It's time to 'move on': Elect Susan Rice as Rochester's next mayor

Mayoral candidates Susan Rice, Paul Callaghan (City of Rochester screenshots)

Both of Rochester's mayoral candidates professed at last Monday's Candidates Night that they were fiscal conservatives.
But if you listen to their statements it is clear that Mayor Paul Callaghan is a fiscal conservative for the city, while challenger Sue Rice is a fiscal conservative for "the people."
What does that mean?
Well, it means that Callaghan does the city's bidding in pushing for use of the unassigned fund balance to pad reserve accounts and pay for capital improvement projects without putting them into the city's yearly budget.
What is the unassigned fund balance? It's money that flows into city coffers from auto registrations, Waste Management fees it pays the city and other revenue streams.
The unassigned fund balance is estimated to be around $38 million, far in excess of what New Hampshire's Department of Revenue Administration recommends.
Critics of the city's use of the unassigned fund balance estimate that if the city trimmed down its unassigned fund balance to align with the DRA's recommended funding, the city could deliver $15,000 checks to every property owner in the city, something most folks could use in these times of double digit inflation.
At a recent state of the city event Callaghan bragged that interest on funds held in the unassigned fund balance earned the city $800,000 in interest, which he said made good fiscal sense for the city.
Well, how bout making some good fiscal sense for the people.
In response to a questionnaire sent by The Rochester Voice to all mayoral and City Council candidates Rice stated that capital improvement projects should not be funded via the unassigned fund balance.
" Capital improvement projects should be placed in the capital improvement program and funded accordingly through the budget keeping in compliance with the city's tax cap compliance," she said.

She also said sending checks to property taxpayers would be considered under her watch.

"Yes, I would consider this option," she said. "I believe in fair accountable, transparent taxation. Any portion returned to the residents should be in direct proportion of their tax assessed value and payment."
Callaghan, meanwhile, has routinely cast votes to expend the unassigned fund balance, pilfering the people's money to pad reserve accounts and fund big-ticket items that should've been placed in the annual capital improvement budget.
"That's how they get around the tax cap," noted state rep Tom Kaczynski. "It's all about stashing the cash."
In addition Under Callaghan's watch, city government has delved into the day care and nonprofit industry, places government has no business being.
Susan Rice provides the city with a chance to step back from the reckless spending that gives city workers three weeks of vacation after six months on the job.
Callaghan has been on government's payroll for decades.
Sue Rice is an entrepreneur from the private sector who cares deeply about the city.
Callaghan, meanwhile, cares deeply about himself.
Let's right the ship. Vote for Susan Rice.

- HT