VOTE411 Voter Guide

-----Issue 1: I believe we should have a Fair Tax Structure. We need to Keep taxes fair for all - both homeowners, renters and businesses. As such, we will devise an efficient budget with excellent services. In 2024, the board raised taxes to support the increased costs of critical police and fire services. The board repealed the storm water fee; for me it was about fairness in how the fee was applied.

-----Issue 2: Let's open Ferguson Township for more business! We can find thoughtful ways to address density (e.g. encourage housing development for everyone who works here) while Preserving Agriculture.

-----Issue 3: We will mitigate risks associated with critical services. I heard from many constituents re: Rock Springs and I took action that I could. I will continue to explore ways to decrease the cost of infrastructure improvements, utilize infrastructure as a revenue source, and evaluate improved ways to maintain services for all of Ferguson Township.

1. Housing Affordability: Zoning reform, enforcing prohibitions on short-term rentals, and working to ban real-estate price fixing software.

2. Preserving Agriculture: Zoning reform to ensure single family home development does not encroach on our preservation areas.

3. Building a Sense of Community: By being an open book and communicating with residents at every opportunity, we can establish trust, not just with elected officials, but with one another. During an extremely precarious political environment, it is important now, more than ever, that Ferguson Township feels like a home for all.

First, budgets exceed income and are rapidly reducing the Ferguson Township’s reserves. Smaller taxes and fees have already been raised. Projected budgets will be in the red by millions of dollars. This cannot continue without depleting the township’s reserve and greatly increasing taxes. Projected expenditures should be re-evaluated and increased tax rates avoided. Second, very few new single family housing units are being built in the township. New housing has been dominated by condominiums and apartments. This is needed but does not replace affordable workforce housing. The township should facilitate the building of single family units attractive to a growing workforce. Third, within our township there are many unused commercial buildings and office spaces. This indicates the environment is not as attractive for businesses as it should be. Regulations could be evaluated to see if mixed use or hybrid models for use might be found.