The Budget

The City is currently dealing with a $24 million deficit. The City Manager has said many times that this is a structural deficit, meaning the City is spending more money than it brings in. The biggest cost in every department's budget is employee compensation & benefits. Click here to see the City's full employee benefits guide. I would like to see salary freezes for all office employees who make over $200,000 a year until this structural deficit is truly resolved. I also do not support the City Manager making over $300,000 a year and would not vote for any pay increases for this position.

The City Council needs to reduce their Travel & Subsistence budget. It's very frustrating to watch Councilmembers enjoy boxed lunches during Study Sessions while they consider cutting staff. We should only be sending the Mayor and/or Deputy Mayor to events until the budget is more balanced. The next budget cycle isn't for another two years but I will spend my first years on the council becoming extremely familiar with where every dollar is going.