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...If we stay this
financial course
There’s nothing like a financial
crisis to bring runaway spending under control.
On December 4, 2013, I along with
my fellow council members were handed the task of
fixing the city’s finances. Bankruptcy loomed. We
labored through 13 budget meetings to put a recovery
plan in place. It worked.
The wasteful spending and the
poor business practices that I warned would lead us
to serious financial trouble have been fixed.
Tough choices stabilized our
city’s broken finances. Our accountants and auditor
tell us we will finish the year with $2.5 million in
the bank. That’s welcome news! A massive deficit is
fixed and in our past.
This year’s budget has money to
fund seven more police officers. Our Police Chief is
working hard to fill those positions as fast as he
can.
To fix the budget we cut expenses
at city hall not services that would have made our
residents suffer.
Our ball fields, parks, swim
pools and the senior center remained open and
funded.
We should not live in the past.
But we must learn the lesson of the past to avoid
what got us into so much trouble. We don’t want to
go back there again.
We have a bright future if we
stay this financial course. If we all pull together
and work hard, we can realize our goals.
If there is ever an issue you would like
to discuss, please call me at (760) 660-7122 or email to russellbetts@hotmail.com
Best Regards,
Russell Betts |
