Laguna Beach election 2026 · Official ballot position 3 of 9 · Nonpartisan candidate profile
Laura Parisi: Laguna Beach City Council Candidate 2026
Non-incumbent • Elected City TreasurerDoes not currently hold a City Council seat; currently serves as Laguna Beach’s elected City Treasurer.
Ballot position 3. Candidate for one of three at-large seats (every Laguna Beach voter may vote for these seats; they are not assigned to geographic districts) in the November 3, 2026 election.
Laguna Beach’s elected City Treasurer and a CPA; her official statement emphasizes financial management, responsible spending, transparency and long-term fiscal discipline.
Last reviewed October 19, 2026. Official ballot position follows the City Clerk’s August 13, 2026 candidate list, published after the Secretary of State randomized alphabet drawing.
Candidate dashboard
Laura Parisi at a glance
Career background
A detailed professional résumé has not yet been published in a source So Laguna can verify.
Review experienceTop issues
Financial background, Public safety and hospital access, Housing and land use, Traffic, parking and transit, Environment, beaches and…
See sourced positionsPublic appearances
2026 candidate forums and debates
The City currently lists nine forums hosted by independent community organizations. The hosts have affirmed that candidates were offered equal time and opportunity to appear. A listing does not establish that every candidate has confirmed attendance.
All currently listed forums have concluded. Past forum records remain available below.
Past forums9 completed
Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce
6:00–9:00 p.m. · Council Chambers
505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Forum recordView official flyerWatch video, answers and transcriptSearch transcriptCandidate timestampsOfficial Chamber forum details
South Laguna Civic Association
6:00 p.m. (doors open 5:30 p.m.) · Laguna Beach Community Recreation Center (former St. Catherine’s School)
30516 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Forum recordWatch recording and compare answersSearch transcriptCandidate timestampsOfficial SLCA event details
Laguna Canyon Conservancy
5:30–8:30 p.m. (panel 6:30–8:30 p.m.) · Bridge Hall at Neighborhood Congregational Church
340 St Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Forum recordWatch videos, answers and transcriptsSearch transcriptCandidate timestampsOfficial event details
Laguna Beach Arts Alliance
9:00 a.m.–noon (reception 8:30 a.m.) · Forum Theater at Festival of Arts
650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Forum recordOpen forum replaySearch transcriptCandidate timestampsArts Alliance information
Greater Laguna Beach GOP
6:00–9:00 p.m. · Council Chambers
505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Forum recordOpen forum replaySearch transcriptCandidate timestampsGLBGOP event and viewing information
Advocates for Laguna Residents
6:00–8:00 p.m. · Council Chambers
505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Forum recordWatch video, answers and transcriptSearch transcriptCandidate timestampsAdvocates for Laguna Residents website (currently Launching Soon)
Canyon Alliance of Neighborhoods Defense Organization (CANDO)
6:30 p.m. · Online via Zoom
Completed September 10. Watch the full recording, compare all seven answers from each candidate and search the complete transcript.Forum recordFull forum videoSearch transcriptCandidate timestampsCANDO forum page
KXFM
5:30 p.m. potluck; 6:30 p.m. forum · Neighborhood Congregational Church, Bridge Hall
340 St Ann’s Drive, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Compare KXFM candidate answersKXFM forum page
KXFM has published a 10-question candidate-results summary and an official Facebook reel from the September 8 forum. So Laguna has not verified a complete audio or video replay of the full program.
Village Laguna
6:00 p.m.; recording 1:57:49 · Council Chambers
505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Forum recordOpen forum replaySearch transcriptCandidate timestampsVillage Laguna forum information
Open the So Laguna events calendarVerify the City’s current schedule
Village Laguna forum · August 31, 2026
What Laura Parisi said at the candidate forum
Five concise, neutral summaries link to the exact moments in the full recording. They are not ratings, endorsements or a substitute for watching each answer in context.
- Downtown plan and historic preservationFavored evaluating downtown area by area, with substantial public input and solutions tailored to each location rather than one citywide approach.
- Budget oversight and reportingProposed an audit committee, regular revenue-and-expense reporting and investigation of AI tools for financial reporting and coding.
- Wildfire and evacuationPrioritized undergrounding utility poles where doing so could improve evacuation routes.
