The last part of the four; here are Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 if you want to catch up. To wrap this we talk about the nuts and bolts of city finance then the candidates make their closing arguments.
The city seems to depend a great deal on help from the federal and state levels to pay its bills – for example, we always seem to be on the hunt for grant money to address some issue, such as the recently-purchased fire boat. Do you think there is a way to wean ourselves off this dependence on state and federal dollars (which are in short supply) and is there some other method of financing we could explore?
Boda: Grants are not something we should be depending on for our day to day expenses. It is not free money. Private, non-government grants I feel are more fiscally responsible for certain projects, such as for the Zoo, Dog Park, Skate Parks, etc.
The city government should be focusing on maintaining our basic services as efficient and cost effective as possible. Often times we need new ambulances, fire trucks, police cars, dump trucks and other day to day items our city employees need to carry out their duties.
I do feel the acquisition of the new Fire Boat is one that should have been looked into more. We were recommended this particular boat because the Coast Guard wanted one with it’s capabilities in this region. Certainly there is a boat with the capabilities that we require that could have cost us less.
I certainly respect the fact that we are the second busiest port in Maryland and there are tremendous amounts of fuel that move up and down the Wicomico River. I trust the fact that we need a new boat with better capabilities than what we have now. However, the boat that is currently being purchased would be better suited for Crisfield or Ocean City, not Salisbury.
Ford: First, let’s delineate between “bills” and “one-time purchases.” Bills to me are the expenses related to operating the city; salaries, benefits, daily operations, utilities, etc. I feel strongly that true bills should be paid for by steady, dependable revenue sources.
However projects like the fire boat are not in my mind “bills.” These are purchases that would not be purchased at all without the granted money. Granted projects enhance safety, infrastructure and quality of life by addressing needs far beyond the city’s financial capacity.
My second thought is that federal and state aid is in fact our own tax dollars returning to us, so we should continue to aggressively seek grants lest other communities get them instead. We paid the taxes, we should receive the grants.
With that said, free money is not free money. When seeking granted money, we should always address our highest priorities first as identified by the community vision.
While I am a career Paramedic/Firefighter in Berlin, I actually do not participate in the Salisbury Fire Department’s operations or administration. Salisbury Fire Department is a combination career and volunteer department which makes it complicated to judge how grant monies are applied to specific projects. For example, many fire companies across the Lower Shore have received Homeland Security or FEMA grants for specific one-time equipment requests, sometimes in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Without these grants, many communities would lack modern fire and rescue equipment.
Beyond what I have read in the media, I am not familiar with the project proposal for the Salisbury Fire Boat. I know that other jurisdictions use fire boats for fire suppression of other vessels in harbor and at sea, for fire suppression in buildings near or on the water, and for search and rescue missions. Salisbury is Maryland’s second busiest commercial port and enjoys heavy barge traffic including petroleum barges. A fire on a floating petroleum barge could present an incredible hazard to a large portion of the city. A fire boat would allow for fire suppression before the barge reached land.
With that said, I feel that grant money in general should be used either for one-time expenses (the purchase of a specific piece of equipment) or to start a project that will sustain itself through other sources of revenue (creating a promenade around the waterfront which would attract taxpaying businesses.) Depending on grants from year to year to pay for “bills” is fraught with peril.
I would also ask any recipient of grant money to spend that money as if they had earned it through sweat and labor. Grant money is too often taken for granted.
Mitchell: State and Federal grant money is a return of our citizens’ tax dollars to their community on a competitive basis. I do not feel that we could or should eliminate grant funding, as we are reclaiming our State and Federal tax dollars to put them to work for us in our community. The caveat there is that we must ensure that we are not dependent upon that funding for normal operating or capital improvement expenses. We must make sure that we are consistently funding routine maintenance and growth from local funding sources. That means that we must be diligent in reducing expenses not only to match revenue, but below our expected revenue levels. The annual difference should be added to a “rainy day fund” for emergencies and to level out the economic peaks and valleys we invariably experience in our economy.
