zoltanski has claimed that her "$185,500/year salary is set & approved by the city council, not [herself]," however, the city budget is prepared and recommended by the Mayor. Monica Zoltanski proposed her own salary increase. While the city council does indeed approve the overall budget, including pay ranges for all positions and a recommended Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for all employees, they do not approve the performance/merit pay increase for each employee — that is determined by an employee's supervisor. While Councilwomen Sharkey and Stroud declined a COLA (increase) in the year Monica raised taxes on residents, Monica took a whopping $12,000+ pay increase (over $40,000 over the last 3 years). This includes a merit/performance increase that she personally approved for herself, as she has no "supervisor" to approve it.
- Monica Zoltanski claims credit for saving the bulk waste program. The reality is that Zoltanski attempted to do just the opposite — get rid of the program and replace it with dumpsters that would have been inconvenient and potentially dangerous for many of our residents. Councilwoman Sharkey, with the support of other common-sense council members, was the champion that saved the bulk waste program and did so by listening directly to the concerns raised by Sandy City residents. Similarly, Zoltanski claims credit for the new "public works fleet garage that opened last month," yet it was Councilwoman Stroud that championed this project.
- Monica Zoltanski claims that she has created a "...record number of new businesses and jobs" in Sandy City. This could not be further from the truth, as the Sandy City economy is lagging. According to the annual city budget reports (compiled by the Mayor), 2,334 businesses have closed their doors during Zoltanski's term as Mayor. Only 2,014 businesses have opened in that same time, yielding a net LOSS of 320 businesses (and their accompanying jobs) in Sandy City. While businesses leave Sandy City, over 2,600 residents have also left Sandy City since 2020 (the largest population decrease along the Wasatch Front). Population decline and economic decline under Zoltanski's leadership should be deeply concerning to us residents, who will bear the burden of additional tax increases to pay for basic city services.
- Zoltanski touts her communication with residents, but what she's hoping voters will overlook is the cost residents are paying to pay for her film crew and social media strategists. Since taking office, Zoltanski has racked up $2,685,711 (yes, millions) in communications and PR expenses, with her newsletter costing a total of $204,643.63! This is taxpayer dollars being used to promote her red hat brand rather than Sandy City.
- Finally, in addition to receiving nearly 40% of her initial contributions from developers, Mayor Zoltanski’s donor history is dotted with special interest groups, lobbyists, and left-leaning “dark money” contributions. Zoltanski received two contributions from Utahns for Freedom in her first mayoral campaign and appears to have NOT reported one of the contributions. Of the PAC donations she has received in this election, multiple are from the left-leaning groups, including "Way Back PAC" — a federal dark money PAC at its finest. You can view these on the state disclosure website and the Sandy City disclosure website.
We are disappointed in Zoltanski, our current Mayor, who is misrepresenting so many facts and, in some cases, is flat-out lying to voters. She needs to be honest with the taxpayers who have paid for her salary increases! Sandy residents deserve to be represented by a mayor who will listen to the concerns of ALL residents and do what is right for our city, not what supports their personal agenda.
It’s time to restore honesty, integrity, and fiscal responsibility to Sandy City Hall.
Let's VOTE to get Sandy City back on track to prosperity!