Fiscal Responsibility

By Armando Gomez

If a city is to continue to provide the services and projects to benefit the community, then the Milpitas City Council must be responsible about how it spends your tax dollars.

It's no secret that I do not support excessive spending. I watched the City Hall project increase to over 50% of the original project budget. The Council should have stuck to the original budget and looked for ways to come within budget. Thereby, constructing a building that meets the community's needs rather than the subcommittee's wants. Now we have a building that costs over $38 million, $558 per square foot, and $239,000 per employee. The City of Mountain View was able to construct a larger City Hall, a Performing Arts Center, and a massive plaza for $33 million.

Construction of a public building is similar to you or me building a home. Everyone dreams of something luxurious. Then reality sets in and you realize the more extravagant and luxurious you decide to make your home, the more problems related to delays and cost overruns you can expect. Not too mention the things you would have to give up to pay your expensive mortgage. As your councilmember, I will ensure that public projects do not include the kind of extravagances that lead to cost overruns and project delays.