SERVICES IN DANVILLE ARE AT GREAT RISK OF BEING CUT IN 2003-2006

By Ralph Hoffmann

Police Beats May Be Cut From 4 to 3, Sufficient Funds May Not Be Available To Build And Maintain More Sports Fields Without Large Increases In User Fees, Increased LLAD Fees. Only a few Members of the Town Council and Public have been permitted to see the Draft Comprehensive Annual Financial Review for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2002, prior to the November 5 Election. There are significant changes in this Review from prior years.

Because the State Budget was approved without tax increases (politicians understandably lack the courage to call for tax increases, even when the need is great) such as raising the upper income tax brackets to 10% and 11% and eliminating the VLF offset as they were under Governors Reagan and Wilson, Danville will be faced with budget cutbacks in 2003 and 4-5 years beyond as mentioned previously. We have little opportunity to generate revenues internally. Our best bet is to urge our fellow members of The League of California Cities to urge the Legislature and whoever is Governor to maintain the current levels of funding for cities.

I own a 2001 Volvo S80, classified as a luxury car, for which I paid about $40,000 new. My total CA Regisration Fee is only $235 for this car this year. The VLF Offset, instituted when the state economy was better, is $396. We can pay a full VLF fee for a luxury car, if it helps struggling young families pay all the sports field useage fees for healthy exercise so their children can play sports. I completely support the Vista Grande Field Improvement Plan. If elected, I will contribute funds to this project from my Council Salary, just as I contributed over $500 to kick off a fund to save the Danville Oak Tree, when the Council was considering removing it based on advice of overly conservative Arborists.

I am in favor of many more top quality soccer and other sports fields for Danville, within Town Limits, built and maintained through reciprocity arrangements on facilities built on HOA Common Areas, much like tennis and swimming facilities now exist on these common areas. When our sons were youths, they played Little League Baseball and soccer. I managed /coached their and other teams. We never had to pay useage fees for sports fields wherever we lived. Usage fees for sports fields in Danville can be gradually phased out, using the above proposal, while providing fields maintained to the highest quality.

Danville doesn't need a Dog Park. San Ramon has a convenient Dog Park my dog and I and other Danville residents have and can use for free.

Some residents are proud to have lived their entire lives in Danville. I am proud to have lived in 8 states of our great Country, where I can draw on the experiences of life all over the USA. If elected, the first $1200. of my Council Salary will go to becoming a Visionary Member of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley in January, 2003. There are no Visionary Members of The Museum of the San Ramon Valley in calendar year 2002.

While the Town of Danville will be on an extremely tight budget over the next 4-5 years, I support the majority Town Council's Action on October 1, 2002, by a 3-1 vote, to increase the Town Manager's salary from $125,000 retroactively to his current $135,000 annual salary. The Town Manager, in effect our CEO, supervises over 100 direct and contract employees. It would be extremely poor judgement were we not to adequately compensate our top performers and risk losing them to other municipalities in our State or other States.