A Balanced Budget
STOP THE SPENDING: Run Reno Like the Business it Should be
Reno already has one of the highest sales taxes in the state, the highest fuel costs in the state, most expensive water and has tripled sewer and garbage collection fees in the last decade. Tax exemptions and breaks for billionaires and corporations for building in the area has yet to have a positive impact. Reno doesn't have just a revenue problem; it has a spending problem. We elect people to make the tough decisions. Reno should be run as a business. A business owner can’t simply raise prices like the city raises taxes and fees.
The Reno city budget has projected losses in the tens of millions annually into the foreseeable future. Due to a lack of fiscal responsibility, the decision was made to sell properties (that are current income producers) purchased at the time of the train trench project. I am terrified to see what next year’s one-year fix will be if things don’t change.
The Abundance of Redundancy
Stop the abundancy of redundancy. The Washoe Valley has grown too large to have three approaches to every situation. The cities of Reno and Sparks along with Wahsoe County have grown into one entity. Yet, building permits are different in Reno and Sparks; Sparks is different than Washoe County. The same is true for building codes, Parks Departments, Public Works Departments, Emergency Services, homelessness etc. This is not about kingdom building; it is about what is best for our home. As Mayor I will have open dialogues to streamline services in an attempt to increase operational efficiency, reduce costs and improve community satisfaction, thus creating a high-quality experience for stakeholders.