October 10, 2008

From the Mayor’s Desk

Measure O for Campbell’s fiscal challenges

By Mayor Donald R. Burr
Special to the Times

Next month, there will be many local measures appearing on the November 2008 ballot. I’d like to take this opportunity to explaining one of them, Measure O.

The Campbell City Council placed this measure on the ballot to protect vital community programs and services because the city has a $2 million deficit this year. Without a significant and sustainable new revenue source, this deficit will continue.

The City of Campbell gets only 13 cents of every property tax dollar. The remainder is distributed as follows: schools receive 53 cents; the county receives 16 cents; the ERAF [State] is allocated 15 cents; and special districts the remaining 3 cents.

To assess community priorities and inform residents of the fiscal challenges, the city launched a public outreach program including: creation of an Ad Hoc Citizens Budget Task Force, a citywide mailer, Campbell Profile newsletter articles, four Community Forums, web information, more than a dozen presentations to community groups, information tables at community events, and collecting Commun-ity Survey/ Feedback Forms.

Maintaining current levels of public safety was identified as the number one community priority. Other community priorities include: repairing and maintaining city streets, maintaining the Community Center and city parks, and environmental programs like monitoring storm water run-off to protect water quality.

Measure O will generate local funds for local needs, and no money will go to other communities or the state. Without a local finance measure, essential city services such as police patrols and overdue street repairs are likely to be cut further.

To address fiscal challenges, the city has been forced to make millions of dollars in cuts, including:

- Elimination of annual sidewalk maintenance program

- Elimination of funding for Sunday Library hours

- Elimination of funding for Carol of Lights event

- Reduction of police overtime and training

- Elimination of youth drug and violence prevention programs

- Elimination of community emergency preparedness program

- Elimination of proactive parole and probation searches

- Reduction of neighborhood traffic enforcement program

More information about the city’s fiscal situation can be found at www.cityofcampbell.com.