Ideally, I prefer a codified requirement that a percentage (at least 2%) of all General Fund revenues be committed to the contingency fund in years where revenue exceeds the previous year’s revenue by 4% or more. Further, that a percentage (not more than 3% annually) be withdrawn from the fund to be added to the budget in years where revenues are 4% less than in the previous year. This will avoid situations where any sitting Mayor and Council do not use contingency funds, even when they are needed, for fear of political ramifications. Using those funds will help fill in some of the deficits that could cause the delay of routine equipment maintenance, infrastructure preservation, or cuts of critical personnel. Additional debt is undesirable and improbable as we are currently at 67% of our debt threshold, meaning that we cannot borrow much more. Instead we must strive to reduce our debt. One thing that we should pursue more vehemently is payment in lieu of taxes from the County and the State for those properties that are exempt from property tax by virtue of being government owned. That is nearly 6% of our total land area.
Cohen: Early in my council term, I was shocked to learn the City invested no local dollars in our road maintenance program. When our state Highway User Funds were cut last year, we as citizens all got a bigger shock. Steps were taken to cope, so we know we can and must “get weaned” or suffer “cold turkey.”
We can and should continue to “hunt” for grant money, but not for non-necessities like the fire boat that, like some donations (“Bricks,” Linens of the Week), could cost us dearly in the long run. Instead, we should focus on our priorities with a zero-based budget process with the dollars we have, then identify projects with real potential for a return on investment of grant dollars – there’s nothing wrong with getting our share of that pooled taxed money if it is for a community-valued effort.
There is also private foundation money available that could be leveraged for such projects by partnering with non-profit entities. That would help return the city to its municipal mission of providing core services.
Fiscal responsibility in our government has been a primary pursuit of mine on council. We don’t need glitz, our names on a legacy, status symbol pictures on magazines – we need common sense and to do the basics well so that we have a strong foundation upon which a good quality of life can be built.
Spies: Wise local governments use grant funds to improve their infrastructure so that business can be more easily attracted and accommodated; to provide adequate health and sanitation, public safety, and roadway maintenance; to ensure a level of education that can best deliver a ready and able next generation workforce, and; to provide for a continuous enhancement of quality of life of their citizens and marketability of their counties, cities and towns.
Far too many take any money that comes down the pike, regardless of implications for increased responsibility and expense. This is often foolish and self-defeating. Many municipalities have bankrupted themselves by taking on too many responsibilities coming with grants with too few resources to afterwards manage them. The days of accepting grants based on thinking “we have to get it before somebody else does, no matter what it is” and “it’s free money” without determining actual needs and closely weighing future obligations should come to a close here and elsewhere.
Some solutions to reducing grant dependency, while still maintaining and improving an infrastructure are not attractive: large tax increases; new taxes; a city going into private enterprise’s territories for profit; large fee increases. I don’t recommend any of these.
The only wholly acceptable solution for us is to make Salisbury once again a city home to industry. Real industry, with jobs that pay a living and not just subsistence wage, industry that provides careers and futures. With the increased tax revenue and good wages that industry provides, the needs of our infrastructure and city’s needs can be more easily achieved without the level of dependence on federal and state money that we now have.
Dryden: I think it is more important than ever to work towards needing less State and Federal dollars. Fiscal responsibility is extremely important to me. It was in my career with the federal government as well as my personal finances. I feel that government needs to operate within it means. Consistent management of taxpayer dollars is a top priority.
Dixon: The City of Salisbury does apply for multiple grants that help the City’s various departments with their needs that would otherwise be cut from the budget. I would rather see the City apply for grants then entertain the idea of a possible tax increase. The atmosphere of funding and providing grants comes from the federal and state level and until this attitude is changed on a higher level, our tax money will continued to be used for grants, whether they are needed or not. All citizens pay taxes at a multitude of levels; on the local, state, and federal level, and I would rather recoup the money through grants for local improvements than have the available grants be paid out to another part of the country. However, I would like to see Salisbury eventually become more self-sufficient, although I do not feel that higher taxes are the solution. I feel that all avenues need to be explored to include continuing to cut unnecessary expenses from the budget.
