Government

We support budget policies that maintain core services, public safety, infrastructure, and economic development while controlling spending. Santa Rosa’s—and other city budgets—should balance expenditures with existing revenue and should include investment in a sustainable reserve. As local governments face significant budget deficits, it is critical to identify reforms and spending reductions through streamlining of processes, utilization of technology and efficiencies through performance metrics accountability. While reducing expenses is critical, not all budget cuts are equal—while some may provide short-term savings, cuts to critical areas like infrastructure and economic development can lead to significantly higher costs in the long run. Neglecting investment in these areas today can result in deteriorating systems, reduced economic growth, and the need for more expensive repairs or interventions in the future. We must focus on lasting solutions towards fiscal stability that will help us attract businesses, grow the tax base, and encourage economic development opportunities across the city.

Given that both sales tax and property tax are key revenue sources for the City, priority should be placed on increasing both as economic development opportunities. By encouraging the redevelopment of underutilized land, we can maximize the stable property tax revenue, while also boosting sales tax through business growth. Strengthening these revenue streams will support sustainable finances, prepare the city for future challenges, and foster lasting economic recovery.

Public safety agencies must continue to be responsive to community needs, evolving with expectations and technology. Strong public safety agencies are critical to the well-being of communities. The Chamber will continue to support the efforts of local public safety agencies to deter criminal behavior while building and maintaining the public’s trust.

The process of creating policy solutions should be data-driven and include input from the business community and topically related industry and sector experts. Government staff should be consistently responsive to policy direction as set by elected officials, be accountable to using a quantitative evidence-based approach when tasked with exploring policy solution models, carry out work that advances established policy, and bring forward program recommendations that support established policy.