Financial & Contract Review

Taxes are the result of spending decisions. Before promising arbitrary levy numbers, I believe the Council should understand the recurring commitments, capital obligations, service contracts, and operating choices driving the city budget.

Start with the Baseline

• Identify the largest recurring contracts and their renewal terms.
• Separate baseline service costs from discretionary additions.
• Review debt service, capital obligations, and major equipment replacement schedules.
• Track the primary drivers of levy growth year over year.
• Evaluate whether staffing growth is tied to clearly defined workload and service needs.

Review Outcomes, Not Just Price

A contract can be expensive and necessary, or inexpensive and ineffective. The Council should define what it expects from major contracted services and then compare actual performance against those expectations.

Public Safety as a Model

The dedicated-service agreement with the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office is an example of the kind of recurring commitment that deserves regular review. The question is not simply how many hours are purchased, but whether deployment, response, neighborhood and business patrol, and other outcomes align with East Bethel’s priorities.

A Public Fiscal Scorecard

I support a simple annual scorecard residents can use to understand the city’s financial direction, including levy growth, operating spending, debt service, capital spending, fund balances, major contract costs, and growth in the commercial and industrial tax base.

What Success Looks Like

A budget process where major costs are understood before they become permanent, contracts are tied to outcomes, and residents can see what is driving their tax bill.