Fiscal Pragmatism & Good Governance
The current City Council has trapped Lynchburg in a false choice between slashing the real estate tax rate and gutting essential city services. We must pivot the conversation away from polarizing tax rate battles and toward the value of services and the structural health of the city's budget.
Broaden the Base, Don't Just Cut the RateA core economic principle of tax policy is to lower rates by broadening the base. Because Lynchburg is landlocked, the city cannot annex more land; it must build inward and upward. By incentivizing infill development and downtown density, the city can dramatically increase its tax revenue, which in turn keeps the tax burden low for single-family neighborhoods like Boonsboro and Timberlake.
Structurally Balanced BudgetsCommit to standard municipal budgeting discipline where ongoing revenues meet ongoing expenses, and one-time money is strictly used for one-time projects.
The Lynchburg Civic Standards PledgeAdvocate for the restoration of civility and professionalism on the dais. City Council exists to be a policy-making body, not to meddle in the day-to-day operations of the City Manager or the School Board. I will commit to working collaboratively, evaluating items based on merit, and ending the theatrical "point of order" disruptions.