It was concerning to receive the City of Summit’s 2020 Municipal Budget Snapshot this past weekend with entirely “pre-COVID” figures featured throughout. An outdated financial outlook 8 weeks into quarantine does not garner much confidence in our elected representatives’ pledge “to adopt a budget with the most current information available [...] and greater public participation.”

Transparency and inclusion must guide Summit’s budget process - even or perhaps especially in these difficult times. What is at question is not just dollars and cents, but rather the continued provision of essential City services including but not limited to police, fire, and sanitation.

As such we are calling for Common Council, alongside city staff, to reset this year's budget process with a dedicated workshop. The mechanics driving a tax increase of any size warrants a deeper discussion. A workshop would allow residents to hear firsthand the new assumptions we are operating under and open a much-needed discussion of the City’s financial priorities as we move through and ultimately out of this crisis.

Thank you for your interest and support,

Eileen Kelly, Common Council Candidate - Ward 1
Kirsten McCumber, Common Council Candidate - Ward 2