Responsible Government Requires Discipline

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Putting long-term financial stability ahead of short-term political decisions.

The long-term success of any city depends on how effectively it applies its combined resources in a focused manner to address community needs and priorities.  In today’s economic climate, future and ongoing success will be dependent on how consistently our City government aligns its priorities and spending with what it can financially sustain over an extended period of time.

Two major examples that remain unresolved is overbuilt infrastructure and significant blight in neighborhoods.    

In Danville, financial decisions have real and immediate impact on residents, businesses, and the future of the community. Fees, taxes, and funding priorities are not isolated actions. They shape how our residents and businesses will need to adjust their own choices, operations, and budgets to account for the additional taxes/fees required by City Government.   

A well-managed city is built on predictable & reliable revenue sources with ongoing consideration of the volatility and/or potential loss of the revenue. It establishes priorities based on what those revenues can support and makes decisions that hold up not just in the present, but over the long term. This approach allows for more thoughtful planning, more predictable and reliable service delivery, provides a stronger foundation for growth, and/or provides stability for weathering economic challenges in the future.    

When major financial decisions are made without that structure, the result is a system that becomes harder to maintain and more difficult to plan around. Stability requires consistency, and consistency begins with disciplined budgeting.  During recent budget discussions, the current administration acknowledged they have no backup plan for paying that minimum portion of the Police & Fire pensions if the Casino revenues were interrupted and/or diminished.  Upon further questions as to the fiscal prudence of such a plan, Mayor Williams finally responded the solution would include a significant property tax increase.  Danville deserves better financial planning than that.  As Mayor I will ensure the Police and Fire pensions will be guaranteed for payment first and foremost, by the assigned stable revenues within the Property Tax, Public Safety Fee, and the General Fund.

Financial gains have been experienced in City pension funds attributable to stock market gains, covid-era revenue supplements/reimbursements, real estate market changes during covid, and other positive impacts resulting from City financial policies and economic conditions.  Now is NOT THE TIME to gamble away those gains by relying on the wrong revenue source to ensure their continued payment.  This is yet another example that Danville IS NOT currently demonstrating “best practices” in financial stewardship Casino revenues.       

My approach reflects the standards I have worked under throughout my career in public service. It requires a clear evaluation of current obligations, a comprehensive analysis of anticipated changes in conditions or cost structures, thoughtful and participative engagement regarding future priorities. The hopeful result is a consensus-based approach that aligns priority spending with available financial resources.  All this and a commitment to making decisions that are effective in satisfying immediate needs of Danville Additional while increasing long-term sustainability.

Residents and taxpayers should have a clear understanding of how their fees and tax dollars are being charged, how they are to be used, and how those decisions and limitations support the priorities of the City.  Fees and taxes should not be “shifted” for purposes or uses other than which they were created.  I will propose and modify Ordinance language to protect and limit critical community investment funds from being used for personnel expenses resulting from a Mayor’s desire to expand the size of City government. Additional investment in the business community of Danville needs to be our highest priority.  

That level of transparency and commitment strengthens confidence in the leadership of our City and improves the quality and consistency of decision-making.

With this election, Danville has the opportunity to move into the future in a way that is stable, responsible, and sustainable. Achieving that requires leadership that approaches financial management with discipline and respect for the individuals, organizations and businesses that provide the financial resources entrusted to it.

That is the standard I believe professional leadership pursues for any organization and that is the standard Danville should expect with Doug Ahrens as your Mayor! 

Doug Ahrens