It seems like we needed a better plan to deal with the increased costs of police, fire and other city services. This is especially frustrating because the amount of tax has already risen sharply. I would prefer to have a longer-term savings plan and a “rainy day fund” for emergencies so the city does not have to make short term, immediate fixes that ultimately are an inefficient use of tax dollars.
It's a little cliché but true that all civil servants must view the spending of tax dollars as a sacred trust. Between the taxes I pay on my residence and my business I have a vested interest in seeing those funds used effectively and efficiently. In my view, the city must have a plan of prioritization. The reality is some projects are more important than others. The prioritization of projects differs from person to person. That is why it is so important to solicit multiple solutions to foreseeable issues so the city has a plan, a savings goal toward future projects, and funds set aside for emergencies.
I am a big fan of community input. I know there are great ideas spread among the citizenry. There is also a diversity of opinions on the prioritization for use of the tax funds. The city must be more proactive in soliciting information and ideas from broad sources. I think exploratory committees and community comments are crucial to understanding the interests of our citizens. The city also must ensure that the city is getting the best bang for its buck with every project it pursues.