- Church affordable-housing proposalSaid she did not vote on the proposal and would have favored a lower-cost option.
- Tourism managementSupported a study of where visitors come from before choosing management measures.
CANDO forum · September 10, 2026
What Laura Parisi said about Laguna Canyon
Seven concise, neutral summaries link to the candidate’s complete answers. They are not ratings, endorsements or a substitute for watching each response in context.
- Use of a $10 million grantWould first seek matching funds, then consider utility undergrounding, reserves and removing isolated poles that obstruct or slow evacuation routes.
- Affordable housing locationsFavored reviewing existing studies and comparable coastal-city approaches, distributing housing around town and focusing on locations that can support it appropriately.
- Creek and wildlife corridorsAcknowledged that she needed to learn more, supported mapping and studies and said the City should treat creek and corridor protection as both environmental and public-safety work.
- Small-scale and rural developmentAssociated small-scale rural character with single-family homes, landscaping, open space, limited commercial intensity and development that retains the canyon’s open feel.
- Helping Community DevelopmentRecommended customer-service and leadership training, clear ordinances, consistent training methods, employee development paths and a structured review process.
- Residents and long-term stewardshipWould listen to stakeholders, understand the governing rules, review how other cities handled similar conflicts and seek a win-win before choosing the best long-term result for the most people.
- Open-space fundingSupported continuing the $300,000 annual set-aside so the City can acquire well-priced parcels as they become available and expand Laguna Beach’s open-space network.
Advocates forum · September 15, 2026
What Laura Parisi said at the Advocates forum
Six concise, neutral topic summaries link to the exact moments in the complete recording. They are not ratings, endorsements or a substitute for watching each answer in context.
- Measure E and term limitsSupported term limits as a way to add fresh perspectives and set a time frame for accomplishing public goals.
- Hospital and emergency careSupported emergency care and inpatient beds and said she would bring stakeholders together, study the available choices and pursue other operators or locations if necessary.
- St. Catherine’s propertyPreferred a community or recreation use but acknowledged the City lacks the budget, leaving her open to financially sound alternatives that benefit the public.
- Capital projects and financial oversightCalled for more reliable financial reporting, a professional audit committee and full funding of the City’s policy reserve through cost reductions and disciplined spending.
- Candidate priorityMade financial governance her central issue, including a reformed audit committee with elected officials and community members who have audit experience.
- Closing prioritiesPrioritized restoring the elected treasurer’s role, improving financial reporting and audit oversight, funding reserves and supporting rule-compliant development with fewer legal vulnerabilities.
Arts Alliance · September 26, 2026
What Laura Parisi said at the Arts Alliance forum
Nine arts discussion rounds, plus opening and closing statements. These are attributed paraphrases with video timestamps; the recording remains authoritative.
Read nine answers and both statements
Opening statement
Describes her financial career and service as elected treasurer. Says interference with that role motivated her Council candidacy and identifies finance as her strength.
Watch opening · 24:43 ↗- 1. About the Arts AllianceDescribes the Arts Star Awards and her involvement in encouraging a bank’s charitable contributions through the city’s banking process.
- 2. Arts involvement and recent eventsIdentifies No Square Theatre as her principal involvement, describes attending Lagunatics the previous night and says she performed in it for roughly ten years.
- 3. Parking in the arts districtAgrees more parking is needed but opposes the city spending money on a structure at this time. Favors using existing resources and creative transportation alternatives.
- 4. Why the arts matterDescribes the arts as part of Laguna’s identity, an economic driver and a source of recreation and culture for residents.
- 5. Residents and visitorsWould maximize existing resources, improve signage and enforce rules. Wants studies to respond to changing conditions rather than repeatedly revisit the same questions.
- 6. Artist housing and workspacesSupports artist live/work housing throughout the city but opposes additional city spending on it.
- 7. More use of the Festival groundsWould ask residents what activities they want and consider impacts on neighboring homeowners, including concert noise.
- 8. New arts ideasSupports connected hotel, restaurant and artist programming, more music and culinary arts, popups and thoughtful conventions.
- 9. Arts on the PromenadeSuggests music, craft fairs and popups, with arts organizations helping identify ways to showcase different art forms.
