There seems to be an interesting but unpleasant paradigm change taking place in the area of fiscal responsibly. For the last 50 to 60 years elected officials have had the opportunity to provide the public with just about everything they wanted or deemed necessary. This phenomenon has taken place at not only the state and national level but to large extent at the local level.
Over the last couple of years we have entered into, what I believe is this new paradigm. That is, elected officials must start making the difficult but responsible choices of reality. Reality is not just what the public wants. Reality is prioritizing what the public wants and can afford or is willing to financially support. Reality is about providing the essential services in an efficient and fiscally prudent manner. In this new paradigm it is difficult and unpleasant for elected officials to exercise their responsibility to reduce funding for favored programs and services. However, I believe we were elected to act responsibly and to make those difficult decisions. Reality is that the State’s unemployment projection into 2011 is 10.7%. Reality is the May projections of reduced income tax, sales tax, and property tax. By no one's calculations are we out of the woods financially.
I have received my share of criticism for budget reductions I have suggested in the city's 2010\2011 budget and I accept that as fair. I do, however, have to indicate I have received my fair share of compliments from citizens and the business community for acting responsibly.
With a 1.5 to 2 million dollar structural deficit facing the city budget in the next two years and revenue projections being lower than expected now is the time to "take the road less traveled" . That "road" is to accept the fact that we cannot please everyone and cannot make everyone happy with our actions.
Trying to please everyone and making everyone happy, quite frankly, I believe is why not only the states and nation are in such terrible financial problems but why cities are having such financial problems. Foster City is lucky. We have the opportunity to prioritize spending while we still have excellent reserves. To spend those reserves down and then start making decisions leads to financial disaster.
We as your elected representatives must spend the time to understand the difference between essential, desirable and non-essential services and know how to allocate the diminishing revenues towards a balanced budget. I am comfortable with the fact that we have spent that time.
One cannot expect to be popular with everyone. I for one however, would hope that the citizens and business community know that we have and will continue to give our best effort to keeping Foster City fiscally viable, physically well maintained, well protected with police and fire departments and a community for which we all can be proud.
If you have comments or questions, please contact me at rwykoff@fostercity.org.
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