FISCAL STABILITY and PRO-BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

By Walter Kenneth Ruehlig

Execute a budget that does not exceed our resources and build a welcoming attitude to attract, retain and grow businesses.

As Trustee for the Antioch Unified School District, I oversaw a $145 million budget and 1,800 employees. By contrast, the City has a $34 million budget with 200 employees. I was part of a Board that inherited, in 2004, a $9.8 million deficit and a school district on the County fiscal watch list. Judicious actions advanced AUSD into financial stability within two years. Today, despite five consecutive years of state cuts amounting to $100 million in loss to our District, we have built a $27 million ending fund balance.

I have the fortitude to make necessary tough decisions that fairly balance the pain of austerity. We will eventually dig our way out of this dilemma; but need to move with caution and vigilance.

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California, in general, and the Bay Area, in particular, are infamous for their anti-business climate. Vibrant businesses define a vibrant city. Businesses choose where they locate, though; and we need to be competitive in recruiting them by:

Maximizing resources with reduced fees and minimized stifling regulations so that investment and revenues are channeled to business operations and growth and not bureaucracy

Simplifying the process to prevent inconvenience, with a streamlined application including providing online service

Conducting customer service performance evaluation with existing and new businesses to gauge their needs and critique their experience at City Hall

Creating partnership with community organizations to assist new businesses in navigating the process.

I will provide support for the Economic and Development Commission and the Planning Commission to review municipal code, zoning ordinances and community development procedures to ensure that regulations are within mandate and conducive, not punitive, for new businesses and construction.

Free enterprise should not equate to lack of or disregard for regulation. I will encourage legitimate businesses ventures; yet deter unauthorized vendors defying health code enforcement and sales taxes law.

Vigorous advocacy for ferry service to jump start downtown revitalization.