League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 6, 2007 Election
	Greg Schmid Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Palo Alto

The questions were prepared by the the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. In light of the city of Palo Alto's budget deficit, how do you propose to increase city revenues and promote efficiency in city operations?

The key to a healthy flow of future revenues is to sustain the strong growth in property taxes that come from our ability to attract young families into existing homes in the city--each year the relatively small number of new arrivals into existing properties accounts for up to 50% of the increase in our property taxes, our most important new revenue source. We must also stem the loss of both hotel and retail sales tax. We need to retain a vibrant commercial sector in our community.

2. How would you propose to meet Palo Alto's requirements for housing, existing and potential retail, future infrastructure, and city services?

To retain the characteristics of our city, we need to absorb the increase in population that has already been approved. We lack an infrastructure that can keep pace with our increasing population--and there are already substantial deficits of library space, schoolrooms, parks and playing fields, and public spaces to meet the needs of current residents. Our real spending on services per capita is declining. We must make sure that we retain key commercial sites in town and maintain the neighborhood characteristics that attract young families.

3. Does Palo Alto have an obligation to consider regional needs with respect to a growing population, increasing diversity, and the importance of economic opportunity? If so, what proposals and plans would you support?

Palo Alto plays a number of complex and, at times, conflicting roles in our region and state. Innovation: We are part of a wider community that provides a flow of innovations and new technologies that help create jobs around the world. Workforce: We are a magnet that attracts talented workers from around the world who make Silicon Valley's workforce a model of innovation and diversity. Housing: We also provide additional housing for newcomers as part of a dynamic regional economy that has experienced high productivity growth with only modest population growth. We must balance all of these roles as we plan our future.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates in this race must limit their answers to 300 words total so that a paper Voters Guide may be published by LWV Palo Alto. After 8 p.m. on Sept. 12 word limits will no longer apply. Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 16, 2007 18:10
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