These are my guiding principles as I serve as your Treasurer:
The public entrusts the board with their hard earned tax dollars and expects value in return. I have always supported budgeting practices that go from the bottom up rather than the top down. We have passed balanced budgets that paid down $40 million in long-term debt, saving $10 million into a capital reserve fund, and reaffirming our AAA credit rating.
We have identified many innovative ways to keep costs down including moving to a self-insured medical plan for employees and retirees, offering EMS transport service that enables us to bill insurance carriers for reimbursement, or identifying activities we can partner with other municipalities in such as assessing or animal welfare.
Fiscal Discipline
Property Rights
The best government is the least intrusive government, as we should respect property owners’ rights. To that end I have always been opposed to eminent domain and have championed the rolling back of unnecessary regulation, for example the need to appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals to install a play structure or basketball hoop. It is also vital to balance developer’s rights as property owners with the neighborhoods that they want to build in. I have always balanced new development with conservation of green space.
Security
We must have best-in-class public safety services; our physical safety and the protection of our property is paramount. Whether a young family or a senior aging-in-place, all Bloomfield residents expect that our elected leaders will ensure that we have a trained and equipped world-class police force and fire/EMS service. I have always advocated for training opportunities for our services, or participation in joint task forces with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department or the FBI, OAKTAC or OAKWAY, as ways of differentiating and strengthening our police and fire departments.
I am always accessible to the residents via email, text or voice call, social media, and through my website so that I can help deliver information that residents want regarding township affairs as well as to gather feedback on matters coming to the board for action. I also like to serve as a problem solver for residents on issues they are dealing with related to township affairs or regulations.