Our council members deserve a share of applause for their obvious concerns about how to maintain the level of city services that make Sunnyvale an exceptionally desirable city. We residents have learned to appreciate this quality. But it does come with a price. Fortunately, a more cost-effective price than that of our surrounding cities.

In the face of anticipated significant revenue shortfalls caused by the state's financial crisis, budget planning by the staff and fine-tuning by the council is a formidable task.

Not only is the budget developed for the coming year but also for 20 years in the future. This ensures a plan to maintain quality standards as the infrastructure ages and has new requirements.

These budget workshops and public hearings have displayed both the staff's and council's concerns about maintaining Sunnyvale's quality standards in the face of revenue shortages. Thus far they have had to face the music that there just isn't a does-all solution.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, in order to live within the available revenues, the staff and council have elected to curtail services and projects that residents expect. Many of them in the interest of maintaining a level of services unique to Sunnyvale.

I suspect most Sunnyvale residents are not aware of either the budgeting process or the likely impact of the current financial environment.

One unfortunate aspect of the budget exercises is the lack of citizen participation. Are they too busy, too spoiled or just apathetic?

I believe the council should reach out and ask us what we want to have and not have included in the budget.

Some alternatives for increased revenues are:

*Smooth the cycles of revenue ups and downs with short-term increased debt?

*Further increase fees for activities and custom services?

*Sponsor a ballot initiative to "temporarily" collect a parcel/
sales/income tax?

*Or none of the above? Just tough it out and hope that Rome doesn't burn in the meantime.

I'm retired and have a fixed income that is way down the list from having a lot of funds to spare. But I believe I would be willing to be temporarily taxed in some fashion for maintaining the Sunnyvale quality standards that I've grown to appreciate over the past 45 years.

In all of the budget hearings, I've never heard even one quiet mention from staff or council that maybe a tax initiative should be offered to and voted by Sunnyvale's citizens.

I wonder why this is so unmentionable? There hasn't even been a discussion about polling for a public consensus vote whether "we" want to maintain Sunnyvale's quality standards. It's time to face up to all sides of the problem and possible solutions.

And to the readers of this opinion column, please send your comments to The Sun so that the council will have a clear idea how we feel about solutions for maintaining Sunnyvale's quality standards. This is our city.

Jack Rowe is a Sunnyvale resident.