By Ally Lanasa, Staff Writer

(Oct. 1, 2020) The candidates running for Berlin Town Council provide their opinions and plans to improve the town’s finances and transparency with the community before the Oct. 6 election.

Can you briefly provide your professional background and your connection to Berlin?

Jay Knerr for at-large council seat: My name is Jay Knerr and I am running for the Berlin Town Council at-large seat in the upcoming election on Oct. 6.

I have called Berlin my home for the last 20 years. From the moment I came to this area, I knew that this was the place I wanted to raise my family. I currently own The Kite Loft in Ocean City along with my wife, Mary Lynn. We raised our daughter, Casey, here and recently she graduated with high honors from Georgetown University.

I have been a very involved member of our community serving as president of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, president of the Ocean City Development Corporation, Berlin Board of Zoning Appeals, Ocean City Paramedic Foundation, Atlantic General Hospital Board of Trustees, Finance Committee for the AGH Hospital and chairman of the Worcester County Planning Commission.

This experience has more than prepared me for a seat on the Berlin Town Council. I understand budgets, I understand the complexities of town government, and I believe my leadership skills will be invaluable on the council.

I sincerely hope that you will consider voting for me on Oct. 6. My record of experience, leadership skills and ability to problem solve will serve this town well. To request a yard sign or to make a donation to my campaign please visit www.jayknerr.com.

If you would like to discuss issues pertaining to Berlin, please call me at 410-726-2309. I would be happy to hear your concerns or ideas on how we can move Berlin forward.

Tony Weeg for at-large council seat: My full name is Anthony Tobias “Tony” Weeg. I am a retired

web programmer, and currently, a photographer and cinematographer who shoots locally, but also travels the world capturing all sorts of projects from weddings to commercials.

I have lived on the Eastern Shore for 38 years. I am the son of a father who is a (Ret.) Lt. colonel in the Army, and a mother who is a technology coach and lifelong educator. I was raised with a strong moral compass and a diehard sense of compassion and goodwill for everyone.

I am a perpetual student and read incessantly. I am a traveler and an adventurer who has never met a stranger, and I always love a good conversation about deep topics.

I have enjoyed Berlin’s coming of age as a frequent visitor over the last two decades and finally found the perfect spot to raise our family and eventually retire on Bay Street over two and a half years ago.  My connections to Berlin are almost as long as my time here on the shore — almost.

Many of the townspeople have my signs in their yard — including many lifers, and they have welcomed my family and me with open arms and hearts since day one. And since then we’ve met many more amazing people — further solidifying our choice to move not only to Berlin but to Bay Street. Our neighbors and neighborhood on Bay Street are something special to us, just like many other little pockets of this place.

Jack Orris for District 2 council seat: My professional background includes work in customer service, operations and office management.  All of those jobs have given me skills in public speaking, management and working with people of all backgrounds and experiences.  I’ve also been a resident of Berlin for 14 years.

Shaneka Nichols for District 3 council seat: I am native of Berlin. My family has lived in Briddeltown since the 1860s. After graduating college with a degree in English and a minor in communications, I married and did one year of service with Americorps. After which, my husband and I returned to Berlin to raise a family.

I have worked in the commercial insurance industry and maintained my license [as well as] owned a small business in the town of Berlin for over four years. I am currently employed with Worcester County Public Schools and have worked in education for a more than 13 years.

Dr. Dan Packey for District 3 council seat: I am a casual employee (sessional lecturer) of Curtin University and The University of Chile. I was the Head of Department and the Director for the Master of Science in Mineral and Energy Economics at Curtin University (Australia).

I was the Head of the Economics and Finance Department for the Gulf University for Science and Technology (Kuwait). I worked as the Director of Market Research and Market Intelligence for the International Copper Association (whose members comprised 80 percent of the world’s copper) and managed the research for 29 internationally located offices around the world.

I have consulted/or worked for the World Bank (Sub Saharan Africa Program), Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Kenyan Minsters Mineral Information Program), OXFAM (Mozambique Energy Economics Program), U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the U.S. Oakridge National Laboratory, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Energy Information Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy and was their Program Manager for the Countries Studies Program – Green House Gas Mitigation Strategy, District of Columbia Public Service Commission (Sr. Energy Economist for Integrated Resource Planning).

