The city utilities have become a source of concern in the last three to four years for good reason. I brought this issue to the forefront of Falmouth politics in my term on City Council from 2017-2018. I spent months making the case that our utility departments need to be outsourced where necessary. City utilities do not generate revenue for our general fund. Revenue from the utility fund cannot be spent on general fund expenses without being reimbursed. General fund expenses include our streets, sidewalks, parks, police and fire, among other things. There is no benefit to our community by the city of Falmouth monopolizing these services. Falmouth has its own trash department despite Rumpke operating in our county. All of the trash that the city picks up is taken to Rumpke where we pay a hefty fee to dump. We are an unnecessary middle man in an industry we have no business being in. The same can be said of the electric department. Falmouth is also denying the citizens higher paying wages by not allowing the benefits of a free market to play out in our town. I have extensive experience and education regarding municipal and fund accounting. As your councilman I will bring these issues to the forefront once again by making the financial case on why we need to reprioritize our budgets and focus on city improvements that will draw new businesses and potential homeowners. No one is going to invest in a town that doesn’t invest in itself.
Falmouth candidates talk utilities: Sebastian Ernst
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