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Hercules is a small city with big problems. Our past-due debt of $12.3M must be paid by selling our remaining assets ASAP. if we don't we will face bigger problems.
We barely avoided bankruptcy last March thanks to a settlement done on a property. That property has to be sold before March 2103 and if not, then the city will have to pay outrageous interest on the debt.
We balanced the last budget using all reserve funds... There is no more one-time money to be used next June to balance the budget... This is why we must add revenue before it's too late. I will suggest to increase the Utility User Tax to the average level of surrounding cities. If we don't create additional revenue, we will be obliged to dismantle the Hercules Police Dept., and contract with the County Sheriff. We may also file for bankruptcy next fall if we can't eradicate our structural deficit.
I will fight to avoid that unfortunate option which will destroy our city's reputation and future investments.
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