Closing statement
Pledges to restore cooperation with the elected treasurer, include artists’ views, apply financial expertise and support development that follows city rules.
Watch closing · 1:54:32 ↗Compare all nine candidates and search the forum transcript →
Chamber forum · October 15, 2026
What Laura Parisi said at the Chamber forum
Debate coverage updated October 16. Source-linked paraphrases; candidates answered different questions. Silence is not recorded as a policy position.
Read 5 indexed responses and statements
Opening statement
Explains her move from the treasurer role to a Council candidacy as a response to financial-information and accountability concerns.
Watch statement · 8:50 ↗- 4. Financial accountabilityCalls for timely audits, reliable numbers and monthly Finance Department reports. Defends the elected treasurer as an independent check for voters rather than treating the office’s conflict with staff as merely organizational.
- 6. Promenade lessonsWants future RFPs written so the public can understand cost categories and asks Council to consider citizen oversight of projects.
- 9. Council term limitsSupports term limits for the policymaking Council while distinguishing that role from the operational continuity of an elected treasurer.
- 14. City management and legal spendingPrefers decentralized management and empowering department heads. Would direct resources toward staff and resident services instead of filling the COO position.
- 16. Civility and political harassmentSays Council should not condone abusive conduct by people representing themselves or City-connected organizations and suggests applying consistent civility expectations.
Closing statement
Calls for restoring the treasurer’s independent role, professional financial oversight and timely, trustworthy accounting to guide difficult spending decisions.
Watch statement · 2:09:28 ↗South Laguna Civic Association · October 6, 2026
What Laura Parisi said at the forum
Source-linked paraphrases from the published recording. Candidate claims are attributed; automatic captions may contain errors.
Read 12 forum answers and closing statement
- 1. Emergency care and a possible taxPrioritizes ER access. Before considering a tax, wants the required service level, sustainable operating costs and who would pay established.
- 2. Hospital land useWants medical use protected because restoring it after a change could be difficult. Would use land-use leverage to preserve health services for residents.
- 3. Catalina lots and park spaceSupports a financially responsible acquisition and would consider the long-term value of preserving open space when evaluating the price.
- 4. South Coast Water District voting rightsWants results and says the issue should be resolved before the next election.
- 5. South Laguna’s share of City spendingSupports more work in South Laguna while allocating funds by need and return rather than separating the City into competing areas. Prioritizes the fire station, hospital, environment and parks.
- 6. Beach infrastructure and fundingSupports regional funding agreements and spending focused on public safety, facilities and infrastructure.
- 7. Commercial parking requirementsWould not reduce business parking requirements when doing so shifts private parking demand into residential neighborhoods.
- 8. Public restroomsSupports restrooms near beach access and other busy areas, with consultation before selecting sites.
- 9. Community Recreation CenterOpposes selling the property. Supports community-center use with utilization and financial targets and regular progress reports.
- 10. Community Garden acquisitionSupports City assistance with funding and facilitating a public-private transaction to retain the garden.
- 11. Beach patrol and park rangersSupports more City presence at remote beaches, sworn officers where possible, entrance coverage and strategic scheduling.
- 12. Gelson’s and neighborhood grocery accessWould bring the parties together, remove unnecessary obstacles and seek grocery opportunities, while recognizing that government cannot simply guarantee a tenant.
Closing statement
Explains her financial-accountability concerns as City Treasurer. Offers financial literacy, transparent accounting and reporting, and attention to declining reserves and expenses.
Watch statement · 1:57:53 ↗Compare candidates, review the questions and search the transcript →
Laguna Canyon Conservancy · September 28, 2026
What Laura Parisi said at the Laguna Canyon Conservancy forum
Paraphrased answer summaries with direct video timestamps, plus the candidate’s closing statement. Candidate claims are attributed statements; the recordings remain authoritative.
Read 9 indexed answers and the closing statement
- 1. Impressions of Laguna CanyonDescribes a grand entrance with a sense of history; reflects on what the canyon looked like to its earliest visitors.
- 2. Regional conservation and NCCPSupports protection, broader safeguards and cooperation with like-minded organizations to strengthen the city’s position.
