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Candidates split on using reserves: "one-time" for capital, never for ongoing costs, say most
Summary
Forum responses showed consensus that operating budgets must balance while opinions varied on using one-time reserves for capital; several candidates urged new revenue or spending cuts to avoid eroding reserves.
Candidates were aligned in principle that ongoing operating costs should not be balanced by tapping reserves, but they offered differing priorities and remedies for the city's fiscal shortfall.
Jeremy Yamaguchi said operating budgets need to be balanced "100% of the time" and that reserves should be used for one-time capital investments, not ongoing costs. Ward Smith and Tom Hummer emphasized the need for the finance department to track budgets and for council to be prepared to delay or scale projects during shortfalls.
Colson Hauck Teal pressed for immediate spending restraint, calling several recent projects "pet projects" that should be delayed in a deficit year. Teal warned of continuing to "spend money we don't really have" and called for halting nonessential expenditures until reserves recover. Candidates discussed revenue options such as supporting business attraction but said sustainability requires both revenue-building and spending discipline.
No candidate advocated systematically using reserves to cover recurring expenses; most proposed a mix of improved fiscal oversight, targeted cuts and seeking alternative revenue and grants for capital projects.
