Our city can have great people and great businesses, but it can't last very long or very successfully without a solid financial plan. This means sustaining ongoing operations, planning for future economic downturns, and pursuing funding sources outside the city. Montebello also has a poor report card to address. In 2018, the State Auditor identified several weaknesses in Montebello's internal controls that could lead to fraud, waste, and abuse.
Since 2019 Montebello has taken steps, and missteps, toward financial stability and transparency. This is where I stood on some key issues:
I supported:
Measure H Sales Tax: when I started in 2019, we had annual revenues of $51.3 million. Today that number exceeds $76.7 million and it's still growing. Our employees finally have competitive wages, we have expanded public safety, and increased city programming.
Building general fund reserves: our general fund is like our checking account. Our reserves are the savings accounts. These reserves ensure Montebello's financial security even when times get tough. Today our reserves stand at about $30 million to ensure we can pay several months of operating costs even if revenues fall short.
Montebello Water Company sale: Montebello's water company was saddled with $40 million in system repairs. We sold the system for $18 million to longtime partner San Gabriel Valley Water who could afford the repairs without burdening Montebello customers with the bill.
Golf course redevelopment: the state audit recognized this revenue stream was actually costing the city hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. A new 9 hold course and TopGolf attraction plugged the hole, created a better revenue stream to fund city operations, and addressed state audit concerns.
I voted against:
No-bid contracts: we make sure the city gets the best value when offers go through a vetting system. When new exemptions meant this public process would no longer take place, we won big in 2022 and reversed the policies.
Decreasing transparency: when I joined council, monthly financial reports were the norm. This reporting was wrongly removed during COVID when people were staying safer at home. I fought to bring this transparency back.
Raising utility rates during the pandemic: the city was considering removing the middleman in energy purchasing. When council found out it meant raising rates in the depths of the pandemic against it.
Increasing business license taxes: in the midst of the pandemic, small businesses saw as much as a 400% increase in business license fees overnight. When this was brought to my attention, I immediately notified my colleagues and had the action reversed.
City finances take the constant vigilance of council, staff, and residents. We count on multiple levels of oversight to prevent the city from overspending, onerous policies, and other detrimental actions. I take my job seriously in lifting up the voices of residents and stakeholders.
Commentaires