- 3. Acquiring additional open spaceProposes outside funding, partnerships with like-minded groups, and potentially a foundation or public-private structure for open-space acquisitions.
- 4. Tree preservation and Ocean AvenueSupports preservation where possible, adherence to rules, predictable transparent processes and public participation in decisions affecting tree health.
- 5. Irvine–Laguna Wildlife CorridorSupports the corridor and proposes comparing successful projects elsewhere and local results to identify gaps and practical options.
- 6. Invasive plants and agency partnershipsSupports proactive partnerships, education, chemical-free methods and volunteer participation.
- 7. Fuel modification and native habitatStarts with fire experts and environmental groups; favors creative, efficient methods and more labor-intensive approaches where sensitive habitat requires them.
- 8. Enrolling city open space in the Nature ReserveGenerally supports enrollment but wants to review the specific terms and implications, including any insurance issues.
- 9. Partnerships and dependable fundingWould explore all funding options and apply her county, bond and state-program experience to environmental partnerships.
Closing statement
Emphasizes her finance experience, restoring the elected treasurer’s role as a check and balance, listening to residents and building coalitions with other cities.
Watch statement · 6:10 in the statements video ↗ · Full panel · 1:33:49 ↗Compare all candidates, watch both videos and search the transcripts →
GLBGOP forum · September 23, 2026
What Laura Parisi said at the GLBGOP forum
Selected question and answer highlights from the two-part recording. The links open the original video at the answer; these summaries do not cover every exchange.
- Opening: What experience and priorities would you bring?Cited her elected treasurer role and concerns about access to the city’s financial information.
- Are residents included early enough in major city projects?Called for more hearings and attention to the results of public input.
- Should the city review public access to City Hall services?Suggested staggered shifts to maintain public access five days a week.
- How should Laguna Beach address visitor impacts?Called for studying visitor impacts and educating visitors about local expectations.
- How should Council scrutinize Promenade construction bids?Said she would review the request for proposals early and make bid line items easier to evaluate.
- What would you do about vacant commercial storefronts?Cited high rents and longstanding owners’ ability to leave properties vacant.
- What would you review or reduce before raising taxes?Proposed reviewing consultants, city management positions, salaries and legal fees.
See 37 rapid-round answers
- Do you support Measure E term limits?Yes
- Would you post Council agendas at least seven days before meetings?No
- Should completed city projects credit taxpayers instead of the mayor and Council on plaques?Yes
- Does the city pay too much for outside consultants?Yes
- Do you approve of the 10-year Visit Laguna agreement?No
- Would you turn the library site into a parking structure?No
- Would you build a new parking structure behind the police station or at the City Hall entrance?No
- Would you spend $141 million or more to underground Laguna Canyon Road?No
- Would you still underground Laguna Canyon Road if Edison hardened the poles at no cost?No
- Should the city purchase Laguna Canyon Road?No
- Should the city purchase Coast Highway within city limits?No
- Do you support a downtown plan replacing historic buildings with denser housing and reduced parking?No
- Do you support the proposed development of Ocean Avenue?No
- Do you support adding 675 homes downtown and in the canyon?No
- Would you meet regularly with the school board on shared issues?Yes
- Would you present an alternate Promenade plan in response to the petition by 873 residents?Yes
- Was the $2.7 million purchase of the Ti Amo former fire-station site a mistake?Yes
- Do you support the NCC/St. Anne’s housing project funding?No
- Would you use city tax dollars to help build housing developments in Laguna?No
- Would you charge a nominal trolley fare to offset operating costs?No
- Should voters directly elect the mayor?No
- Would you tax second homes or vacation homes?No
- Do you support rent control in Laguna Beach?No
- Would you impose a city transfer tax on property sales over $5 million?No
- Do you support increasing the sales tax?No
- Do you support another increase in the hotel occupancy tax?No
- Would you raise the business-license tax based on gross sales or profits?No
- Would you allow open-container alcohol on the Promenade?No
- Would you rent out the public Promenade for private events?Yes
- Would you increase building heights downtown?No
- Would you require a public vote on civic projects costing over $5 million?No
- Would you give commercial landlords $10,000 or more for exterior improvements?No
- Would you increase administrative staffing?No
- Would you raise fines for illegal parking, littering, vehicle noise and beach drinking to at least $100?Yes
- Would you support more alcohol licenses in Laguna Beach?No
- Have you had a joint venture or business relationship with a housing developer in the past two years?No
- Have you invested in or profited from a housing project in the past two years?Yes · Reported owning a single-family rental property; the question concerned investments or profits from housing projects.
