07/09/2026
I have been very disappointed with how I've been thrown under the bus and personally attacked by a few on FB (especially some who I thought were friends). I look at but choose not to respond to social media banter*. However, in this case I feel a response is warranted. I am not against thoughtful disagreement, but I most certainly do not respect or appreciate rage posting & personal attacks.
Many have stated that I and my colleagues ran on lowering our taxes. To be clear, I ran on stopping the trend of increasing the rate of our mill levy that had occurred over the last couple of years (to the current level of 54.506) and actually trying to lower it back to the +/- 50 mill levy rate that had historically determined our ad valorem tax obligation for the city and I intend to do that, but there is a process. Since taking office 6 months ago I have painstakingly done research, created spreadsheets and met with and questioned city staff regarding budgets and spending. Please remember, none of us can do anything about the ever increasing property values in our community.
The vote at our meeting last Tuesday was to either blindly establish a revenue neutral mill levy rate of 51.056 for the budget OR set a budget hearing date that could result in a higher mill levy (up to 54.506). I am being harshly judged for moving the process forward and not agreeing to just blindly accept the revenue neutral rate for the 2027 budget. Had we adopted that rate, it could adversely affect many residents, but we don't know because an actual budget derived from that mill levy was not presented to us. At this point in the process, more information is needed from city staff. I also ran on bringing common sense and good judgement to the commission. That requires knowing the facts and understanding the consequences of our votes. The budget process is complicated, difficult and ongoing and I will do my best to bring whatever relief I can to the taxpayers. With that, every dollar not charged to the taxpayer is a dollar that is not available for some service to residents that someone thinks we need or for some financial obligation that previous commissions have committed us to.
I will listen to citizen’s concerns, work respectfully with city staff and serve with integrity. I have no other agenda!
(* My contact info is on the city website. I won’t respond to banter on this format. It is a time drain that I can better spend working productively for MHK and responding to citizens directly.)