I have published in the areas of integrated resource planning, regional economic multiplier impacts, the proper evaluation of renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, rare earths market structure, hydroelectric combined cycle technology, unconventional hydrocarbon economics, the optimization between mitigation and adaptation in climate change strategies and unconventional risk issues.

I have taught and/or conducted educational seminars and executive training in the Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Mexico, Mozambique, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand and the U.S.

I made our last move (and retired sort of) to Berlin so that I and my wife could live close to our daughters and grandchildren and enjoy the area. One of my better ideas.

How are you educating yourself about the town’s current financial situation before the election? What is your plan to correct the town’s financial situation, with or without a tax increase?

Knerr: I have thoroughly reviewed the town’s budget in detail. I have worked with extremely large budgets in both my business and in the various boards I have served on, so I have a clear understanding of the budget process. In addition, I have spoken with some members of the town’s council, the mayor, and the town administrator regarding Berlin’s financial situation.

Budgeting takes careful planning to avoid large tax increases like the one we received in 2019. It was that tax increase which prompted me to run for this council seat. Like so many of you, I was extremely upset as to how it was handled.

Budgeting is all about planning and keeping the town’s spending in check. We certainly need to look at any cost-cutting measures we can apply to the various departments but more importantly we need to plan out five years in advance.

A long-term budget plan is simply a tool that will help us take Berlin to the next level. My commitment to the residents of Berlin is that I will read it line by line and make appropriate recommendations to hold the line on our tax rate. Large increases like the one we had in 2019 are simply unacceptable.

Weeg: First of all, I have an extensive business background having grown two of my own successful businesses and been a part of many startups over the last 20 years. I understand how to balance a budget and how to ensure that expenses don’t exceed revenue, but most importantly, how to make efficient dollars. I have also pored over Berlin’s budget and, like most of us, have discovered some things I would like to look further into.

Additionally, I have spoken with some knowledgeable individuals in Berlin with a keen eye on the budget, as well as opened dialogues with current council members and committee members to learn as much as I can about what goes on behind the scenes.

Those conversations have led to hard questions, tough answers and things I was not expecting, like the fact that council members are given only annual financial reports and that Berlin does not have a reserve policy.

One shocking thing I heard was this: another tax hike is “inevitable” and “just a matter of time.” I like to think that nothing is inevitable and that we just need to get creative. As a councilman, it will be my job to help the town get past the financial mistakes of our past and start proceeding cautiously with an eye toward economic and financial efficiency and stability. We must establish a prudent reserve policy that follows the best accounting practices. We need to stop kicking the can down the road for our children to fix.

Orris: I’ve been attending [mayor and council] meetings regularly for the past five years and have continually asked questions of our town administrator(s) regarding the budget process and details within — I’ve also in the past emailed suggested ideas for possible opportunities to save money to the [mayor and council].

With me on the council, you will have someone who scrutinizes the budget line by line and will always look for opportunities to save first throughout the budget process.  My plan is to first look at the budget process itself, then dive right into the “nitty gritty” and see the what, where, who, and why. I do not feel at this point a tax increase is necessary.

Nichols: I have spent some time going over the annual fiscal budgets and comparing them [with] the annual audit fiscal budgets and asked questions of several current council members along with a few residents with some background in finance for better understanding.

I would like to start actively shopping the city contract bids and take a close look at the budget for areas within that could be cut. We should also limit the town’s spending and continue to search out applicable grants to offset costs.

Packey: I am pouring through current and past issue of newspapers, internet articles and social media content.  I am responsibly talking with town residents, whose opinions I respect.

I think that we first look at the current budget and try to make it as efficient as possible, trim it as best we can. Then, we look at how contracts are managed and the bidding mechanism. This is done in an effort to have the same level of services we are used to but at the lowest cost.

We should look and examine the available government grants and take advantage of them, where they make sense. Lastly, if necessary, we review the budget for items that could be spread out over longer periods.  That way, we still engage the need but do it over a longer time period with less costs incurred for each time period.

Would you support any annexations into town? If so, what?

Knerr: Growth in any community takes smart planning. We need to decide as a community, do we want to annex more land area. Should we advocate for more infill development into lands within the Berlin town limits? When any annexation request comes before the mayor and Town Council we need to ask questions like: Do we have enough water and sewer capacity? Will the increase place a heavy burden on existing services like fire, EMS, trash removal and electric? Will the town benefit from acquiring the additional land area?

