Inclusion & Transparency

Good government is open, participatory and collaborative.  Information should be accessible, current, clear and relevant so you can judge for yourself whether we are doing a good job.

OUR PLAN to connect you to your Government centers around an overhaul of our communication practices so you have the information you need to keep us accountable. We will also advocate new channels, such as an ombud, to help you voice your concerns, petition for action and volunteer your talents.

We encourage you to share your thoughts on our proposals and our approach to making our government more accessible and collaborative. A form for feedback is provided in our links above.

Responsibility

We need to manage our budgets responsibly to provide services that meet the needs of all residents. Our priority is to advocate strategic plans and best operational practices, ideally for each department. To paraphrase Ben Franklin, a failure to plan is a plan for failure.

OUR PLAN: Responsible management of our budgets begins with an audit of our long-term infrastructure plans and the operational practices of our departments. Dated plans should be refreshed so we can be opportunistic when grants are available. Critical examination of operations will help us improve services. Most importantly, we will be able to share with you the information and metrics you need to hold us accountable.

OUR COMMITMENT: We will always question whether new and existing projects benefit the common good. Is the project or service essential? Is the benefit equitable? Can non-essential or inequitable project elements, such as EV charging, be made cost neutral, if not revenue generating? Are taxes / rates equitably and sensibly structured? Our commitment to these questions will assure our limited resources are thoughtfully used for the common good.

OUR CHALLENGE: The Village treasurer notes that “we are in a time of financial insecurity.” Our General Fund balance satisfies the recommended state level, but it is down 40% from just the year before, and the Village has taken on over $3.5M in long-term debt. The Village needs to exercise strong fiscal discipline and good project management practice to limit, if not relieve, the tax payer burden. John Rossi and Roger Quon both bring demonstrated business and operational experience to help the Village meet its fiscal responsibilities.