Most people who run for city council have never had to meet a payroll, manage a budget under pressure, or be personally accountable for financial decisions that affect other people's livelihoods. That kind of experience is rare in local government, and it is not something you can fully learn on the job with public money. More than 300 families have trusted my firm Commune with over $150 million of their hard-earned savings. That responsibility does not stay at the office. It shapes how I look at every dollar of public money.
Thousand Oaks has a 7.25% sales tax rate, the California state minimum, and among the lowest in the region. Keeping taxes low is not an accident. It requires discipline in how you spend, and it requires the political will to say no when the easy answer is to put something on the ballot and let voters foot the bill. We have not done that. And we should not start.
The City currently holds $211 million in cash. Of that, $20 million is unassigned. That means even if no revenue came in at all, Thousand Oaks could pay every bill it owes for the entire year without cutting a single service or taking on a dollar of debt. That is not normal. Most cities are not built this way. It is the result of years of disciplined budgeting and the willingness to say no to spending that was not necessary.
Getting here required consistent choices. I voted to adopt two consecutive balanced biennial budgets, growing reserves without growing our cost structure. I voted to extend our independent external audit coverage through FY 2027-28, because financial accountability without independent verification is not accountability at all. And I voted every year to update and maintain the investment policies and review standards that govern how public funds are managed.
A milestone most cities never reach.
Pre-funding retiree healthcare benefits is a decision most cities never get around to making. It is easier to kick the obligation down the road and let a future council deal with it. We just received confirmation from our latest actuarial valuation that the City of Thousand Oaks is 103.4% funded on those obligations. Our City Manager called it "a tremendous milestone for any public sector organization, and one that, frankly, many cities never come close to achieving."
This is what long-term thinking looks like in practice. It happened by consistently prioritizing long-range stewardship over short-term convenience.
Recognized for it.
The Government Finance Officers Association awarded Thousand Oaks its Award for Excellence in Government Finance, one of only 10 such awards issued to public agencies across the United States and Canada. It is given to organizations that demonstrate innovation and outstanding financial management. We earned it.
What this means for you.
A city that manages its money well can keep taxes low, maintain services, respond to emergencies without crisis, and plan ahead instead of reacting. That is what fiscal discipline actually buys. Not a trophy. Stability. The kind of stability that keeps Thousand Oaks the kind of city people want to live in, and can afford to.