On behalf of all who have taken the time to be involved in the public budget dialogue to date, thank you for the editorial bringing attention to the challenges and opportunities American Canyon community faces in the coming year (“Supporting the new high school, from the start,” Nov. 16).

By starting early in the budget process to find solutions to the structural deficit, the mayor and city council of American Canyon once again enter into a civic engagement process that will result in multiple options for dealing with the budget shortfall.

The Register’s editorial points out that one of the cost centers identified as a potential cut is the planned community service officer for the new American Canyon High School (a sworn police officer on campus). Based upon the 15 stakeholder meetings conducted thus far, many ideas have surfaced for ways to keep this new position in the future fiscal year 2010-2011 budget. Residents have suggested everything from hiring a non-sworn community service officer to be on the high school campus to reassigning the duties of the current sworn officer working in the elementary schools and transferring the money used to fund that position to the higher priority of the high school. Residents have even suggested seeking revenue enhancements (new taxes and fees such as the Transient Occupancy Tax or a gambling cardroom tax) to make sure general funds are available to minimize important service cuts such as a dedicated high school police officer. Although it is way too early to jump to a solution, the very purpose of the education effort is to begin a dialogue and gather ides. To date, with few exceptions, the outreach effort has netted terrific results.

Granted, solutions and decisions on how to tackle the deficit are many. The ultimate objective is to develop a strategic approach to closing the budget gap with a combination of cost reductions, revenue enhancements, use of current reserves and growing the struggling local economy. By starting early the city council gets the best possible discussion going in a positive and constructive manner, which is exactly why the city council put the effort into motion.

The coverage on the deficit by the Register has been a great tool to help explain how we got to where we are (aka the recession) and to how we might work out the solutions to get through this difficult time.

(Ramirez is the city manager for the city of American Canyon.)