Trustee candidates debate financial transparency, housing and school safety in Germantown forum

At a Chamber of Commerce candidate forum for Village Trustee District 4, candidates Kristen Bourse and Pastor Greg discussed financial transparency, housing policy, public safety and the village's role in planning for growth.

Kristen Bourse, a licensed financial compliance and auditing professional, made financial oversight the centerpiece of her campaign. She said Germantown needs clearer, more accessible budget reporting, a plan to reduce debt where possible and stricter review of tax-increment financing (TID) and capital projects. Bourse told the forum, "Financial transparency is one of my top priorities," and proposed straightforward budget breakdowns, regular financial updates at board meetings and an emailed newsletter to summarize decisions and project status for residents.

Pastor Greg, a long-time Germantown resident and pastor at St. John (as described in the forum), emphasized community and service. On housing, he said residents' circumstances vary and supported thoughtfully planned housing options that include affordable choices: "We should be able to have very well thought out public housing for other people, people affordable housing, because we aren't a country club."

The candidates diverged on which housing forms to prioritize. Bourse argued for owner-occupied condos and single-family homes consistent with surrounding neighborhoods, saying rental-heavy, high-density development can reduce tax revenue per unit and increase pressure on services. She said the village needs scenario-based planning to test impacts on police, fire, roads, libraries and schools. Pastor Greg said Germantown's population is diverse and that thoughtful affordable and rental options are needed to allow young families and workers to live in the village.

On school safety, Bourse said she would convene a meeting between the village board and the Germantown School Board and invite police and other stakeholders to coordinate planning; she confirmed school board president Russ Ebert told her there had been no formal meetings in recent years. Pastor Greg described his emergency-response experience and said he supports SROs and coordinated safety planning.

Both candidates praised village parks and the library as strengths and urged more resident engagement with committees and commissions. Each candidate suggested improved outreach and clearer role descriptions to address post-pandemic volunteer declines.

No votes or official municipal actions were taken at the forum; the event was intended to help voters compare candidates ahead of election day.