Fresno Citizens Should Appreciate the City's Balanced Budget

While the Nation, the State of California and countless cities and counties (to include our own) find themselves in fiscal crisis, I am proud that the City of Fresno is in a sound financial position with significant cash reserves. "Almost every city in the country is feeling the impact," says Chris Hoene, Director of Policy and Research at the National League of Cities. Termed-out Mayor Autry, Councilmember Duncan and I will be leaving Mayor-elect Swearengin, Councilmembers Dages, Perea, Westerlund, Xiong and Councilmembers-elect Borgeas and Brand a multi-million dollar budget that will be used to continue moving the City forward without reducing services or raising taxes.

Prudent budgeting does not come easy. During the dot-com downturn of a few years ago when State revenues decreased and Sacramento dipped into local government pockets to cover their debts, City expendtures were reduced, and employees received little, if any, pay raises. When the revenue picture improved, much-needed projects (particularly police, fire, infrastructure and parks) were started or accelerated. Most importantly, the City established for the first time in eight years a significant cash reserve for future fiscal challenges.

Credit is due to many individuals: Mayor Autry for his vision, the City Council for its leadership in balancing the need for constituent services with the wisdom of not overspending during the good times and mortaging the future, and the City staff (to include employees--both union and exempt--that were willing to forego raises during challenging economic times) that so effectively carried out these policies. A special thank you to City Manager Andy Souza and Assistant City Manager Bruce Rudd. These fine individuals, working through the City department heads, made the difficult day-to-day decisions that allowed the system to work and kept us out of debt.

While significant fiscal and quality of life challenges face us, the citizens of this fine City are, I believe, in good hands as one administration turns over the reins of leadership to the next. Mayor-elect Swearengin and the new Council might want to take to heart the Citizen Oath of Ancient Athens:

"We Will Strive To Quicken The Public's Sense Of Civic Duty; And Thus In All The Ways We Will Strive To Transmit This City Not Less But Greater, Better And More Beautiful Than It Was Transmitted To Us."

Coming Attractions. . .
1)"The state of the State - How we can do something about the State's deficit"
2)"Improving our education system -- Let's start by changing the school boards."