Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Dave Buhler has released an outline of proposed policies that show what he calls a commitment to "fiscal stewardship" in the city.

"As the only candidate for mayor who helped balance the most recent eight city budgets, I have a good understanding of the financial challenges the city faces today," the city councilman wrote.

His policy statement stresses a need to create a climate friendly to business, especially locally owned business, to help ease the property tax burden on homeowners.

"Home and property values are soaring in Salt Lake City," he wrote. "This is good in many ways, but it also puts a real burden on some homeowners, particularly seniors who live on fixed incomes. We have many homeowners who live in homes that are now taxed at 10 or even 20 times the original prices of their homes. No one should have to choose between paying their property taxes and buying groceries or other necessities"

He made eight promises that he touted as ways he plans to balance the city's spending needs with a minimal property tax burden. They include:

• No property tax increases unless they are approved by voters "or if required to meet an unforeseeable emergency."

• No judgment levies to cover city obligations if there is money in the city's reserves to cover the costs.

• Planning ahead with five-year cost and revenue projections.

• Lobbying the Legislature for increased funding of a tax credit for homeowners 65 and older at certain income levels.

• Budgeting policies that include reducing tax rates to offset rising property values, keeping a rainy-day balance in the city's budget of at least 10 percent of the general fund, avoiding unnecessary debt, maintaining the city's AAA bond rating and only using one-time money for one-time expenses.

The full policy initiative can be viewed at daveformayor.org.

---

E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com