We all know that annexation can bring in additional tax dollars to the town. That said, Berlin has a great deal of land within the town limits that could easily be developed without having to increase services. That should be encouraged before we continually annex the surrounding lands and lose the charm that currently Berlin offers.

Any annexation should be on a case-by-case policy. It must be a viable project that makes sense for the town and not just because a developer wants it. The [Berlin Planning Commission] could poll the Berlin residents as to how they envision the future of Berlin. Show them what is at stake and the cost associated with growth. We are all stakeholders in this community. So, it is up to us to determine what the Berlin of the future will look like.

Weeg: Any annexation must first demonstrate how it fits into the town as a whole with an honest assessment of how that annexation will affect the town, not just in the next year, but in the next five years, and 10 years, and 20 years, including the financial costs associated with how annexation will affect all town departments and services, from fire and EMS to road maintenance and trash collection. This data needs to come from the town, not from the developer.

We need to have public hearings so that the townspeople can ask questions about a potential annexation. Additionally, every annexation should go to a referendum paid for by the developer. In this way, the decision to increase not only the size of the town, but also its population, can be made by the people of Berlin, and not by less than a handful of elected officials.

This also brings up a very important point and that is we need to rethink our comprehensive plan and bring it up to speed rather than just changing the date on it and moving forward. We need to inventory what we can grow inside the town limits first, plan our green spaces well and work with farmers and landowners to protect our agricultural and woodland buffers.

Orris: I support reasonable and responsible growth for our town — which is why we need to refer to the comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan is a living document and we should really look at it annually — maybe not with a full overhaul—but we should accept constructive review any time.  As we approach the next review, I think that is going to be a great opportunity to look at what we have, where are opportunities for reasonable and responsible growth and how do we want our town to look moving forward.

Nichols: I would suggest that before annexing new properties we look at locations within the town that could be developed to meet the growing needs of the community.

Packey: It would depend on the nature and quality of the proposed annexation. Taking into consideration any additional costs to electric, sewer and water utilities as a result of the annexation, I think if an annexation was cost-effective, looked profitable and maintained the spirit and quality of Berlin, I would consider it.  What we don’t want is: growth for growth sake and [to] damage the special nature of Berlin, both to the residents and tourists.

Do you believe communication and transparency with the public, especially regarding finances, should be improved? If you do, how would you do it?

Knerr: We need to do a better job of communicating the decisions we make as a council to the citizens of Berlin. Hidden agendas have no place in a town such as ours. I am a huge proponent of using technology to improve communication and transparency.

We can start by having a video system to record all the council meetings. One that can show any documents presented during the meetings. Facebook Live was a good start, but it is simply not good enough. Taking advantage of all social media outlets will go a long way to keeping citizens informed. Social media information should be reviewed and screened for accuracy prior to it being sent out.

Forums  [should be held] outside of the council meetings on key topics that we face in Berlin to gather public input. One such forum could be a detailed explanation of how money flows thru the various departments or an information session on explaining the town’s budget in advanced of it being approved.  The key here is to always allow for two-way communication. It would clearly demonstrate we are listening as a council and value the residents’ input. Making information quick and easy to find on our website is a top priority. Transparency and communication are paramount in a government setting.

Weeg: Communication and transparency with the public are highly important. And there [is] media available for us to facilitate the transfer of this information from live-streaming all council and committee meetings to sharing documents live via teleconference.

I am not saying that the current administration has not made things publicly available, but I believe we can do more. We can do more by making sure that all people have access to this public information, not just the ones with access via the internet. Too many townspeople feel like decisions are always on them like a tidal wave, and they feel they have no say early on.  My goal is to open those lines of communication in ways we’ve never seen.

I am very well-versed in all things “tech” and, therefore, look very much forward to helping the town’s intrinsic capabilities with regard to communication and transparency, specifically through technology. I know I can do this because I can do it myself. I can also help the town review technology-based contracts as well as marketing contracts. This is the world I live in daily.

With regard to financial reports, I believe the townspeople should be privy to the same information the [mayor and council] would receive on a new quarterly basis if not more frequently. There’s no need for a surprise expense to hurt us. A reserve can prevent this. There’s also no need to purchase large items without a lot more scrutiny than in times past.

