Letter to the Editor: Decisions should be informed ones, based on facts

To the Editor,

I agree the divisiveness Mr. Micheline is sensing in the City grew out of last year’s tax proposition and it was “democracy in action” when citizens overwhelmingly voted it down.

The Council’s “solution” was to pass a budget that avoided a tax increase in 2011 but assumed there would be increases from 2012 through 2016. Expenditures from 2011 through 2016 were planned to exceed revenues, generating a $1.2 million deficit and depleting operating balances.

Mr. Micheline pointed out our citizens want change. The change they want, however, is away from the fiscal policy of the incumbent City government to spend beyond our revenue. The 2011-2012 budget provided our officials the opportunity to “hear the citizens” and change their approach, but they did not. Gov Watch grew out of this failure to listen to citizens and their priorities. Its purpose is to present factual information, support citizen priorities, and encourage citizen involvement in City issues.

Some of the divisiveness in the city results from the type of comments his letter contains. Attacking Gov Watch supporters rather than discussing the information and solutions they propose is not productive. Neither is making unsupported allegations regarding Ms. Goss’s reputation and abilities rather than discussing her positions on the issues. An unbiased look at the prior actions as well as the distorted facts and innuendo promulgated by her opponent would provide a more realistic view of why the City is divided.

I would like a City government that listens to the citizens, communicates fully and openly, and operates with greater efficiency, within our means.

We should look at the past records of the candidates, their current positions, and the practicality of the solutions they advocate. We may still differ, but our decisions will be informed ones based on facts.

Don Nibouar

Lake Forest Park