Goldman Only Candidate Opposed to Record Taxes and Spending in City Council budget

Goldman for Mayor - 20 May 2008 - For Immediate Release: Contact, 804-833-6313

Goldman: "Last month, a leader of City Council was criticizing City Hall for wanting record high taxes and wasteful spending even though City Hall said money was tight. Yet, while Council now concedes money is tight, they have too have now proposed record high real estate taxes and city government spending on citizens and businesses."

(Richmond) Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, says that while he is "pleased City Council adopted my proposal of abolishing those undocumented and wasteful car allowances given to as perks to a handful of high-level government employees" he gives the proposed Council budget an "overall failing F grade due the fact that it is out of touch with the economic squeeze being faced by many in Richmond's business community and far too many of our citizens."

"There is an economic squeeze being felt right now in the private sector, affecting so many businesses and Richmond workers and their families. But City Council either doesn't see it, or refuses to see it and this can be shown in part by their refusal to make sure as much of the wasteful spending of city government that could be cut will be cut. This can be seen not only on my own analysis of the bloated city government structure, but also on the findings, reported for all citizens to read in the newspapers, of the audits conducted by City Council's own appointed city auditor" Goldman said.

"Last month, "Goldman continued " a leader of city council was criticizing the Mayor for saying money was tight yet asking for record high spending and taxes.

"Yet now, while City Council concedes that money is tight, they too want record high real estate taxes and wasteful spending.

"We need to stop this same ole, same old budget game. We need a real change in the city's budget process and I have already detailed a plan for how this is going to happen in a Goldman Administration, saving many millions of dollars for citizens while reshaping a bloated administrative structure so that we can get a better, less costly and far more efficient delivery of services to the people."

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