Jobs, economy surface as Janesville issues

Mar 3, 2010 — The Janesville Gazette

Marcia Nelesen

Mar. 3, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- JANESVILLE -- Jobs and the economy were the refrain running through much of the discussion during a Janesville City Council candidate forum Tuesday.

Five candidates are running for three open seats in the Tuesday, April 6 election.

They are: Incumbents Yuri Rashkin, Kathy Voskuil, Tom McDonald and challengers K. Andreah Briarmoon and write-in candidate Joe Hoppenjan. Hoppenjan was not seated with the candidates Tuesday because the league did not know he was running, president Kay Deupree said.

Hoppenjan did attend the forum, however, and responded to the same questions as the other candidates after the forum.

"We need more jobs," Rashkin said in his opening statement and in response to a league question. The city must help companies already here, attract new business and encourage residents to open their own businesses, he added.

"At the same time, we need to remember to help those that need help in this difficult economic situation," he said.

The council can use its tax increment financing tool to help it be competitive, he said. And, it needs to look for new ways to attract business.

"The council sets the mood. Janesville needs to be known as the place where you want to do business," he said.

Briarmoon said times are scarier than people want to admit. The city should study the 1989 documentary, "Roger and Me" by Michael Moore that focuses on Flint, Mich., when General Motors left town, she said.

Briarmoon suggested that the city find ways to get new businesses "off the kitchen table and into the incubator." The city could help the entire city turn into a cottage industry rather than trying to entice larger businesses, she said.

Hoppenjan suggested the city use tax incentives, credits and state and federal grants to draw new jobs. He suggested the city get a better PR program.

"We need to find a new way of bringing business to this town," he said.

He said the community should increase events, especially free events, to encourage businesses to locate here.

McDonald said the city plays an important role in stimulating the local economy. The council must work with the private sector and other interest groups to attract new business and help current business expand.

But Janesville needs help from the state, he said.

"When we're competing for jobs with other states that have huge backing (from their state government), Janesville can't do it alone," he said.

Voskuil said the role of the council is extremely important in stimulating the local economy. Janesville must maintain a high quality of living and maintain city services to attract business here, she said. The city must work with other private and public sectors, as well.

Voskuil said she wants to make sure the community does not forget the underprivileged and underserved.

The league asked candidates what residents could anticipate in cuts in city services and staffing in light of expected revenue shortfalls.

Voskuil said she doubts any department will be spared as the city looks for budget reductions, and she said each department head is always looking for ways to save money by cutting or doing things differently.

"We're all in this together, and we are going to have to be much more diligent in doing more with less and still maintain the high quality of city services that we have," she said.

McDonald said shortfalls would be a major part of the 2011 budget. The council will have to look at raising taxes, expanding user fees and/or cutting services to balance the budget. The city has also begun to rely too heavily on borrowing, he said.

"Pretty much everything should be on the table," McDonald said. "We have to look at services to determine what we need and then somehow pay for those."

Hoppenjan said services are cut to the bare bones already, and he didn't see how they could be cut more.

Briarmoon said the city would have to "think outside the box."

The city could preserve property values and property tax revenue by keeping people in their homes, she said. The city could borrow money to buy homes at foreclosure sales and then land-contract the homes back to the homeowner, reducing the mortgage payment but still making money.

"It would be money borrowed for 'We the People' and not something like an ice rink," she said, referring to recent discussions about building a new ice arena.

Rashkin said the city must generate greater revenue by raising taxes or fees or providing fewer services.

"Nobody wants to cut services, and it's going to be a difficult discussion at budget time in the future as to how we can stretch our dollars," he said.

"There will be nothing but complicated and difficult choices looking us in the face."

Newstex ID: KRTB-0098-42535010