Taylor: No response at this time.
What aspect of your background or experience sets you apart from the competition?
Boda: I believe my experience of working with hundreds of different people and encountering thousands of people over my 18 years at Walmart brings a unique skill set to the Council. I currently work as an Asset Protection Coordinator which requires management of shrinkage, risk control, OSHA regulations, auditing and a variety of issues that require us to work with law enforcement on a daily basis.
Our three basic beliefs at Walmart are Respect for the Individual, Service to our Customers and Striving for Excellence are values that I have lived and worked by for the past 18 years. Those values have served me well in the many experiences I have gone through in the many positions I have held there.
I was the Tire and Lube Express Manager in very busy and very diverse automotive center at Sterling, VA Walmart. I had individuals from Somalia, Jordan, Iran, Israel, India, Pakistan, and Latin America working for me. The biggest issue was the different religions working together, there were Christians, Muslims, Jews, Singhs, and Hindus all working together. It was a very contentious work environment to say the least.
Using the Three Basic Beliefs and focusing on Respect for the Individual, we were able to put aside our differences, focus on the task and job at hand and develop some very strong friendships. When the most difficult part of your job in that environment is ordering pizza, we realized we can accomplish anything.
Ford: I want the voters to know this; this is not a win-at-all-costs election for me. I have a wife of 13 years and four daughters that I have to look in the eye when this election is over. For this reason, I have not accepted campaign contributions from any special or vested interests and I will continue to answer questions openly and frankly. I don’t expect everyone to agree with all of my feelings and ideas but I do want to emphasize that I will vote in the best interest of the citizens of Salisbury and not in the best interest of any special interest group. I will give my full effort to the City if elected, but I want the voters to know that I am not willing to compromise my principles to win this seat.
I am running for City Council because I truly care about the future of the city that my family calls home. A couple months ago, my daughter left me a drawing of some buildings with the words, “Together We Can Build a City.” It was such a simple idea, but it got me thinking…what if Salisbury created a vision and community roadmap? It’s been done before, here and in other communities, but those plans get dusty and forgotten. I want to see the community create a vibrant, living vision that guides the most active citizens of the city to work in the same direction and I will fight to keep that vision in the forefront of Salisbury civic efforts for many years to come.
Together we can build one Salisbury.
Mitchell: I have a wide variety of work experiences including waiting tables, retail sales and management, municipal accounting software training, and adult education. I have undergraduate degrees in accounting and business management and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree and I am a C.P.A. exam candidate, which I plan to complete in 2011. Perhaps the thing that sets me apart is that I have governmental accounting experience. As a municipal Finance Officer, I was responsible for the preparation of the budget from creation to presentation to the Mayor and Council, as well as day to day administration and compliance after adoption. I believe that gives me unique insight into municipal financial operations which could be useful in identifying ways that the City of Salisbury can maximize the return on each taxpayer dollar.
Finally, I am open to hearing, not just voters, but all stakeholders in the community to find the answers we need to diminish our crime, retain existing and attract new businesses, improve our infrastructure, and restore our sense of community. I believe that, collectively, our community has the solutions to many of our problems but we must be able to bring those stakeholders together to have civil conversations to identify and implement those solutions. I have already begun to establish the lines of communication with each of the candidates by initiating meetings to discuss our motivations and aspirations. I am also doing riding tours of Salisbury with various stakeholders and community leaders asking them to “Show me YOUR Salisbury”, so that I may see the issues from their perspective. This process continues to be very enlightening.
Cohen: Given that I am answering this just a couple of weeks past the filing deadline and we are all just getting to know what the candidates offer, I’ll leave the comparison making to the voters. However, aside from the obvious fact that, as an incumbent, I have direct experience the other candidates do not have, I offer the following for consideration.
