Fiscal Responsibility

Updates: Please read my response to Mr. Alink’s letter regarding town funding for Wildlife West
Video on from the Town Council Election Forum is now on our home page.

Dear Edgewood Neighbor,

When I asked the citizens of Edgewood to vote for me in 2006, I promised to be a responsive, well-informed and hard-working member of the Town Council.

As Edgewood begins its second decade as an incorporated town, I’m asking you for the opportunity to continue to represent the citizens.

CURRENT TERM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

A major focus of my work over the last four years has been to return Edgewood to a state of fiscal responsibility.

The Town of Edgewood currently operates with an annual budget of about three million dollars. That’s three million in and three million out.

The Police Department alone costs on the order of 1.5 million dollars. When we craft our budget each year, we struggle to maintain the small positive balance required by the State of New Mexico.

Citizens approach the Town Council frequently with requests for funding of various projects and events that they believe will benefit a segment of the population. While these undertakings are all well intended, they often don’t fit within our tight budget where basics services that enhance public health and safety must come first.

FUNDING COMMUNTIY IDEAS

On occasion, proposals come before us that may also not be legally defensible. The Constitution of the State of New Mexico forbids us from using public funds to benefit a private company, no matter if that company is for profit or non-profit, no matter how well intended. I have had to say “no” to some projects not simply because we couldn’t afford them but also be- cause providing funding was not legally defensible.

I am not content to simply say “no” and work hard to find alternatives that ARE legal and helpful to making events happen. An example is the new procedure I helped design that allows us to set aside money in each year’s budget specifically for promoting local events. This allows us to pay advertising costs up to a ceiling amount for those organizations which ask for our help.

WORKING TOGETHER

I hope you will agree that fiscal responsibility is important and that if we apply our creativity in the spirit of compromise, we can find legal and affordable ways to promote our town and organize fun events for our citizens. I hope I will have your support on March 2.

If you possibly can, please vote early (Absentee-in-Person) at the Edgewood Town Office located at 1911 Historic Rt. 66 Early voting begins Feb. 10 and ends Feb. 26

Early voting is conducted from 8 am-5 pm Monday-Friday

OR

March 2nd at the Edgewood Community Center

7am –7pm