Woodbury’s property tax levy has increased for seven consecutive years, growing roughly twice as fast as inflation over that period. While the City provides important services, every tax dollar should be treated with the same care residents use when managing their own household budgets.

Budgeting is about priorities. Good budgeting starts with what residents need and what the City can reasonably afford, not simply with last year’s spending. Every dollar, including money already in the budget, should have to demonstrate the value it delivers.

As Mayor, I’ll work with residents to establish spending priorities before departments draft their budgets, and I’ll review existing programs just as closely as new requests. I’ll require competitive proposals for consulting and other professional services, even when state law doesn’t require formal bidding.

I’ll also push for better reporting throughout the year, not just during budget season. Residents should be able to see response times, road conditions, project costs, and other performance measures so they can judge for themselves whether their tax dollars are delivering results.