Government’s first responsibility is not to build something new—it’s to protect the essential services residents already depend on. Before we expand programs, construct new amenities, or make new financial commitments, we must first ensure we can sustain public safety, maintain our roads and infrastructure, care for our existing parks, and provide the core services that make Vacaville a safe and desirable place to live. That principle has guided every budget decision I have made as your councilman.

That is why I have consistently raised concerns about Vacaville’s growing structural budget deficit. Today, our City faces an approximately $11 million structural deficit, meaning our ongoing expenses exceed our ongoing revenues. A structural deficit is not created by one bad year—it occurs when recurring spending consistently exceeds recurring revenue. The responsible response is to correct that imbalance, not simply rely on savings to bridge the gap.

Over many years, Vacaville built healthy financial reserves through careful planning and responsible budgeting. Those reserves were intended to protect our community during emergencies, economic downturns, or unforeseen events, not to create additional long-term financial obligations.

The question many residents ask is, “How did we get here?”

The reality is that over the past several years, the City has approved spending on new projects and initiatives while knowing that our revenues were not keeping pace with our long-term obligations. As one of seven members of the City Council, I have often voted against using reserve funds for projects that I believed could wait while the City was operating with a structural deficit. My position has remained consistent: when we are spending more than we bring in, protecting essential services must come before expanding amenities or taking on new commitments.

That does not mean community improvements are unimportant. Parks, recreation, trails, and beautification projects all contribute to our quality of life. But good financial stewardship requires us to distinguish between what we want today and what we can responsibly afford. If we fail to make that distinction, we risk compromising the very services residents expect and deserve from their local government.