A Rosey Scenario it is Not

I have heard a few interesting comments from some critics that do not grasp the gravity of the situation Isanti and many other cities are in. Cities across the state are having their revenues slashed by 20% to 60% in many areas. This is not a simple lets just hope things get better on their own and lets not cut any cost. Isanti has lost over $500,000 in revenue and we have had roughly $500,000 in non-payment of taxes and assessments. This compares to a total budget of $3.35 million dollars. The new businesses we just added will help and the ones in the pipeline will be positive as well but as anyone who knows how property taxes work it will be several years before the full value of those businesses come online.

I am truly amazed how my critics and my opponent in this election keep taking digs at the tough decision we must make in the City especially since they were never ever at any budget meetings or work sessions or Council meetings. I hope everyone caught that... my opponent was never at any single meeting where the budget or any other items were discussed yet seems to be pontificating solutions to problems he does not understand.

These are serious times and we need serious people to solve the problems we face. The millions in unnecessary debt the previous Council took on for east 65 expansion that should have been paid for by the developer is weighing us down. I voted against these bad decision but have inherited them and must continue to work to fix them. This is what governing is all about - taking the problems we face and creating solutions. The situation with our labor dispute with our police union (it especially pains me that the possibility an officer getting cut exist since it was my proposal to hire the last officer) and issues facing us with our liquor store operations all are parts of a much bigger picture. The Police budget accounts for $930,474 out of $3,354,000 or  28% of our budget. To think we can continue expand this budget and not have to raise taxes is ridiculous. The Police budget must be cut as all other departments were cut. With property values going down throughout the country, our state and our county we face a fall off of revenues and increased demands for services and employee cost - something must give. You can not honestly promise all things to all people.

We have cut over 10% of our City work force since I became Mayor in anticipation of the new economic reality. Not one Police Officer or public works employee was released due to the budget but now with the Police Unions actions this may have to change. The numerous new businesses we have in town help offset the harsh reality of City revenues but we face a new reality.

We have had over 3 dozen new and expanding businesses in Isanti and now this month we added 5 more with several more in the pipeline. The added tax base and good paying jobs are helping to transform our City into a self sustaining entity. We are transitioning from a bedroom community dependent upon the state to a community that can make its own way. We face tremendous challenges but together we can accomplish this goal.

We have improved the City's credit rating to A+ and have aadministrative cost 33% less than other cities in our peer group. We have done great things preparing our City for these tough times But since my opponent has never attended any of these important meetings I can understand why he has no idea the issues we face as a city.... I just hope at some point he will take some interest in the actual meat and potatoes of running the City.....

November 2nd will decide who you want to solve all these and many more problems we will face as a City..... We did not cause the Great Recession but together we will face each challenge and painful decision. There are no pie in the sky easy answers and there will be tough times ahead but I will work every day to help move our City forward.