As Auditor, I would create a Blue Ribbon Commission to assist in planning for the city financial challenges over the next years –
Create a Blue Ribbon Commission to study the best way to proactively and strategically plan for the economic future of the city. The Commission would be composed of the best financial minds from our universities, businesses and philanthropic organizations. The charge of the Commission would be to study the impact to city services based on the future projections of revenue and expenditure estimates, taking into account future population shifts, long-term debt obligations and pension obligations, and demographic projections. The Commission would make recommendations as to the long-term financial stability of the City, steps that would best serve the city interests and offer a vision for Syracuse on a ten year horizon. It would be funded by corporations and organizations having a vested interest in the City.
The Commission would educate the public, solicit their input, and engage the community in problem-solving through an interactive process.
- First, the problem would be clearly stated. This would entail presenting all the known facts about the issue.
- Any analysis or opinions on the issue or studies done by the City or outside agencies would be made available.
- The information would be posted on the City Website specifically dedicated to presenting and solving these issues in conjunction with citizen input.
- A series of neighborhood meetings would take place where the Mayor and appropriate department heads and City personnel would be present to discuss and present. Such meetings would be held in different quadrants of the City, depending upon whether the issue was City-wide or locally contained.
- There would be a period of time allowing for public response.
- The responses would be made available on the Website and at City Hall for interested parties. Any comments would be solicited.
- The decision with respect to the solution of the problem would be made.
