Stashed away?

Tonight I formally present the City Manager's Budget recommendations to the City Council as mandated under our City Charter. For a detailed outline of the plan, go to the Transmittal Letter on the City's web site at:

www.cityofventura.net/enews/smartgrowth/issue3.asp

The Star and KVTA have already carried reports on the highlights, particularly the funding for six additional police officers and three additional firefighters. I'm gratified that our Three Year Plan to balance the budget is working and that we could make progress toward additional resources for our number one goal of improving public safety. But, inevitably, some wonder: why now? Was the City crying wolf with the P6 ballot measure last fall? One anonymous on-line comment inquired suspiciously:

Interesting that the bond measure failed to pass and now you guys have come up with money to do hiring and raises. What is this all about? Was this money stashed away somewhere?

I understand this kind of knee-jerk suspicion. We live at a time when many fear that government is perpetually hiding something.

But, no, the money wasn't stashed somewhere. The truth is much less sinister -- by holding down increases in spending and benefitting from increased revenue, we have eliminated our deficit and can begin to direct increased revenue to improving services. The Council and staff have worked hard to make this possible.

Here is what I wrote back in response to the citizen comment:

Measure P6 was a quarter cent sales tax. If it had received 2/3rds support and passed, it would have provided guaranteed funding for ten years for an additional 14 police officers, 11 firefighters as well as additional public safety logistical and facilities support, including an additional fire station.

It received 62% support. There are any number of conclusions that might be drawn from this result, but what the Council and staff concluded was that the citizens supported adding as much additional public safety support as we could without a tax increase. With what looks like the last year of hefty property tax increase from the once strong housing market, we were able to fund 6 officers and 3 firefighters for the coming year.

Prior to the election last fall, I was asked repeatedly what the alternatives were to a sales tax increase. My answer was outlined in detail in the Ventura County Star editorial supporting P6. I did not support doing nothing, nor spending our reserves on ongoing expenses. I said the only two realistic options were to make deep cuts in other city services to reach the level of P6 funding -- or preserve other services and fund public safety with what we could afford from revenue growth over the next several years. While others may differ, neither the Council nor I believe that the majority of residents support deep cuts.

We are proceeding on the course that was clearly outlined in black and white prior to last November's election.

Of course, I don't expect this will satisfy those who want to find a hidden agenda for everything. But the fact remains that we face real fiscal challenges to provide quality services in a changing community. We will continue to face tough choices between what Ventura wants and what we can afford. Ultimately, it is the citizens who will make the fundamental choices about what kind of community Ventura will be.