Finances and Budget (12 Responses)

• Develop awareness that expectations are higher than what cities and schools can afford
• Fund Youth Justice Initiative to help young offenders get back on track
• Take care of our civic employees to keep good, qualified people
• Control ever-rising costs
• Continue funding and support for the arts so they can grow
• Address these challenges:

o Diminishing financial resources for schools, cities and counties
o Community questions about school spending
o Providing same level of service with less staff
o Unfounded mandates from state and federal government
o More households on fixed incomes
o Baby Boomer retirement and resulting economic issues (cashing out assets will drive down economy)

Economic and Business Development (9 Responses)

• Develop awareness that economic development will be strongly influenced by strong schools
• Enhance economic development
• Plan financially for the economic shift and growth that will occur
• Make growth endeavors reasonable and frugal, yet appropriate for our standard of living
• Support local areas like Valley Junction businesses
• Provide more support of small businesses
• Provide free advertising for small business owners
• Develop strong business base to share tax burden

Taxes (7 Responses)

• Lower property taxes
• Develop stronger tax base
• Raise taxes if necessary to support programs