Age: 47
Address: 2132 20th Ave.
Occupation/Employer: Property & Casualty Insurance
Community involvement: Current Monroe Country Club Board member; St. Clare of Assisi Parish member; Mike Muranyi Junior Golf Foundation secretary; YMCA children's football and basketball coach; former Monroe Public Library Trustee.
Education: B.A. English; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Previous experience and achievements (in government or other entities): Currently - Ward 3 Alderman, first term; Public Safety Committee chairman; Information Technology Committee chairman; and Public Works board member. Formerly - Finance and Taxation Committee chairman; Salary and Personnel Committee member; Revolving Loan Fund member; Mayor's Ad Hoc Task Force (dissolved) member; School District - Community Budget Task Force (dissolved) member.
1) What is the role of city government? What should city government do? What should city government stay out of?
The role of city government is to promote the general welfare, peace, good order and prosperity of its citizens. The city should promote and encourage excellence in providing the community the services of police and fire protection, parks and recreation, health and human services, public works, zoning and building code enforcement, and orderly city planning. The city should stay out of those areas that are best provided for by the private sector.
2) Aldermen and the mayor work closely together and with the city administrator and other city employees, as well as the public. How would you describe your personality and management style?
I would describe my personality as friendly and organized. I would describe my management style as collaborative. No one person has complete knowledge of any subject. For the democratic process to function at its best, all stakeholders must have a voice.
3) With the Mayor having a close working association with city employees, it is of public interest to know, how much in the way of campaign contributions you have received from city employees? Would you accept any?
I have not nor do I intend to receive or solicit any contributions. I would not accept contributions from city employees.
4) With the money the city saved in 2011, especially during this mild winter, why can't Monroe have a Spring Clean-up Days program this year?
Monroe can have this program. The cost to the taxpayers for Clean-up Days is over $100,000 annually. If citizens think the program is valuable, they should contact their alderperson to express their opinion. I don't think it should be an annual event due to the cost. But if the taxpayers think that the benefits outweigh the costs, the city could run the program every three to four years.
5) What should the city do to support an effort to invigorate the business environment, especially in the tax increment districts, and to increase business, industrial and job growth in the city in general?
The past financial practices of the city should not be repeated. The single most effective thing the city can do to invigorate the business environment is to get its own financial house in order. The city continues to tax a lot more than it spends. Times are difficult for both families and businesses and every little bit helps. Furthermore, taxing more than is needed puts pressure on the budget of the school district. A strong, well-funded school district encourages businesses, employees and families to live and stay in Monroe. The city's five tax increment districts have tax revenues of about $800,000, and debt payments of about $1 million. This means that these districts generate 80 cents of tax for every dollar of debt that they owe. A good comparison is a home foreclosure. If the monthly payment is $1,000 but you can only afford to pay $800 - the math is pretty simple. The city should consider ending the districts as soon as possible to eliminate their expanding drain on the city's general fund balance. There are many things the city can do to attract business and job growth. The most important is to have low taxes by using common sense budgeting. Low taxes help attract business, create new home construction, and encourage people to maintain and improve their properties.
6) The city needs to find new sources of revenue without raising taxes. Some nonprofit organizations are exempt from property and equipment taxes, even though they benefit from many city-provided services. Would you favor the city starting a Payment In-Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) program, which would increase revenue from nonprofits, such as hospitals, colleges and churches that share the city services but don't pay for it?
I disagree with the premise that the city needs to raise additional revenue. Historically, on an annual basis the city raises more in taxes than it spends on services. However, PILOTS do have their uses when an entity is seeking something specific from the city such as a loan, bonding, or zoning approval, and I am not opposed to their use in such narrow situations.
7) Have you ever failed to pay taxes when you were supposed to (i.e., on time)?
I do not recall being late in paying my property taxes. Any public official who can't or won't pay their property taxes within a reasonable time frame from the due date loses all public trust and should not seek election.
8) What should the city be doing about the illegal drugs that are making inroads into the community?
The city needs to promote an environment in which individuals, families, churches, schools, community organizations and businesses can thrive and support each other, thereby reducing the root causes of substance abuse. The health of citizens is directly related to the health of the city. We need to tax no more than what is needed. We need to maintain our quality recreation and senior programs. We need to fund a well maintained police department and school district. We should create a strong economic development team to attract business to offer jobs. All of these things lead to better health for citizens and our community.
