BUENA PARK : Mayor Says Tax Hike Will Be a Last Resort

As the newly appointed mayor of Buena Park, Arthur Brown says the city must find ways of generating new revenue instead of raising taxes.

“Your current City Council is committed to raising taxes only as a last resort,” Brown said. “We must make government work better, and we must attract new businesses while keeping our current businesses in the city.”

Brown, 55, was selected mayor Monday night by his fellow council members. Brown, elected to the council in 1990, is serving as mayor for the first time. His first elected position was as a trustee on the Savanna School District Board of Trustees, where he served from 1983 to 1988.

Brown replaces Councilwoman Rhonda J. McCune, who takes a regular council seat. She has served as mayor twice since she was elected to the council in 1985.

Councilman Donald L. Bone was named mayor pro tem.

Brown said the city has tough decisions ahead as a result of the recession.

“We in Buena Park are feeling its effects in lost jobs and pay cuts,” he said. “City government has felt the effects through declining sales taxes, take-aways by the state of your local tax dollar and new service charges by the county.”

Buena Park has cut more than $2 million from the budget and eliminated 53 positions, which included the layoffs of five city employees, Brown said.

The city also has a hiring and spending freeze in effect until January.

Brown said the city must find ways to be more efficient and cut waste.

“We must empower our employees to find and implement ways that will cut costs and still support the services our residents and businesses need,” he said.

Brown said despite the cuts, special attention must be given to youth and seniors.

He said youth programs, such as drug and gang prevention and recreation as well as programs for senior citizens, must remain in place.

“We must make sure that the seniors’ needs are met and that our Senior Center continues to offer the high-quality programs,” he said.

Brown, a 16-year Buena Park resident, is also encouraging residents to become involved in their local government. He will hold mayor’s hours on the second and fourth Mondays of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. at his office at City Hall.

“Hopefully, people will contact me so I can get a feel of what the citizens really want in the way of services--or (willing to) give up if it should come to raising taxes,” he said.