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CSPP
Cities must level with voters and live within their means
I was impressed by this East Bay Times Editorial and want to share it with you. It clearly reflects the problems faced in identifying the best candidates for public offices.
In particular, they write,
"As we interviewed candidates during this election, many wanted to expand one program or add another. Indeed, some proposals are righteous and appropriate in these difficult times. But, for all the campaign talk, governing at the local level should still include living within your means, paying down debts and, when times are good, setting aside savings for when things get tough.
"What’s stunning, as we learned reviewing the fiscal health of cities this election season, is how many local leaders fail to govern by those basic principles. How many didn’t learn the lessons of the Great Recession. How many seem unconcerned about mounting debts — especially for public employee pensions — and don’t see the connection to the costly interest payments undermining city budgets today.
"And how many are willing to try to cover their tracks by asking voters to approve more taxes — often spending public money to do so — without considering and communicating the costs, the terms of ballot measures or the other levies residents already pay."
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE
CSPP has interviewed many candidates over the past nine years. Most would acknowledge that pension debt is a problem, but few offered substantial proposals for corrections. Some promised that, if elected, they would pursue changes in the system that would ease taxpayer burdens and make our cities and county more fiscally sound.
To date, very few who were elected have made any effort to follow through on those promises. When asked, they will say that "it's not as easy as one thinks", or "convincing other State Legislators is impossible", or simply that they're "doing the best they can". That's not good enough.
Unfortunately, voters too often re-elect those incumbents.
Mimi Willard, president of the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, has written an excellent letter to the editor in today's Marin Independent Journal. She fully explains the total lack of accountability of the Marin Municipal Water District's Board of directors and endorses candidates who have made concrete promises to immediately revise policy at that agency. I strongly urge you to read Mimi's letter and consider voting for the MMWD challengers.
Too often, years and years in public office doesn't make for a better elected representative -- only a complacent one.
CSPP