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Santa Clara County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
Smart Voter

Balanced City budgets and fiscal discipline

By Gordon Siebert

Candidate for Council Member; City of Morgan Hill

This information is provided by the candidate
My experience includes balancing city budgets and improving municipal efficiency. My business background includes running successful businesses and as a partner in large firms.
Morgan Hill has successfully come through difficult times as evidenced by painful cuts to city services and lay-offs of city staff in the past 4 years. We are on our way back up! It is critically important to look strategically to balance our budget in the long-run as we work to improve services. I will analyze each recommendation to make sure that the City can afford it, not just now but into the future.

Morgan Hill currently has a $29 million General Fund budget, most of which pays for vital public safety services for our local police department and contracted fire department personnel. Current projections show its cash balance remaining stable over the next five years. However, the City has unmet needs which will have to be addressed. As an experienced municipal consultant, I will work diligently to analyze revenues and expenses and support those that best serve our City. I will also continue to press for financial transparency, in order to build trust and demonstrate that the Council is making wise decisions.

While the focus must be on the General Fund, bear in mind that it is only one-fifth of the $150 million corporate enterprise that the Council controls.

Having managed municipal budgets and private enterprises, including over $500 million in capital projects for San Jose as well as Morgan Hill's water, sewer, refuse, streets and parks operations, I not only know what needs to be done but also know HOW to do it.

MY BUDGETING and FINANCIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Worked with the City Attorney in Morgan Hill to collect over $2 million in damages to offset costs of repairing failed water pipes
  • Reorganized city departments to reduce costs and increase productivity while serving as City Manager of Palos Verdes Estates
  • As Budget Director in Rockville, MD, lowered the property tax rate 3 years in a row
  • Established sewer rates in Morgan Hill to fund the construction of an environmentally superior sewer plant in cooperation with Gilroy
  • Competed for and won grants that brought in millions of dollars for capital projects and to initiate desired new programs
  • Supported an increase in Morgan Hill's water rates to assure that our debts would be covered and that our system could continue to be improved.

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ca/scl Created from information supplied by the candidate: September 20, 2014 08:17
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