Subject: For: Small Business, Law Enforcement, Trade Schools, Teachers Increase

Good evening, everyone.

Our communities face important challenges, and meeting those challenges requires practical priorities and responsible leadership.

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First, clean water must remain a basic priority. Every family deserves confidence that the water coming from their tap is safe, reliable, and properly maintained. That means investing in infrastructure, protecting our water resources, and planning for future needs.

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We also need responsible, managed growth. Growth can bring new jobs, businesses, and opportunities, but it should be planned carefully. Infrastructure, roads, schools, public safety, and utilities need to keep pace with new development so that communities can grow without losing the quality of life that residents value.

Our teachers and educators deserve competitive compensation and the resources they need to do their jobs. Supporting teachers is an investment in students, families, and the future workforce.

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We should also support the people who protect our communities. Law enforcement officers and other public safety personnel need appropriate staffing, training, equipment, and competitive pay. The same principle applies to firefighters and other first responders, who serve their communities in emergencies every day.

Small businesses are another important part of a strong local economy. We can support entrepreneurs by reducing unnecessary barriers, improving access to resources and financing, and creating an environment where locally owned businesses can start, grow, and create jobs.

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Finally, we need to expand opportunities through trade and technical education. Not every successful career requires a four-year college degree. Electricians, plumbers, mechanics, welders, technicians, construction professionals, and other skilled workers are essential to our communities. Trade schools and workforce programs can give students practical skills, good career opportunities, and a path toward economic independence.

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These priorities are connected: clean infrastructure supports growth, education builds the workforce, public safety protects our communities, small businesses create opportunity, and skilled trades help keep our economy moving.

The goal is straightforward: a community with safe water, responsible growth, strong schools, well-supported public servants, thriving small businesses, and meaningful career opportunities for people who choose a skilled trade.

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Thank you.