Vote Tom Rowse For Gaithersburg City Council

My Platform

Lower the Property Tax Rate: Two years ago, the City Council raised the property tax rate by a staggering 24%. I believe that the rate should be lowered in the next budget cycle.This would put more money back in the hands of taxpayers and help stimulate business in the city. Fifty percent of the money raised by the tax increase was earmarked for economic development. However, to date that money has not been spent on economic development. To add another burden to taxpayers during this unstable economic climate and then not use the funds appropriately, means that taxes were too high and it must be adjusted accordingly. With taxes going up at the state and county levels, this downward correction is a necessary adjustment to ease the burden on city residents.

Maintain a Balanced Budget: The budget is the single biggest issue facing this city. With two-thirds of city revenue coming from property taxes, it is important that we work to expand our tax base which means maintaining and growing the value of property city wide.

Create Jobs: The second largest portion of city revenue comes from income taxes so it is important to have a strong and stable base of jobs within the city.

Public Safety: The largest expenditure by the city government is for public safety. The Gaithersburg Police Department and its job of protecting citizens is of the utmost importance. A critical goal is a fully staffed department that has all of the necessary tools and training to do its job right.

Olde Towne Revitalization: The revitalization of Olde Towne continues to be an urgent issue and we need to work towards the solidification of our city center now. Growth in this area will help offset the revenue disparity between the East and West sides of Gaithersburg, thus tying the entire city together in a cohesive manner. Now is the time to do it.

Build a Senior Center: I believe that constructing a state of the art Senior Center is crucial for area seniors. Over the next 20 years, we will see the aging Boomer population start retiring. It is important that we plan now to handle their future needs. They need a safe and convenient place to go. This needs to be started and completed as quickly as possible.

Communications Plan: Communication between the city and residents is of the utmost importance. In recent years much of the framework for effective communication has been discarded with only web-based and email communication planned for the future. This is unacceptable and a framework has to be developed and implemented immediately in multiple forms of media, including print and mailers.