Fiscal Responsibility

By Sue Benham

I will stand up for the wise use of tax dollars by emphasizing basic services: police and fire protection, sanitation, streets and parks.

Voters throughout Ward 2 are concerned about the high crime rate and safe neighborhoods. They are concerned about street maintenance and traffic safety and sanitation services. They want our city parks to be safe and clean. I will be a voice for these voters. I know the value of strong neighborhoods and I have worked for many years to be an effective leader in mine. I know that our tax dollars must be used wisely to protect our neighborhoods.

One of the reasons I decided to run for City Council is to be a voice for fiscal responsibility regarding the proposal to build a baseball stadium. I oppose the use of taxpayer money to build a baseball stadium as proposed by the current City Center plan. I have been on record since July in opposing this aspect of the Olmscheid proposal. Baseball stadiums have proven to be poor financial ventures in cities and towns throughout California. I believe it is irresponsible for the city to use general fund dollars to finance a baseball stadium. Moreover, it would be irresponsible to add the cost of a baseball stadium to the already existing $29 million debt on the Centennial Garden, so I oppose going along with City Manager Alan Tandy on this scheme. Taxpayers' money should be used for a baseball stadium only if the question has been submitted to and approved by the voters.

Fiscal responsibility demands that we protect the general fund to ensure adequate funding for the basic public services essential to our quality of life.