Budget Part 1 – Generally Speaking

After the Candidate Forum at the Plymouth District Library on September 23, I received an email asking for specifics about how I would approach budget decisions if elected. Because the budget is something many citizens care deeply about, I decided to respond here on my blog, which has turned into a three-part series.

This Part 1 post offers my general thoughts on the budget. In Parts 2 and 3, I will go into more detail about giving citizens a stronger voice in setting priorities and balancing the maintenance of what we have while planning for the future.

Budgeting is a complicated process. Many factors must be considered, and there are always tradeoffs. The budget process is one of the reasons I decided to run for a City Commission seat. I believe in applying sound business practices to every aspect of city operations. Competitive bidding for contracts and services, clear performance expectations, and thorough reference and cost reviews are essential to ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used wisely and fairly. These are core competencies that I consider mandatory; however, they come at the end of the budgeting process. The upfront planning, including how we set priorities and align spending with community goals, is where I intend to focus my efforts if elected.

Our city has been awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for seven consecutive years. Over the past few years, I have reviewed much of the budget for various reasons, and overall, it is a solid document. However, it is important to clarify exactly what that award represents.

The GFOA award recognizes excellence in how the City presents its budget. It evaluates how well the document communicates policies, organizes financial information, and serves as a planning and communication tool. It does not assess how spending priorities are set, how they align with community goals, or whether the financial projections ultimately prove accurate.

I highlight this distinction because it reflects my perspective on the City’s budget. While the document itself is strong in structure and presentation, my concern is not with how we keep track of the money but with how we decide to spend it. What deserves more focus is how we set priorities based on community input and how we balance maintaining what we have as we support growth and prepare to meet future needs.