Progress without intelligent planning and guiding principals is not progress.
Progress, Intelligently Planned in Encinitas
By James Bond
It has been an honor and privilege to serve the City of Encinitas for the past 16 years as either Council Member or Mayor. During that time I have followed some basic principals that I believe are essential to effective local government. Though much has changed in the past several years, my principals continue to provide the basis for my thinking and actions as your representative on the Council. As that is the case, I would like to share the following principles and my comments for each:
To serve Encinitas and its Citizens:
- This may seem trite to some, but this position "is" to serve the City and its Citizens. Service is the first, last and foremost responsibility of a Council Member.
To adopt only balanced budgets with a sustainable future:
- There is no mystery involved in creating a city budget with a future. We need only to earn enough to pay for what is essential and necessary, (e.g. Fire Safety, Streets, Water, Sewer, etc.), and spend less, overall, than we earn. That may sound a bit simplistic, but that is exactly what each of us does at home or in private business. We can do this in the City of Encinitas, too.
- When I was elected in 1992, we were in an economic downturn. The city had no real reserves and no planned capital improvement program, essential services were deferred and we were forced to lay off City Employees. We are now current with our essential services, our "needs," and through a well thought out Capital Improvement Program, accomplished some of our "wants," such as a state of the art Library, a new Community and Senior Center, the purchase and construction of several parks and more. We have $10+ million in reserves, and, as we enter yet another economic downturn, good fiscal planning will see us through this one very well.
To ensure that the necessary, essential services are Priority #1:
- See the first bullet under "balanced budgets" above.
To make common sense judgments and decisions:
- I believe in common sense judgments and decisions that get at the "intent" of laws and ordinances before introducing more of the same.
To reduce red tape and bureaucracy in City Government:
- I am committed to reducing, not increasing red tape and bureaucracy in City Government. Encinitas can and should be easy to do business with and I will continue to work hard for that.
To continue to work towards a vision of Encinitas as the best it can be:
- I enjoy working with and through people in the pursuit of a worthy goal. I value the feeling of fulfillment that service to others can bring and look forward to working with you in making Encinitas the best City in which to live, work and play in all of California - - for all of us.
I would like to work with all of you to accomplish just that.
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