Neysa Hinton

Taxes / Budget Currently, I support both trimming our budget and raising new revenues so that the City can continue to function in an efficient and productive manner. After careful research and thorough community engagement, the upcoming merger with Gold Ridge Fire along with revenue from the recent countywide fire tax will help us make considerable progress toward achieving our budget goals. As a former city council budget sub-committee member, I will continue to call for transparency and wisely investing your tax dollars. Taxes / Budget We need to grow our tax base to keep up with rising costs, the evolving nature of city services, and to invest in our community infrastructure to ensure climate and disaster preparedness. Environment / Energy Sebastopol leads the county in its zero waste initiatives. Let's continue to lead with policies that protect our environment and leave a healthy legacy for our children. We also have aging infrastructure in our parks and recreation facilities, and must prioritize our community spaces in order to ensure safety and continued enjoyment of our common spaces. Economy I support local business, innovation and well-planned projects that serve the greater community and enhance the quality of life for all residents. Housing We need to create opportunities that allow our neighbors to flourish and our children to live in the community in which they grew up. My children, and perhaps someday my grandchildren, are relying on me and our leadership today to grow our local economy and find ways to build a range of housing options from market rate to affordable housing. Government Reform Support fair, grassroots elections so our leadership is equipped to deal with our rapidly changing issues while maintaining our community values. Housing We must continue to work toward “functional zero” homelessness in Sonoma County. Working with the elderly population has shown me that when people have stable housing and the supportive services they need, our entire community benefits. In the Park Village Community sponsored by the City of Sebastopol, residents can thrive and move on to independent living with robust care and support. Government Reform When I approach issues, I listen to our entire community, not just the people shouting the loudest. I approach each issue without preconceptions. I also work hard, do my homework in advance, and I carefully consider all input.