Read the Perez Pledge on Fiscal Responsibility.

Perez continues to push for 23rd Street as new police station site. -- At the Common Council meeting on July 3, 2006, Perez stated his support for 23rd street as the new police station site and a resolution proposed by Ald. Cerda and Ryan was shot down that would have given the council an opportunity to look at a much more cost-effective, practical site (in addition to the favored site of the police) at the Van Der Vaart (VDV) property. True fiscal responsibility would have been carried out by looking at the possibility for the VDV site, which could save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition, there are discrepencies in the Zimmerman report regarding the 23rd street site that have not been properly addressed, in spite of many citizen's pointing them out to Perez and the Common Council on several occasions. Let us also not forget the Sheridan Park Saga that already cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars due to the unnecessary delay in building the station (was to orginally begin in Spring of 2005).

Read an insightful letter to the editor from June, 2005:
Letters: Is new mayor really saving money for city? (Word .rtf)
Letters: Is new mayor really saving money for city? (PDF)

Sheridan Park residents, for years, have publicly begged for the city to put Safety first for their neighborhood. What is the Council (and "Friends") now considering? A playground. Read the article, Panel backs buying playground equipment for Sheridan Park. Without ridding the park of crime, this will be an utter waste as it was tried once before and, as documented, the park was vandalized. Even Ms. Meyer, a strong supporter of "saving" the park, stated, "Several people asked for the construction of a bathroom, which Meyer said would cost $125,000 to $150,000 because it has to include heavy-duty equipment that can withstand vandalism." Sheboygan Press, May 27, 2005, "Sheridan Park boosters meet to plan improvements".

ERGO Commission -- The ERGO Commission was created by former Mayor James Schramm with a goal of finding a much-desired $5-million in taxpayer savings. Shortly after being elected, Perez and the new Council killed the ERGO Commission. Read the Press Article.

Sheridan Park for Police Station -- Our previous council and Mayor Schramm spent hundreds, if not thousands of hours and dollars contemplating a site for our new police station. (Note: 80 meetings and 49 site studies.) Repeatedly the vote was for Sheridan Park...in comes the "new leadership", which proceeds to allow 1 percent or less of the city's population repeal the studies. Had this overwhelming (and repeated) decision to build a new station at Sheridan Park been allowed to proceed, the new building would have begun in spring of 2005. Now we find ourselves with a whole new set of problems, while our police must work in very poor conditions. This is very costly to the city, damaging to our police force and dangerous for the public. All of the delays by Perez and his "Friends of Parks" have literally cost the city taxpayers millions. See also: Sheridan Park Saga.

A very detailed report was created by concerned citizen's that outlines the discrepencies in the costs regarding each police station site that was considered. This report clearly outlines the costs involved and shows how the public was not given the true details. View the Discrepancies in the Zimmerman Report (Word).

Budget and Taxes -- November 22, 2004, Perez admits that he doesn't understand city budgets and that he may be a little "stupid" on the issue. He followed this by saying that he won't accept anything more than a 3.5 percent city tax levy increase, but yet he pushed through a 7.1 percent school tax levy increase. School taxes comprise the largest part of our tax bill.

Recycling Calendar:  "The official city recycling calendar" with his picture on it,printed with taxpayer money by the school system paid for by the city.
Why a waste?  This after a private citizen had one printed and sent to each home in the city.

Bonnett Investigation - Waste of both time and taxpayer money.

Perez refused to negotiate with the Unions on their contracts. The unions offered concessions to pay for more health insurance etc... but the city did not bargain in good faith. This forced the city into arbitration with most of the unions. This caused a 2.5 percent increase in salaries and no employee contributions to health insurance. Talk to John Winter of the PD, and Wally Endsley of the fire department for details. The city lost big on this contract. All because Perez said only 1.5 percent increase. Perez quote from The Beacon, Tuesday, May 3, 2005: "People don't want to be taxed," Perez continued. The budget 'reprioritization' process will help to address that concern, but he conceded that any changes resulting from this process must be carefully presented to unions representing city workers. "We have to be careful with the unions, and we have to be careful with the revenue," he said. "There's only so much money around. We have to allocate it fairly and equitably."

Citizen's Survey.  Utter waste of time and money. Anyone could vote multiple times on the Web site. The results took so long to tally, there is every reason to believe they are skewed. What many saw as "results" on the Web upon completion of the online survey, were no where near what we're now told the results are. The survey is useless. It was also poorly written in such a manner to sway the responses in a specific manner. View the questions that were on the survey (a new window will open):
Budget Survey (Word .rtf format)
Budget Survey (PDF format)
"The survey itself generated enough discussion. Some people were trying to discredit it, some people said it was unscientific. People who agree with it call it something and people who disagree with it call it something else," Perez said. -- Sheboygan Press, 06/09/06, Page A-3.