One of the biggest frustrations for Ramsey residents is the condition of our roads. As your council member, I promise to use data-driven methods to evaluate the best and most cost-effective way to maintain and repair our roads.
I support the Franchise Fee . Roads generally last 50-60 years, when properly maintained. We need to have a long term solution, not just for this generation of Ramsey residents, but also for generations to come. This is a long term plan that will save Ramsey Residents tax dollars for years to come without kicking the can down the road and having to deal with it over and over.
The Staff and City Council for the City of Ramsey have researched, gathered info , received valuable public feedback, and debated for over five years to find the best solution for our city. It sure seems to be the most efficient option for Ramsey with the least economic impact for most residents and businesses.
My opponent does not support the Franchise Fee and proposes to carve money from the budget to pay for our road infrastructure. That would mean budget cuts of over 13%! He hasn't told us what services those cuts will come from. Will he cut our police force, fire fighters or snow plow drivers? He has misstated the fee structure, particularly for the 3 large businesses in our city, stating that they will be charged per meter. The fee is charged per account, not per meter. As laid out in the second section below, I believe budget cuts to be a very short sighted and unrealistic stopgap to a long term need for our city. As a business owner, I would welcome the franchise fee solution when compared to the other options.