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Candidate Survey: Michael Haji-Sheik

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Response to the budget crunch (candidates were given a selection of multiple choice answers to choose, from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree)
  • Unfortunately taxes and fees must be increased to meet expenditures. Strongly Disagree
  • Lower the expenditures to meet the revenue. It’s that simple. Strongly Agree
  • Taxes are high enough so let’s raise fees. Disagree
  • This is a time to lean on staff for their recommendations. Disagree
  • Let’s do what the citizen advisory committee recommends. Uncertain
  • Hold the line on taxes. Use the rainy day fund to cover expenses. Things have got to get better. Uncertain
  • Explain: Until we get a handle on what expenditures can be reduced we would have no choice. The 2 million dollars of overspending on the airport and police had to be paid. We should not raise bonds for unnecessary items either.
What type of taxes/fees/fines would you increase if you must? (candidates were given a selection of multiple choice answers to choose from)
  • Property taxes I will not increase this tax/fee/fine during my term in office
  • Retail sales tax I will lean on staff recommendations in my considerations for this increase
  • Gasoline tax I will not increase this tax/fee/fine for FY 7/1/2015 – June 30, 2016
  • Utility tax I will not increase this tax/fee/fine for FY 7/1/2015 – June 30, 2016
  • Water usage fees I will lean on staff recommendations in my considerations for this increase
  • Building permit fees I will not increase this tax/fee/fine during my term in office
  • Business/Building registration/license fees I will work to build consensus to take action to reduce this tax/fee/fine
  • Fines for city ordinance violations I will not increase this tax/fee/fine during my term in office
  • Fines for traffic violations I will not increase this tax/fee/fine during my term in office
  • New tax, fee or fine proposed (use explain) I will work to build consensus to take action to reduce this tax/fee/fine
Where would you cut expenditures if necessary to balance the budget? (candidates were given a selection of multiple choice answers to choose from)
  • Senior administration Highest priority to balance the budget
  • Administrative support Only if absolutely necessary
  • Police department I will not cut expenses to this department
  • Fire department I will not cut expenses to this department
  • Planning department I will not cut expenses to this department
  • DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport Highest priority to balance the budget
  • Public works department I will not cut expenses to this department
  • Streets department I will not cut expenses to this department
  • Water department I will not cut expenses to this department
  • Professional consultants Highest priority to balance the budget
  • Social services I will not cut expenses to this department
  • Economic development (DCEDC) Only if absolutely necessary
  • Tourism department (DeKalb County CVB) Only if absolutely necessary
  • DeKalb Chamber of Commerce Only if absolutely necessary
  • Downtown DeKalb promotion I will not cut expenses to this department
  • Across the board cuts to meet to balance the budget N/A
  • Hold the line use rainy day fund to balance the budget I will not cut expenses to this department
  • Instruct senior staff to recommend precision cuts to balance the budget Only if absolutely necessary
  • Explain I think that cuts should rank at a level of financial priority. Fire and safety should be the last to cut. I’d start at the airport and consultants then work my way to reducing senior staff, then down from there if needed. Rainy day fund should be used to buffer the reductions.
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts in DeKalb are expiring. Should it be extended or expanded or replaced by the Enterprize Zone program? (candidates were given a selection of multiple choice answers to choose from)
  • It’s time to end the TIF program. Return all TIF funds to the local government units. Disagree
  • The TIF program should be extended for the DeKalb City Center/Communiversity plan. Strongly Disagree
  • The old Greek Row and University Village area should be a new TIF District and revitalized. Disagree
  • Replace TIF with the Enterprise Zone Undecided
  • Let TIF expire but employ a pay-as-you-go (no debt) plan for the remaining term. Undecided
  • There’s a better idea for TIF (explain) Strongly Agree
  • Explain The city needs to start investing in providing connectivity from commercial and residential locations to the fiber optic backbone. We need a commercial partner to make connections to homes and businesses. The city has available monies in the two TIF districts, which have been setting aside a portion of tax revenues for a number of years. We should leverage these funds in the TIF districts to encourage a high-tech renaissance to our central district (downtown), DeKalb is one of a very small number of cities which has a fiber optic network, and it gives businesses an edge over their competition. I see a good future for DeKalb, but it will require us to move away from retail development, and a move to attract and encourage businesses that hire both knowledge workers and light manufacturing.
Do you support the DeKalb City Center/Communiversity plan?
  • No
Should the Office of City Clerk be fully restored as independent of the city manager, mayor and city council?
  • Yes
How would you rate the job performance of the current incumbent serving as alderman in your ward?
  • Poor
How can you improve the ward you are seeking to represent?

Focus on the infrastructure needs. Our roads and sidewalks are in relatively bad shape. High speed fiber in the TIF area as a 21st century infrastructure. We need a program in the city to bring jobs to the city, so that property taxes can stabilize then reduce. Shodeen must either build or move on so someone else can build.


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1 Comment

Michael Embrey
March 27, 2015 at 9:51 pm

We need people in DeKalb City hall that are visionaries and not a cookie cuter politician …. too often big ego and NO real experience – with only values is that of having a personal agenda. Too bad there are NO business owners running as they do understand the value to stay in budget. More realist and less anthropocentric types.

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