Council Member Upal cites $160,000 shortfall, calls for better institutional knowledge and community messaging
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Summary
Council Member Upal recapped his first year, criticized prior fiscal decisions that he says left a $160,000 general-fund deficit and ongoing sanitation-fund losses, and said improving institutional knowledge and community messaging will be priorities.
Council Member Upal used his remarks following the mayor's address to reflect on governance challenges he has encountered during his first year on the council and to outline priorities for the coming year.
Upal said he learned the council inherited several unresolved policy gaps and fiscal issues, including a $160,000 shortfall in the general fund. "When I came into council, we had a $160,000 deficit in our general fund," he said. He also said the city was losing "thousands of dollars, $10,000 every month" from a sanitation fund after prior reallocations of fees and changes to billing procedures.
Upal described what he portrayed as past misrepresentations around those prior decisions and said he requested that the council revisit the item. He called for careful stewardship of taxpayer funds and said staff and the council should be transparent and tactical in public discussions about policy.
Beyond finances, Upal said Livingston lacks an updated general plan, a tax agreement and a strategic plan, and he flagged water-service issues and ongoing litigation that require attention. He said institutional knowledge and community messaging will be priorities for him in the coming year and encouraged residents to read his forthcoming report and to reach out with questions.
Upal closed by thanking family and staff for their support and by urging residents to stay engaged in city affairs.