Luke writes: "The council approved nearly $1.39 million for policing, and then, right before the election, my opponent led the drive that slashed about $300,000 from that amount. He then told us we would likely have to raise our own taxes later. After 3 years of taking the full 3% tax increase allowed by law, my opponent called for a 0% tax increase for FY 2026. That isn’t leadership; that’s politics."
That's not true Luke. In fact, Thomas Shafer proposed budgeting $1,049,000 for law enforcement. It is in the record. The council never "approved" to budget $1.39 million. The budget was not "approved" until a recent meeting.
Luke, please tell us where the city is going to come up with the approximately $1.8 million that the county says the current level of service (10 deputies) will cost? Please be specific?
The true fact is that the city is going to have to re-set the base tax to pay for law enforcement. That is why I didn’t take the 3% this year. And, because I offset the 3% with 3% ($68K line-item budget reductions)
Even if the city gives away the cars that the city bought, and gives the county several hundred thousand dollars from the reserve account this year, which you and White appear to be OK with; how will the city pay around $2 million next contract? Please be specific?
Let's face-to-face debate? Why are you afraid to have an impartial moderator of a debate?
Luke writes: "The council approved nearly $1.39 million for policing, and then, right before the election, my opponent led the drive that slashed about $300,000 from that amount. He then told us we would likely have to raise our own taxes later. After 3 years of taking the full 3% tax increase allowed by law, my opponent called for a 0% tax increase for FY 2026. That isn’t leadership; that’s politics."
That's not true Luke. In fact, Thomas Shafer proposed budgeting $1,049,000 for law enforcement. It is in the record. The council never "approved" to budget $1.39 million. The budget was not "approved" until a recent meeting.
Luke, please tell us where the city is going to come up with the approximately $1.8 million that the county says the current level of service (10 deputies) will cost? Please be specific?
The true fact is that the city is going to have to re-set the base tax to pay for law enforcement. That is why I didn’t take the 3% this year. And, because I offset the 3% with 3% ($68K line-item budget reductions)
Even if the city gives away the cars that the city bought, and gives the county several hundred thousand dollars from the reserve account this year, which you and White appear to be OK with; how will the city pay around $2 million next contract? Please be specific?
Let's face-to-face debate? Why are you afraid to have an impartial moderator of a debate?