City of Upland, CA

As detailed in Upland Today, the Mayor has presented his annual State of the City Address in a new, and very informational format.  So much City-related information is shared in the Mayor’s address-the timeliest of which was a listing of accomplishments this past year, along with an open and frank discussion about the City’s finances.

As I communicated this time last year, the City remains financially strong, and as a matter of fact you will note in the Mayor’s Address that our Standard and Poor’s bond rating (credit worthiness) as a municipal corporation has again been elevated this year from an A to A+.  City staff is currently again in the preparation stages of our annual budget (FY 2010/11), and we will be making additional cuts such that over the past two fiscal years, approximately $5.5 million will have been reduced from the City’s General Fund alone. Continuing to find these cuts has proven to be exceedingly painful, and again they unfortunately may well be noticed in the City’s programming level (the amount of things that we do).  However, we have and will continue to work very hard to maintain all City service levels, move forward with our capital projects (streets, water, sewer, parks and the like) and hope to do so without  any furloughs or layoffs of  the City’s regular, full-time staff.

Ironically, as I noted last year, it appears that the concept of “good government-high ethical standards” is being challenged on most every front today. At the City, we have continued to make the “ethics debate and practice” a forefront issue for us.  Our employees embrace the concept of doing the right thing, each and every day and are exceedingly concerned about how we act and how we are perceived in the community.  And also ironically, I noted last year that “government” is still not well received by many today, and this past year has not strengthened the public’s perception; however it is my hope that through our actions and commitments Upland residents and business owners will keep the faith that the City organization is sound and that their investment in us is safe.

As I have said before, each one of us stands on the principles that the City of Upland organization is financially strong, ethically centered and trustworthy in all that we do.  On behalf of the entire staff, it is our pleasure to serve you as we take this responsibility very serious.  I invite you to attend the upcoming budget deliberations at June’s City Council Meetings and as always, you can contact me via email at rquincey@ci.upland.ca.us or phone at 909.931.4102. Thank you,