Orris: I do. That’s why I always ask questions to make sure I have all the pertinent information in front of me before I make a decision.  As far as improved communication, one thing the administration is working on is a quarterly report for the council. Not only would I hope to see a monthly report, I’d love to review those reports and then develop a mechanism that gives a “snapshot” of the budget throughout the budget year, perhaps through a newsletter or electronic means for the residents.

Nichols: Communications is key in running any organization and transparency is necessary. We should have all meetings held in council chambers broadcast publicly for the residents to access even if they are not able attend. The town website should also be updated and more user-friendly, so residents can easily locate documents that have been discussed during the meetings.

Packey: Yes. I would continue the use of the newspapers, social media, town website, increase the amount of Zoom meetings and hold special information exchange meetings — especially during the times of major expenditures. The town has the right to know how its money is being spent.

What level of the unrestricted fund balance, or the reserves, do you believe should be maintained in the general fund for generally accepted accounting purposes (GAAP) and budgetary purposes? What is your plan to increase the reserves fund to that amount?

Knerr: Establishing a reserve fund is simply smart planning. Currently, the Berlin Town Council is reviewing a reserve fund policy. Establishing a policy of two to three months is ideal, and it is recommended by [Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)]. This is a goal we certainly need to work toward.

These emergency reserves are just that, for emergency use only, when some unforeseen situation arises. Issues such as road repair from storm damage, building damage, failing infrastructure, excessive flooding and chemical spills can be extremely costly to correct.

Going to the bank and borrowing funds for unplanned issues or continually allocating money from the general fund is extremely bad policy. Currently, we have a general fund budget of $5.9 million. A three-month reserve fund would be approximately $1.5 million; however, it will take time for Berlin to get to that level.

Each year, we will need to budget a portion of funds until we reach the $1.5 million target. Down the road we will need to look at setting reserves for all departments.  Budget planning five years in advance will help us achieve these goals that much sooner. Once elected, I certainly look forward to working with the council and passing this much needed and long overdue reserve policy.

Weeg: I side with some of the other members of the candidate pool, and that is we should maintain at least 16.7 percent of our budget in a reserve, and we should also very explicitly in that policy explain what and what not it cannot be used for.  It should not be used for anything that is not [mayor and council] approved as things have sometimes been in times past with other sources of finances.

To fund this, we will have to be diligent in scouring the budget for efficiencies that are not being thought of. At the present time, we have yearly revenue just north of $15 million, and I have to believe that there’s some fat in there we can begin to fund the reserve with.

At the same time, since we stopped paying ourselves back half of the debt we owed ourselves we should be able to find some extra resources there to begin more funding options for the reserve.

Orris: The policy currently being drafted is a great opportunity to establish a path forward financially as well as the fact it’s a reserve. The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) suggests two to three months of reserve. As we continue in this process in the future, I would like to look at building a six-month reserve.

I believe this can be done over time and after evaluating our budget(s) we currently adopt.  With all the borrowing and paying ourselves back, surely, we can reallocate money into this reserve. I’m looking forward to having an active role as that policy develops and working with the new council.

Nichols: I believe that there should be at least enough funds to cover three months of expenses in the reserve account, by making budget cuts, obtaining grant funds for other budget items and limiting spending we should be able to begin to build a reverse account.

Packey: The standard best accepted account practice is three months of town expenditure – or in our case approximately $1.5 million. We have $16,000.  I think we should not try to increase the reserve all at one time.  In essence, we should not cannibalize our current programs. Instead we need to make the adjustments necessary to free up some funds and gradually and systematically increase the reserves until we meet the desired levels.

How will you work to unite the diverse population of Berlin as a councilmember?

Knerr: Berlin is definitely a very diverse community and a very welcoming community at that. We are fortunate that we live in a town where you feel safe walking the streets day or night. We are also fortunate to have a multitude of special events in Berlin that everyone can enjoy.

A first step to strengthen the community bonds is to redevelop the multipurpose building on Flower Street into a state-of-the-art community center. This project is long overdue. A new community center could be used for multicultural events, education classes, kids’ afterschool programs and local area club activities. The point being it provides a centralized area to bring people together.