Most admired person in politics: Theodore Roosevelt. Part 2 · 21:20 ↗
Experience
Career background and qualifications
So Laguna has not yet located a sufficiently detailed professional résumé in an official or candidate-controlled source. The candidate may provide education, employment, management, public-service and relevant project experience for verification.
Read the fuller biographical summary
Parisi has served as Laguna Beach’s elected City Treasurer since 1999. The City describes her public- and private-sector finance background, municipal treasury work and credentials including CPA, Certified California Municipal Treasurer and Certified Fixed Income Practitioner. Her official 2026 candidate statement emphasizes financial management, responsible spending, transparency and long-term fiscal discipline.
In Laguna Beach and beyond
Local business and community roles
Parisi has served as Laguna Beach’s elected City Treasurer since 1999 and is a CPA with prior senior public-sector finance and auditing experience.
City of Laguna Beach
Elected City Treasurer
Parisi’s official biography says she has served since 1999, overseeing banking, treasury management, investment of City funds and assessment-district administration.
Municipal finance organizations
Professional and former oversight service
Her City biography lists current committee work with the California Municipal Treasurers Association and League of California Cities and former service on state and Orange County treasury oversight bodies.
Investment Advisory Committee
Committee liaison
The City identifies Parisi as liaison for the Investment Advisory Committee.
Only current or clearly labeled former roles supported by public sources are included. A Form 700 income source is not treated as a candidate-owned business without additional evidence. Submit a correction or verification.
Candidate-provided material
From Laura Parisi’s official candidate statement
The following is So Laguna’s concise summary of the candidate’s own ballot statement. It describes the candidate’s claims and priorities; it is not an endorsement or independent verification.
Parisi centers her candidacy on financial management, responsible spending, transparency and long-term fiscal discipline. She says she would bring her experience as elected City Treasurer and a CPA to council decisions while protecting Laguna Beach’s character and quality of life.
View the statement background and priority list
Background described in the statement
Parisi identifies herself as Laguna Beach’s elected City Treasurer, a CPA and an experienced financial professional. She says her work has involved taxpayer protection, careful budgeting, responsible investment of public funds and accountability to residents.
Priorities emphasized
- Sound financial management
- Responsible spending
- Transparent stewardship of public funds
- Long-term fiscal discipline
- Protection of community character and quality of life
- Collaborative, resident-focused decisions
Issues and positions
Where Laura Parisi stands
A quick, source-linked summary of the candidate’s questionnaire responses, public statements and forum answers. Use the source chips to read the questionnaire or watch the answer at its exact timestamp. Tap an issue to open the summary.
Public safety and hospital access
At the Advocates forum, Parisi supported emergency care and inpatient beds and said the City should convene stakeholders and pursue other operators or locations if necessary.
Housing and land use
At the CANDO forum, Parisi favored reviewing existing studies and comparable coastal-city approaches, distributing housing around town and focusing on locations that can support it appropriately.
Traffic, parking and transit
At the Village Laguna forum, Parisi supported studying where visitors come from before choosing traffic and visitor-management measures.
Budget and capital projects
Parisi emphasizes careful budgeting, responsible investment, accountable use of public funds, sound financial management and responsible spending.
Environment, beaches and wildfire
At the CANDO forum, Parisi supported mapping Laguna Canyon’s creeks and wildlife corridors and treating their protection as both environmental and public-safety work.
Arts, business and village character
She says council decisions should protect Laguna Beach’s unique character and quality of life.
Transparency and participation
Parisi emphasizes financial transparency, accountability, listening to residents and collaborative decision-making.
Arts Alliance: arts-district parking
Agrees more parking is needed but opposes the city spending money on a structure at this time. Favors using existing resources and creative transportation alternatives.
Arts Alliance: artist housing and studios
Supports artist live/work housing throughout the city but opposes additional city spending on it.
