With our economy in a slump, it's easy to feel a little disbelief when you hear about San Ramon's mayor H. Abram Wilson touting that the city has the ability to set aside $2 million with a 50% budget reserve to offset any blows they might encounter in the upcoming year. But he seems to have the numbers to back it up. It doesn't hurt to have a little optimism when you're running a public office in a city that isn't experiencing the kinds of financial nightmares that other cities in the East Bay have been suffering from long before the recession hit.

Where did all this money come from? Property tax revenues in San Ramon increased 2.1 percent in 2008 but the sales tax revenue last year dropped 0.5 percent. Property and sales tax combine to approximately 60% of the city's general fund revenues.

The city of San Ramon has progressed considerably since last year. New parks, schools and art centers have opened in Dougherty Valley in 2007. The main goal that Mayor Wilson is aiming for, however, is the San Ramon City Center slated to open in 2011.

Mayor Wilson has described the year 2008 as "challenging." His optimistic attitude, a bit of luck, and help from all around ought to keep things under control in the near future.

- Joseph Natividad