A budget isn’t truly balanced if it leaves our infrastructure to deteriorate. As your candidate for mayor of Goleta, I believe we need a budget that reflects our priorities and keeps our city in good shape.
The Issue:
Our current budget leaves Goleta’s infrastructure severely underfunded. We have numerous capital improvement projects on hold or grossly underfunded. Just looking at the next five years, there’s a $144 million shortfall. Funds are being diverted from essential maintenance projects to keep others, like Project Connect, afloat.
My Position:
We don’t need to raise fees or taxes, or take on new debt. We need to cut unnecessary spending and focus on essential infrastructure. For example, instead of moving ahead with a $31.9 million train station project we don’t need, we could have used that land for low-income housing.
Why It Matters:
- Financial Health: A balanced budget should ensure all essential projects are adequately funded.
- Responsible Spending: Avoiding new debt and unnecessary projects will keep Goleta financially stable and avoid higher taxes.
- Community Priorities: Residents want their streets fixed and essential services funded, not higher taxes for unnecessary projects.
We can’t run our city off a financial cliff by signing new construction contracts and taking on underfunded grant projects. Let’s focus on what really matters and keep Goleta on a solid financial footing. As your mayoral candidate, I will ensure we have a structurally sound budget.