Arts Alliance: arts on the Promenade
Suggests music, craft fairs and popups, with arts organizations helping identify ways to showcase different art forms.
Official election records
Laura Parisi candidate filings
These records are published by the Laguna Beach City Clerk. Campaign-finance totals below are summarized separately so amendments and reporting periods are not double counted.
Public financial disclosure
Form 700 summary
The filing reports publicly traded investments and a family-trust property interest.
So Laguna summarizes these public filings to identify relevant business, employment and property interests. Reported ranges are not estimates of net worth or proof of a conflict, and residential addresses and private third-party names are omitted.
View reported business, property and investment details
Businesses and income
- No outside employment or candidate-owned operating business is disclosed on the attached schedules.
Real-property interests
- Laura M. Parisi Family Trust — lists a real-property interest described as a residence and side yard; address omitted; no property value range is marked on the filed page.
Investments and other disclosures
- Pfizer stock — $10,001 to $100,000.
- Nvidia investment — $10,001 to $100,000.
- Verizon stock — $10,001 to $100,000.
- SoundHound AI stock — $2,000 to $10,000.
Filing reviewed: August 7, 2026 candidate Form 700 · View the official City eFile record
Public questions
Ask Laura Parisi a question
Submit a policy or public-service question. So Laguna moderates submissions for relevance and civility, and clearly labels candidate replies after verification.
How this works: Questions are reviewed before publication for relevance, civility, privacy and duplication. So Laguna may edit for length or clarity and will mark substantive edits. Published answers identify whether they came from the candidate, campaign or So Laguna editor.
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Question sent to Laura on September 25th and So Laguna is awaiting feedback from her campaign.
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Ask Laura Parisi a public question
Campaign finance
Laura Parisi campaign finance
This live module displays only figures reviewed against official Laguna Beach campaign filings.
A complete reporting-period summary has not yet been published.
Form 497 is an accelerated transaction report, not a complete campaign total. Total contributions, expenditures, cash and debt remain pending until a reviewed periodic statement is available.
Campaign-finance figures are compiled from public filings submitted to the City of Laguna Beach. Filings can be amended and recent transactions may not yet appear in periodic reports. So Laguna omits residential street addresses and links summaries to the original record.
Public voting record
Laura Parisi voting record
Laura Parisi is not currently a member of the body they are seeking to join, so they have no incumbent voting record for this race. This is not a judgment about other public or appointed roles.
Record and accountability
Public record and verification
This candidate does not have a Laguna Beach City Council voting record. So Laguna will add verified public-service records and questionnaire answers when relevant.
Search official campaign filings · City Clerk election information
Primary sources
Sources used for this profile
- Official City Treasurer biography
- Official City Treasurer department
- Advocates for Laguna Residents candidate forum video and local transcript — September 15, 2026
- Arts Alliance forum video, candidate answers and captions — September 26, 2026
- Official candidate statement filed with the City Clerk
- Candidate Form 700 in the City’s official eFile system
- City of Laguna Beach — official City biography
- Investment Advisory Committee — official City committee page
- City of Laguna Beach 2026 General Municipal Election
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Is Laura Parisi running for Laguna Beach City Council in 2026?
Yes. Laura Parisi qualified for the November 3, 2026 ballot and appears in position 3 of nine candidates for three at-large City Council seats.
Is Laura Parisi an incumbent?
No. Laura Parisi is not a City Council incumbent; she serves as Laguna Beach’s elected City Treasurer.
What businesses and community organizations is Laura Parisi connected to?
Parisi has served as Laguna Beach’s elected City Treasurer since 1999 and is a CPA with prior senior public-sector finance and auditing experience. Each listed role includes its supporting public source.
What economic interests did Laura Parisi disclose?
The filing reports publicly traded investments and a family-trust property interest. The complete filing is available through the City’s public eFile system.
How does So Laguna verify this profile?
So Laguna prioritizes official City records, campaign-controlled pages, public filings and dated primary-source statements. Unknown positions are labeled rather than inferred.
Where can I compare every candidate?
Use the Laguna Beach election voter guide for the live candidate comparison and campaign-finance table in official ballot order.
Do you believe that the City budget should be reduced?
If yes, how much do you think should be cut?
Where do you propose to make the cuts?