Another step-in fostering community relationships would be to work with the Berlin Chamber of Commerce to hold a Heritage Festival. You bring music, art, craft and people from all walks of life together in a celebratory manor. This could be held at Stephen Decatur Park, Henry Park or utilize the land area at Heron Park.

Next, I believe it is time that the mayor and Berlin Council request that the state install proper crosswalks with time indicators at the intersection of [U.S. Route] 113 and Old Ocean City Boulevard. A great number of residents cross that intersection every day, and it is extremely dangerous. As a community, we need to make it safe and easy for residents to travel from one area to another. Berlin is about all of us.

Weeg: For my diversity plan, I will do what I always do, and that is to help all people understand that everyone is just a person no matter what color their skin is, who they vote for or who they choose to love. I love to do this with “edge” situations and getting people of different backgrounds into situations where they have to interact. Please Google what the “the edge effect” is — it’s beautiful in nature as well as in human interactivity.

I will also reach out to the State Highway Administration to get a crosswalk box at Old Ocean City Road and [U.S.]Route 113. I think it’s time for something this basic. It’s been too long, too many administrations.

I’ll reach back out to Mr. Andrade at Maxima 95.3 (the Latino music station) and work on a Latino music festival in Berlin for the spring of 2021 or some other time in the future. There’s nothing more unifying than music and food, and Hispanic people do both of those things very well!

I’ll work on town-sponsored events on Flower Street. I will work on planting the seeds to establish a Saturday morning “Flower Street Flower Market.”

I’ll work on embellishing our parks, with things that attract people of all types. Imagine these: a pump-track, a set of outdoor ping-pong tables, or bocce ball courts, and chess tables — all simple things we can do, and each brings diversity to the proverbial table in and of itself. And then eventually with funding, a skate park and more uses for Heron Park!

Orris: I feel that one of the best ways to unite our population is through a community center. I’m looking forward to working with the council on ways to, a), finance such an idea — whether it’s fixing up the multipurpose building on Flower Street or a new facility in the future through grants and partnerships and, b), work with the community on the type of programming that facility would offer to not only our children but our elderly population and everyone in between of all races and backgrounds.

I’ve always felt Berlin has been welcoming, and that’s due to mutual respect and our collective charm. Before the facility, I feel we can work with our [Economic and Community Development Department], the Berlin Community Improvement Association, our chamber of commerce and other partners to find ways to diversify events and bring the entirety of our Berlin community together.

Nichols: Building a community center that would serve the entire town could be the one of the biggest ways to unite the town. Our children would be working and playing together in enrichment programs that would foster bounds that cross the racial/economical divide.

Until the community center is established, we could start on a smaller scale with community gardens and neighborhood morals, which could pair up our youth with older residents of the town to help build a sense of ownership and bonds between the generations. These projects can be located on the eastern side of [U.S. Route] 113 as well as the main areas of town, which again will strengthen the connections throughout the entire community.

Packey: We have to maintain and expand our policy of inclusion.  Make a deliberate effort to let the diverse population know that they are part of Berlin and that their opinions matter. Communicate with the residents and see what they would like in terms of special events.

Moreover, the tangible efforts need to be worthwhile and cost effective.  Examples could include, opening a youth center utilizing the available facility, holding a Latin Music festival and perhaps a crabcake/crab soup competition all held in District 3.  That way the diverse population enjoyably increase their participation with all of Berlin and would have visible proof that they are a valued part of the community.

What are some of your objectives to increase the town’s resilience and sustainability amid climate change?

Knerr: The good news for the residents of Berlin is that town officials began working on a resilience element in 2019. They received a $20,000 grant and worked with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to draft a plan which will be included in the [comprehensive plan] by the end of 2020.

The resilience plan is a long-term initiative that will guide us through any major disaster, whether it is climate or human related. Berlin is not prone to coastal flooding, but we do get severe rains that cause major flooding on many of the low-lying areas in Berlin.

Unfortunately, correcting this flooding will take several million dollars and a lot of these flooding issues have yet to be addressed. We also know that in the next century we will experience rising sea levels, increased water temps and higher air temps throughout our area.

