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Sonoma County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
Smart Voter

Sonoma's Financial Security

By Ken Brown

Candidate for Council Member; City of Sonoma

This information is provided by the candidate
During my service on the Sonoma City Council,we have regularly produced balanced city budgets with no tax increases or service cutbacks, while maintaining a healthy business climate
THE FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE CITY

It is notable that the city of Sonoma, in marked contrast to other Sonoma County jurisdictions, is in a remarkably sound financial condition.

I wish to humbly point out that this is due to careful and conservative management and oversight of the City's business and staff by the existing City Council, which I have been privileged to serve on for the last twelve years

  • The Cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, and others are experiencing multi-million dollar shortfalls, with major cutbacks in city programs and massive lay-offs of public employees.

  • Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park have increased taxes as well

  • To the contrary, in Sonoma we have asked for no tax increases; no employee layoffs or furloughs, and there have been no cutbacks in services or funding for essential City programs.

  • Sonoma has continued to fund scheduled street, water, sewer, and infrastructure improvements in our neighborhoods; maintained funding for non-profit agencies providing essential human and cultural services; and set aside healthy reserves for just such emergencies as our on-going Recession presents to all of us.

  • This responsible stewardship has proceeded even in the light of State "raids" on Sonoma Redevelopment funds

  • We have maintained a positive business climate, which has allowed Sonoma to enjoy a steady and relatively non-fluctuating source of receipts and TOT income.

  • The story here is the absence of lurid headlines and drama about fiscal crisis in Sonoma; experienced and competent Council leadership has spared the residents of Sonoma from the problems encountered in most other Cities and Counties in California

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ca/sn Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 23, 2010 17:40
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