Bill Turner

On the Record

What experiences do you have that make you a good candidate for office?

I have 30 years in maunufacturing for A Fortune 100 Company. I have certificates for Quality Management and QA manufacturing. I have 8 years of experiance as an Alderman. I am a realist. I believe in market forces for development. I believe in financially responsible government and small government. Government should not be part of everyones\' day to day life.

What are your top three priorities if elected?

Continued fiscal responsibility. Completion of a 3rd water Tower to equalize pressure througout the City, especially the northern 3rd Ward. Rehabilitation of the sewer and storm systems that service the areas from the Timbers north. Improving water quality on the west and north sides of the City. Act responsibily when it comes to development. The pluses have to out wiegh the negatives. Quality of Life must be a priority.

Would you support freezing your taxing district’s levy until housing prices rebound? Why or why not?

Sounds good, but City costs keep rising. Holding the amount people pay presently is prudent and insures a continued high service level. Its a fools paradise if one thinks we can cut anymore and still maintain our service levels. We are required by State Law to fund pensions and the like no matter our financial situation. These costs rise every year. We are doing a great job just keeping the money figure people pay constant. We are economizing to just stay at the present level.

What one decision by the city council do you most disagree with and why?

Lexington. I voted against this proposal because it will cost every property tax payer money for the next 20 years. Our Standard Residential Development Model says the developer pays everything, including improvements to the surrounding area if the development causes undo stress in the area. Lexington has stood the Model on its head. Now the taxpayers are paying the developer and because of the TIF our property tax dollare will be used to service an areas that normally would supprt itself and have property tax money left over to use in older sections of the City. Instead of the new areas helping the old areas; the old areas will be paying for the new area. Again, the Standard residential development Model is stood on its head. This is a bad deal for our property tax payers.

What was the biggest accomplishment of the city council in the past year?

Another Balanced Budget, increase funding of our Reserves, and the opening of the Red Gate Bridge.

Why should voters elect you to office?

I am first of all a Realist. I believe in the market to tell us when development is possible. I have 8 years of experiance that has and will be used to decide on courese of action that are actually doable. I will continue to shrink government and keep costs low. I believe goverment should be invisible as possible. I believe people should be confident in their government not suprising them with costs or programs that benefit only a few. Homeowners must be considered first in any decision I make. Homeowners are my first priority