As executive director of the Lincoln Independent Business Association, I would like to  thank Mayor Chris Beutler and the Lincoln City Council for presenting and adopting a city budget that did not increase property taxes. LIBA appreciated the opportunity to work with both Mayor Beutler and the City Council throughout the process to help develop a balanced budget. That dialogue laid the foundation for a healthy working relationship.

Recently, Mayor Beutler addressed LIBA members and guests at the monthly LIBA membership luncheon. Mayor Beutler acknowledged that while he and the City Council balanced the budget this year with considerable cuts, difficult choices loom overhead for next year’s budget process as well. The mayor stated, “While I would like to tell you that this year is truly the end of chronic deficits and a beginning to greater investment in infrastructure to create jobs, I must tell you instead that more work remains in the budget. While we made tremendous progress on cutting the budget, the time frame was too short to make more thoughtful, long-term changes we need.” LIBA agrees with this assessment. Thoughtful, long-term changes are necessary.

Mayor Beutler suggested that expanding economic development and making government more efficient could bring about such changes. As stated in his speech, the mayor has worked with community representatives to improve the tax increment financing policy, making it a more useful tool for economic development. As local governing bodies continue to meet to discuss such projects as the arena, and others that may come along, we hope this tool will spur such growth.

Mayor Beutler also addressed the need to invest in roads. His plan to approach the Legislature and federal government for additional funding is reasonable, and we support his efforts to do so.

The LIBA Board of Directors and I were also encouraged by Mayor Beutler’s early efforts to make government more efficient by creating an audit board, evaluating road design and construction standards, and working toward the centralization of the development services center. We agree that these efforts provide a good start and hope the mayor will continue to improve efficiency where possible.

LIBA believes the proposed changes will produce effective local government that would not require a burdening tax increase to sustain itself. Everyone pays for such tax increases, from the job-creating entrepreneur business owner to the hard-working union wage earner, and especially the struggling fixed-income senior. Money left in the pockets of the citizen is allowed to multiply, being spent freely on goods and services that improve their lives and grow the local economy.

LIBA believes all citizens must participate in the political process to ensure government efficiency. LIBA, whose 1,050 members are primarily business owners, understands the importance of operating within a budget and with the greatest efficiency possible. As the mayor and city council face another difficult budget session next year, LIBA hopes to again engage in a productive dialogue with city leaders and lend its expertise to constructively contribute to process and help produce a balanced budget without an increase in property tax.

The mayor summed up his speech with the following: “For too long this city has sat back and said, ‘maybe next year.’ In the meantime, we fall further and further behind in our road building. And we fail to make the changes that speed our city permitting process and encourage investment. The cities that compete with us across this country and across this world will not wait. The businesses that fight everyday for market share will not wait. So why does Lincoln, Nebraska, wait? Well, this mayor believes that next year is long past overdue. From here on out, I want this community to be on notice: We wait for no one.”

I agree. Mayor, we congratulate you on a successful four months!

Coby Mach is executive director of the Lincoln Independent Business Association.