This will have a major impact on our health, air quality, power usage and water availability. Going forward Berlin needs to have our Storm Water Management Plan updated to make sure we are applying the best and most cost-effective corrective actions necessary. We need to be extremely diligent about applying for grant funding. I would recommend we adopt green infrastructure when it comes to new development. Education of our residents would also be one of my objectives. The Berlin resilience element is an excellent guide for outlining a long-term vision for resilience and sustainability.

Weeg: I will work with experts to devise plans to handle flooding, [which is] our chief concern in this area. I will look for solutions that are not short-sighted, that are not grandiose, but that are pragmatic. Starting with small things that make big changes and working our way up to long-term goals with good data are the only ways forward. I would also like to see the town put more resources into renewable energy electricity production as opposed to continuing to rely on non-renewable fossil fuels.

Orris: Through continued development of the reserve policy and updating our comprehensive plan, I think we will be better able to prepare as best we can for any future event. My number one objective will always be the safety of life and property of the residents, businesses and visitors of the town.

Nichols: No comment was provided.

Packey: First, we need to make sure our first responders are adequately funded and properly taken care of. They are on the front line.  Second, we need to identify our strengths and weaknesses. For example, is heat the problem or water damage, perhaps wind? What is the threat? We need to prioritize the threats. We need to identify exactly what we are facing using the best available data. Third, do we need to do something completely new or would strengthening our existing system be the most beneficial and cost effective?

Finally, what is the best approach – mitigation or adaptation? I think we need to approach climate change efficiently to optimize out long run benefit. Because, climate change is real and a long-term problem.  If you are curious, I have co-authored two journal articles on this subject.  I believe they are on-line.  If not, I can make them available to you.

Assuming no one supports an increase in the tax rate next year, do you believe that same rate can be maintained during your four-year term? If yes, what would you do to assure that?

Knerr: Holding the line on the current tax rate will require us to thoroughly look at all spending control options without cutting services and explore new ways to generate revenue that will not place the burden on our taxpayers.

We all know that infrastructure and equipment costs add up. With paving projects and repairs on the horizon, it will be a challenge to keep the budget balanced in the future. However, I do believe with careful planning we can stand firm on our current tax rate in the next four years.

Rather than plan from one year to the next, we need to look five years out and project our revenue and expenses, so we are prepared for what comes next. We need to make sure that all projects are put out to bid rather than select a single source contractor.

We need to thoroughly review each [request for proposal] we put out for bid to make sure we have covered all the necessary contingencies, so we don’t get hit with after the fact change orders. I have direct experience working with $120 million budgets on down, from the many boards I have served on.

Being in business for the past 36 years provided a solid lesson on how to plan and budget my company’s finances that allowed me to grow the operation from one year to the next. This experience will be invaluable while serving on the Berlin Town Council.

Weeg: I believe the challenge for Berlin’s finances lies in our expenses, not in our revenues. Last year, the town had revenues in excess of $15 million, and I believe Berlin can continue to offer the same level of services it offers its residents, without increasing taxes, by improving the efficiency of our operations.

Additionally, we can look at increasing revenue by adjusting the cost of developing commercial and multi-residential projects. We need to strengthen our financial situation and make adjustments to both expenses and other revenue sources before we look at increasing revenue through tax increases.

At the same time, we may want to look at taxing multi-unit properties by the unit, rather than by the single property if we are not already.

I look forward to your vote on Oct. 6.  I am running for the at-large position which means any registered voter from any of our four districts can vote for me! Thank you again, to everyone in Berlin.  Your support has been amazing, and I look forward to making you proud.

Orris: No one can predict what will happen in the future, but what I can promise is that I will always look for opportunities to save first with every budget that the mayor presents to the council every year for the four-year term.

Nichols: I believe that tax rates don’t necessarily have to increase in the immediate future. If we grow the town smarter, we should able to manage tax rates better.

Packey: To be honest, that depends on how and when we get out of the covid problem and minimize its damage on our tourist industry. Other issues that need to be addressed are: Can we review the budget and make the necessary changes that result in increasing our available cash flow so we can build up our reserves and have a stable budget? How do we treat the sewer loan issue?

If we move aggressively and efficiently, I think we can.  I will act and vote in way that encourages those actions. One issue that remains is – what do we do with Heron Park?  I think if we can act in a way that reduces the financial obligations associated with the park (either by selling off part of it or by turning part of it into a revenue generating venue), it will contribute to our ability to keep that current tax rate without the need for increases.