Do we believe the city is facing a financial crisis? Sure. Do we believe that programs may have to be cut to balance the budget? Certainly. What we believe is wrong, however, is the tone from the city--the inference that this is all because voters did not approve the ballot measure.

While that may be true, what they fail to mention is that Measure V--the ballot measure they created--had serious flaws. We don't believe residents oppose a utility tax, we believe they opposed that particular utility tax.

The 4 percent tax was too high and the measure questionably did not require the accepted two-thirds vote for passage. What's more, the measure did not specify specifically where the dollars would go--there was only the message that the public should "trust us" to spend the money wisely.

Obviously, that wasn't good enough for 80 percent of the Saratoga voters. Had the tax been more like 2.5 percent, required a two-thirds majority for passage and been expressly targeted for infrastructure--like the road repairs the city says are so necessary--we believe it may have passed.

But that wasn't the case. The city presented a flawed measure to the voters, and they responded with a resounding rejection.

So now it's time for the members of the Saratoga City Council and staff to stop moaning about the failed utility tax and move on to make adjustments in a difficult economic environment, adjustments that may be uncomfortable.

But instead of effectively telling residents, "you voted down the tax; now we have to make cuts," it would be very refreshing to hear someone say, "We presented a bad measure, you rejected it, now what can we do to regain your trust?"

It's time for some creative thinking and for the leaders of the city to stop whining and start leading. We feel they took a major step in that direction last Wednesday night by voting to sell the North Campus property.