I am writing to express my surprise regarding the recent town hall meeting held by Baker City Hall. As a resident who prides themselves on staying informed about municipal affairs, I was taken aback to learn that this event had occurred without my prior knowledge.

City officials, led by City Manager Barry Murphy, hosted a public town hall on Wednesday evening, May 1, at the Senior Center to address the city’s financial challenges and field questions. Of particular concern was the proposal to introduce a five-year property tax levy, which will be put to a vote in the upcoming May 21 election.

Furthermore, I found it ironic that discussions revolved around implementing a property tax levy and a city water bill safety fee, despite both the BCPD and BCFD being fully funded in fiscal 2024 — where the choice of venue, the Senior Center, residents are not subject to the proposed levy or water bills, added a layer of irony to the gathering.

City Hall, I strongly believe it is imperative to explore alternative solutions rather than resorting to the status quo (three years running). Initiatives such as implementing a city gasoline tax at 4 cents a gallon (potentially generating $500,000 or more), repurposing idle assets like EMT vehicles into a medical transport service (potentially adding $500,000), or adjusting outdated cemetery fees could provide sustainable revenue streams without overburdening property owners.

Additionally, increasing the city franchise fee by 5% and incorporating newly installed fiber optic and cellular providers into the fee structure could yield an additional $150,000 in revenue generation.

As Mark Twain aptly stated, “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.” It is evident that we need to broaden our perspective on future revenue generation and consider alternative options to address ongoing budget shortfalls without unduly burdening city taxpayers.

I urge city officials to thoroughly explore all available avenues for general fund budgetary revenue/offset generation, and to engage residents more transparently and in a comprehensive manner.

Only through critical-thinking efforts can we ensure the long-term financial well-being and prosperity of our wonderful community.

Michael Russell

Baker City