06/2017 Mayor's Corner JUNE 2017
Message from the Mayor
Outreach Begins on Funding of City Services
I am pleased to announce the city's Budget Committee has approved the Fiscal Year 2017-
2018 Budget. It will be submitted to Council on June 13. The Budget Committee held
multiple public meetings on the proposed budget and discussed how to position the city for
ongoing financial challenges. The approved budget aligns with our commitment to remain a
fiscally responsible city.
Here's what is important to know about the approved budget:
• We are investing the small amount of available resources in select existing programs to
maintain current service levels in those areas.
• We are committed to hearing from you to inform the city's decision on whether to
pursue a local option levy that would allow us to maintain our current level of services.
To date, we have administered two community surveys to engage more than 1,500
residents on the funding of city services.
We have only begun our public outreach efforts. City staff and elected officials will be
available at community events such as the farmers markets, Festival of Balloons and Taste
of Tigard, throughout the summer. For the full list of community events, visit www.tigard-
or.gov/community/events. We hope you will take the time to talk with us at these events
about what matters most to your quality of life in Tigard, as well as ask any questions you
might have.
In addition to these efforts, we have formed a Levy and Bond Task Force to explore the
advancement of voter-approved measures for city services and facilities. The Task Force is
comprised of 18 Tigard residents that will meet throughout the summer to learn about and
discuss city finances, how services are funded and community priorities in order to make
recommendations to the City Council in October.
We will continue to add opportunities throughout the summer to meet you to discuss
balancing the need to preserve what makes Tigard so great while charting a sustainable
financial path.
My next "Fireside Chat with the Mayor" is on June 1, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at
Symposium Coffee, 12345 SW Main St.
My June quote of the month is by Thomas Jefferson, "We in America do not have
government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate."