Balanced budget, balanced future

For two years I've represented your interests as a conservative member of your city council, and in that time, I've never lost sight of the fact that government doesn’t have any of its own money; it only has other people’s money.

And, with that comes the responsibility of being good stewards — not only of your tax dollars, but also the trust and integrity on how it’s spent.
The June 5 council meeting will not only be an exciting event with the swearing in of our council’s newly elected members, it’ll also signify the adoption of yet another balanced budget by the existing council.

I, personally, am proud of this accomplishment. However, there is much recognition to be given. Let me start by thanking my fellow members of council, and in particular Mayor Anthony Smith and Councilman Carl Diedrich, for their input and several hours spent with me in the council's budget, finance, and operations subcommittee meetings.

It was in these meetings we reviewed individual line-items of each department budget for presentation to the full council at our annual budget retreat.

Thank you to City Manager Brenda Fischer for effectively administering council’s balanced budget philosophy, and incorporating a “zero-based” budgeting approach for the second year in a row. I’d also like to thank our dedicated city staff for turning over every stone, and Maricopa’s many community partners, for playing their part in helping the city to be good stewards of your tax dollars.

Maricopa isn’t only one of the youngest cities in Arizona, but also one of the most financially sound. Our balance sheet looks good, and in the coming years, it’ll look even better.