Government

We support budget policies that:

• Maintain core services, public safety, infrastructure, and economic development
• Align expenditures with sustainable revenue
• Include measurable outcomes and performance accountability

Budgets should reflect community priorities and the highest and best use of taxpayer dollars. While controlling costs is critical, not all cuts are equal—reductions to infrastructure and economic development can lead to higher long-term costs and reduced economic growth.

We also support strategies that strengthen and diversify revenue streams, including policies that encourage economic development, redevelopment of underutilized land, and growth in both property and sales tax bases to ensure long-term fiscal stability.

Public safety agencies must remain responsive to community needs while evolving with expectations and technology. Strong public safety agencies are critical to community well-being. The Metro Chamber will continue to support the efforts of local public safety agencies to deter criminal behavior while building and maintaining the public’s trust.

Government decision-making should be data-driven, transparent, and inclusive of input from the business community and relevant industry experts. Staff should be responsive to policy direction set by elected officials and accountable for using quantitative, evidence-based approaches when developing and evaluating policy solutions. Work should consistently advance established policy priorities, with program recommendations aligned to those goals.