Like many local governments throughout the state, Sacramento County faces serious financial issues. The general fund has an estimated shortfall of $187.5 million. The board of supervisors must make tough decisions. I ran for office to face decisions like these head-on, not find a way to put them off to the future.

Many families are sitting around the kitchen table every night, trying to figure out how to make it through these tough times. It’s time for the county to have this same frank discussion, and make the necessary difficult decisions in a transparent and open fashion.

I am proud to say that I was a member of the first city council in Citrus Heights. From day one, we put the city on a fiscal path that would serve the residents well through good times and bad. Now, Citrus Heights is in a uniquely stable position during this catastrophic time, and I commend the current city leadership for their continuing good stewardship of the City that I helped to found.

Unfortunately, Sacramento County did not follow the same fiscal path that Citrus Heights chose starting with the first council meeting back in 1997. Budget reserves set aside during better financial times are totally inadequate to deal with the financial challenges of today.

Adding to this difficulty is a growing concern that I am not getting the information I need to act in the best interests of my constituents. I will not pretend for a moment that cuts will not be made, even to popular programs. However, I need the best information possible to make responsible decisions on behalf of my constituents.

Recently, County staff presented a report on mandatory and discretionary expenditures. I have been calling for this breakdown since joining the board of supervisors in 2004 because it is part of an honest public budget. Unfortunately, staff’s report failed to provide the promised information, which is needed to make this year’s tough decisions.

Additional action is needed, and I will not sit by and wait until it is too late. As a result, I have decided to establish an ad hoc committee outside of the county budget process to assist me in working through these serious issues.

I am also working with taxpayer groups and chambers of commerce to identify additional leaders to join this panel, along with others with expertise to work through these difficult issues.

I envision that they will act quickly and decisively to provide clear recommendations for the preliminary budget hearings in May, and the final budget deliberations in June. This will be a kitchen table discussion for the county, a way to bring about increased transparency in the budget process and set the county on solid footing to bring stability and responsible government for many years to come.

During these times, I would welcome your input as well. Please feel free to attend my monthly “community cabinet” meetings. We meet the second Friday of each month at Waffle Barn at 1002 Riley St., from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. I hope to see you there.