Amy will advocate for a balanced and transparent city budget. Her fiscal approach includes:
- Protecting surplus funds for critical services like water and sewer.
- Opposing budget manipulation tactics that deplete healthy funds to patch deficits.
- Seeking creative ways to increase revenue without reducing services.
- Prioritizing infrastructure investment over special interests.
- Presenting a budget reviewed by professional auditors.
Olean’s Fiscal Responsibility
Fiscal responsibility is crucial for any city to function properly but is also important for its long-term financial health. A balanced budget allocates enough funds for each department and controls spending to meet departmental needs and public service expectations. As mayor, I know that every decision made will reflect on our future finances. Instead of reducing our services, I will work tirelessly to think outside of the box on ways to increase revenue. When we see the surplus rise, we will continue the path of financial stability not by spending more but save more for infrastructure projects like our aging sewer system. No responsible citizen expects a reduction in property tax, knowing slight increases each year will offset the rising cost of healthcare, or fund new initiatives to enhance quality of life, or the ability to address and solve social concerns.
Planning for the future also means to be prepared for uncertainties and not deplete surplus funds from our critical services such as water and sewer. It is reckless to anticipate unlikely revenue, or underestimate department costs to balance the city’s budget and keep the property tax far below what it should be. It is far worse to continuously transfer money of a balanced fund with surplus to a general fund in a constant deficit. I promise to be transparent and continuously advocate for less spending, better quality. I will negotiate city contracts fairly and with common sense. I will present the Common Council with a budget that has been scrutinized and checked by professional auditors, knowing that our city employees and citizens have placed their trust in me, and not allow special interests to guide the decisions.