Fostering a Business Friendly Climate

Businesses are fundamental to our community. Without them, few people would want to live here, or be able to do so. Nothing throws a bucket of ice water on a legitimate business more than the crippling affects of running into a wall of regulations and governmental delays. Steve knows - he ran a large business in the County for twenty-two years.

As a County Councilmember, Steve will work to remove the roadblocks to business' creativity and expansion. Steve understands that time is money.

Sometimes, County businesses are incorrectly viewed as being synonymous with acts that are harmful to our daily living. While it is true that a small percentage of businesses fail to follow the rules, something Steve has fought relentlessly to correct over the past several years, the fact is most businesses do follow the rules. Legitimate businesses also contribute much to our quality of life - including paychecks for many county residents.

In order for our economy to thrive, our businesses must also thrive. That does not mean that businesses should be given deference over the residents of the County - we are all in this together.

On the Council, Steve will strive to increase the efficient delivery of services for businesses as well as all County taxpayers.

Successful businesses are run efficiently, and the owners and managers of those businesses, like all taxpayers, are entitled to expect a government that delivers its services in an efficient and customer-centric way.

However, sometimes business owners find themselves caught in a bureaucratic maze. This is bad for the business, its customers and the County.

Governments seem to universally generate red tape. When problems arise, the solution is usually to add something to an already inefficient process, rather than looking at the big picture. Other options exist.

Steve will work to bring his business skills to cut red tape and implement efficiencies within the government, as he did for twenty-two years, while running his business. On the Council Steve will work on:

Reducing and clarifying regulations.

Steve’s core business was to analyze massive operations, locate inefficiencies within them, and then design and implement solutions to reduce costs while increasing customer service. He will use those same skills to locate inefficiencies within the government and recommend solutions.

Creating an Office of Resolution.

Often businesses can find themselves caught between conflicting regulations promulgated by competing agencies, and left to fend for themselves. The businesses are left without a defined path to resolve the issue and the only option of spending resources on experts in an attempt to move forward.

For example, persons and entities attempting to move forward with new construction often receive inconsistent directives from differing agencies. The burden of resolving interagency problems should not be placed upon the public. In such cases, the public should: a) be able to present the issue to the County’s Office of Resolution, b) be guaranteed a written decision within thirty days, and; c) be given the right to appeal such decision.

Identifying and Removing Redundancies.

Steve will use his technology background to implement on-line data gathering regarding input from the business community whereby business owners will be able to identify areas that they believe could be improved, and suggestions on how to improve them. This data gathering method could speed the process for bringing about legislative change that would benefit businesses and their customers.

Steve would like to know your thoughts on these issues. Click here to share them with him.

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