Budget

Asked where the $3.4 million in excluded solid waste costs would land if Waste Management hadn't taken over billing — suggesting the balanced budget looks better than it is.

As a financial planner, worried about rising salary and benefit costs and whether the city can afford its own police and fire departments; offered to present a voluntary group insurance proposal.

Passionate plea that residents come first: criticized prioritizing staff and agencies over residents, cited 1,300 protest signatures on the water rate increase, and asked the council to trim spending before raising costs.

Asked about salary caps for all city employees and whether tax-exempt large entities inside the city are paying their fair share.

Objected to a $25,362 'committed exceptional performance' line item as a bonus during budget cutting.

Asked why sewer line rehab cost overruns weren't folded into the $4 million sewer-to-water loan.

Argued general fund spending has grown 67% in ten years versus 35% inflation, calling the trajectory unsustainable and urging the council to make hard cuts.

Warned the city is heading toward bankruptcy, questioned benefit growth, and demanded deeper accountability on rising expenditures.

Lambasted the cumulative tax burden — a $256 million school bond costing $600+ million to repay — and asked who advocates for private school families who get none of it.