Address: 2132 20th Ave.
Occupation/Employer: Property & Casualty Insurance
Community involvement: Current Monroe Country Club Board member; St. Clare of Assisi Parish member; Mike Muranyi Junior Golf Foundation secretary; YMCA children's football and basketball coach; former Monroe Public Library Trustee.
Education: B.A. English; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Previous experience and achievements (in government or other entities): Currently - Ward 3 Alderman, first term; Public Safety Committee chairman; Information Technology Committee chairman; and Public Works board member. Formerly - Finance and Taxation Committee chairman; Salary and Personnel Committee member; Revolving Loan Fund member; Mayor's Ad Hoc Task Force (dissolved) member; School District - Community Budget Task Force (dissolved) member.
1) What is the role of city government? What should city government do? What should city government stay out of?
The role of city government is to promote the general welfare, peace, good order and prosperity of its citizens. The city should promote and encourage excellence in providing the community the services of police and fire protection, parks and recreation, health and human services, public works, zoning and building code enforcement, and orderly city planning. The city should stay out of those areas that are best provided for by the private sector.
2) Aldermen and the mayor work closely together and with the city administrator and other city employees, as well as the public. How would you describe your personality and management style?
I would describe my personality as friendly and organized. I would describe my management style as collaborative. No one person has complete knowledge of any subject. For the democratic process to function at its best, all stakeholders must have a voice.
3) With the Mayor having a close working association with city employees, it is of public interest to know, how much in the way of campaign contributions you have received from city employees? Would you accept any?
I have not nor do I intend to receive or solicit any contributions. I would not accept contributions from city employees.
4) With the money the city saved in 2011, especially during this mild winter, why can't Monroe have a Spring Clean-up Days program this year?
Monroe can have this program. The cost to the taxpayers for Clean-up Days is over $100,000 annually. If citizens think the program is valuable, they should contact their alderperson to express their opinion. I don't think it should be an annual event due to the cost. But if the taxpayers think that the benefits outweigh the costs, the city could run the program every three to four years.
5) What should the city do to support an effort to invigorate the business environment, especially in the tax increment districts, and to increase business, industrial and job growth in the city in general?
The past financial practices of the city should not be repeated. The single most effective thing the city can do to invigorate the business environment is to get its own financial house in order. The city continues to tax a lot more than it spends. Times are difficult for both families and businesses and every little bit helps. Furthermore, taxing more than is needed puts pressure on the budget of the school district. A strong, well-funded school district encourages businesses, employees and families to live and stay in Monroe. The city's five tax increment districts have tax revenues of about $800,000, and debt payments of about $1 million. This means that these districts generate 80 cents of tax for every dollar of debt that they owe. A good comparison is a home foreclosure. If the monthly payment is $1,000 but you can only afford to pay $800 - the math is pretty simple. The city should consider ending the districts as soon as possible to eliminate their expanding drain on the city's general fund balance. There are many things the city can do to attract business and job growth. The most important is to have low taxes by using common sense budgeting. Low taxes help attract business, create new home construction, and encourage people to maintain and improve their properties.
6) The city needs to find new sources of revenue without raising taxes. Some nonprofit organizations are exempt from property and equipment taxes, even though they benefit from many city-provided services. Would you favor the city starting a Payment In-Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) program, which would increase revenue from nonprofits, such as hospitals, colleges and churches that share the city services but don't pay for it?
I disagree with the premise that the city needs to raise additional revenue. Historically, on an annual basis the city raises more in taxes than it spends on services. However, PILOTS do have their uses when an entity is seeking something specific from the city such as a loan, bonding, or zoning approval, and I am not opposed to their use in such narrow situations.
7) Have you ever failed to pay taxes when you were supposed to (i.e., on time)?
I do not recall being late in paying my property taxes. Any public official who can't or won't pay their property taxes within a reasonable time frame from the due date loses all public trust and should not seek election.
8) What should the city be doing about the illegal drugs that are making inroads into the community?
The city needs to promote an environment in which individuals, families, churches, schools, community organizations and businesses can thrive and support each other, thereby reducing the root causes of substance abuse. The health of citizens is directly related to the health of the city. We need to tax no more than what is needed. We need to maintain our quality recreation and senior programs. We need to fund a well maintained police department and school district. We should create a strong economic development team to attract business to offer jobs. All of these things lead to better health for citizens and our community.