Dayton Daily News

Hamilton's budget has already been greatly impacted by the recession with the unemployment rate being the highest in thirty years. The residents of Hamilton cannot withstand more taxes or rate hikes on services. The only fund in Hamilton with a large surplus of money is the utility fund. I believe Hamilton should lobby our state lawmakers to change the laws that would allow money to be transferred from the utility fund to the general fund to continue essential services for Hamilton residents.

Being a better steward of our residents tax dollars fixing roads, creating transportation, investing in our small business owners and meeting with them on a quarterly basis, have town hall meeting with our residents talking with them about how to continue to imporvce our community.

Hamilton’s General Fund’s impacted by jobs / income tax. Positive revenue stream, maintenance of, and new, high paying jobs, must be top priority for council. Keeping – expanding, existing businesses and attracting new businesses to Hamilton, through Economic Development, is essential. Long term, strategic planning, will enhance sustained, viable, businesses, to invest assets and jobs, in Hamilton. People finding Hamilton, a welcome, quality place to live, work and raise their families, will remedy our City’s financial stability.

Hamilton's budget is already seriously compromised. If recession worsens, essential services should always be prioritized ad #1 necessity. Foresight is a must for the city leaders. They must "cut the fat." Unnessary spending, possible salary freezes at the exective level. Possilbe elimination of duplicated management positions.

We need to do a top to bottom review of the City to determine what law mandates for services. This would help enable smart decision making on services the City needs to provide. I would develop a business friendly environment to retain and attract businesses. We need to promote that our utility costs that are lower than regional providers, change our ordinances that hinder or stop business growth, and build coalitions aimed at growing Hamilton.

Council must demand efficiencies by setting goals and holding city management accountable. These goals must contemplate that new jobs will exist in the energy economy, technology, and health care. Employees will live in cities where quality of life is valued. We will come out of this recession. Reducing our City to only essential services will not position us for the economic recovery. Council must focus on accountability, jobs, and improving the quality of life.

If the recession continues, Hamilton's budget will have a decreased revenue. Measures taken would be to meet with City Officials to make necessary cuts and to sell unused assets. I would be conservative when voting as a Council member. We cannot continue to spend money that we don't have and expect the citizens to bail us out by raising taxes or utilities to pay for bad decisions.