Long before I even thought of running for council the first time, I was involved with legislative issues and visibly speaking up for people, both locally and throughout Maryland. I have a valuable combination of experience in government, business and nonprofit sectors, so that broad background gives me a good sense of the “big picture,” in addition to my reputation for paying attention to important details.
As a small business owner, I know the agony of a contract opportunity going to India and the joy of success in seeing a software program or a training session help a company, agency or military installation work more productively. My prior work with Fortune 500 companies and other large corporations in developing profitability through customer service technology increased my analytical skills and experience for application to what I do on council. Having worked with thousands of diverse people in the workforce gives me an incredible perspective on a variety of problems and solutions.
With policy-making experience before I even came to council, I understand why we must be diligent about precision in law making. When a missing comma can lose you a case in court, you not only don’t progress toward a goal, taxpayer money is lost.
Mine is a proven track record of common sense, fiscal responsibility and a focus on the citizens’ priorities, not those of special interests. After four years of some successes and of mitigating some damage, I hope to accomplish more in the next term in a council committed to getting the people’s work done, in an open environment that will exercise my versatile experience and organizational skills on behalf of the citizens we serve.
Spies: I have managed over a thousand people under some of the most stressful circumstances imaginable, moving them from a domestic peacetime to a foreign combat zone environment and back again. My performance was such that I was chosen to lead again and again by my peers and superiors.
I have been successfully responsible for the management of several public fund budgets, ranging from $1.2 million to $9 million.
I have been very active in Salisbury community affairs for over a decade, including those dealing with crime and law enforcement, city-university relations, city improvement, neighborhood advocacy, and health and welfare, among others.
I listen to people when they speak, and ask questions when I don’t have the full picture. I make my own decisions only after adequate information gathering and deliberation, and encourage others to do the same. I read, research, investigate. I look for answers, both inside and outside the box. I try to make things work as well as they possibly can. And along the way, I respect the thoughts and input of others and expect that they will return the courtesy.
Dryden: I feel that my over 40 years of experience in working with the public, handling budgets and managing revenue will benefit me as a council member. I further believe that my common sense approach to problem solving will appeal to the voters. I am not a person that is going to lie to you and say that I know every answer to every issue that the City of Salisbury currently has or ever will have. I am willing to listen, work hard and keep an open mind if you choose to elect me to City Council. It is my hope that by electing someone who is not a “politician” we can begin a new era that brings integrity, respect and prosperity back to the city of Salisbury.
Dixon: I feel my age sets me apart from the other candidates running for Salisbury City Council. I believe my age allows me to have a different perspective and present a different point of view, while representing a different part of Salisbury.
Taylor: No response at this time.
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In closing, I’d like to thank the seven candidates who participated in this question-and-answer session, and I’d like to thank you, the reader, for taking the time to be more informed. When I said 10,000 word post at the start I wasn’t kidding since the actual total is somewhere north of that.
We have critical choices to make on March 1, in order to weed two candidates out of the process, and April 5 to select the final three. I was made aware after a previous installment that the Chamber of Commerce forum is actually in two parts, so an updated forum list is here:
- Friday, February 11, noon, Chamber of Commerce (144 E. Main Street) – 4 of 8 candidates are invited.
- Friday, February 11, 6:30 p.m., Mallard Landing (1107 S. Schumaker Drive) – Laura Mitchell and Bruce Ford.
- Wednesday, February 16, 6:30 p.m., Mallard Landing (1107 S. Schumaker Drive) – Terry Cohen and Tim Spies.
- Friday, February 18, noon, Chamber of Commerce (144 E. Main Street) – remaining 4 of 8 candidates will be invited.
- Wednesday, February 23, 7 p.m. at Brew River (502 W. Main Street) – the local Americans for Prosperity chapter is host, all 8 candidates are invited.
- Thursday, February 24, 7 p.m. at the St. James AME Zion Church, 521 Mack Avenue – the NAACP invited all eight candidates.
Last night Muir Boda and Orville Dryden, Jr. participated in the first Mallard Landing session.
