TO: The Editor

FROM: Steve Kozachik, Tucson City

Council candidate

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RE: City audit

In a National Public Radio report in February, reporter Eric Weiner listed the early warning signs of the possibility of a city going bankrupt, which has happened to 32 cities since 1980. The signs include falling property values, a weak local economy, unfunded pension liabilities and infrastructure repairs that stretch the local budget to uncomfortable levels.

The nation’s economy has been in a funk for several quarters. However, when a municipal government engages in activities that exacerbate that downturn, one wonders about the wisdom of the leadership. Forbes recently conducted a survey in which Tucson was ranked a lowly No. 133 among similarly sized cities in terms of business and career development.

And considering that in the past year we watched over 14,000 jobs leave the Tucson area, it is remarkable our leadership has not been more proactive in turning towards policies that incentivize local business activity.

Early last spring, the mayor and Council committed to providing an independent audit of our local finances. They also voted to hold periodic open meetings to give progress reports on the work surrounding downtown development. Perhaps the single most important element of any government, in order to prevent corruption, is to make provision for transparency and openness.

Public officials’ actions are demonstrably more consistently aligned with the interests of their constituents when subject to scrutiny. Would scrutiny lessen the inclination to give public assets away at bargain basement prices? Would public scrutiny encourage policies that offer proper incentives to local business development? Would such scrutiny forestall spending for non-essentials while leaving pension obligations underfunded? Would we see exorbitant cost overruns if the public were made more openly aware of prior missteps on other projects?

How about that audit, Mr. Mayor? How about calling for that audit, council members? How about taking a stand for transparency in the upcoming elections, electorate?