City of Scotts Valley City Council Councilmember Jack Dilles

One could call Jack Dilles a numbers guy. After all, he’s served as finance director for three cities: Scotts Valley, Morgan Hill, and Santa Cruz. Rounding out his governmental experience, Dilles served for 10 years as a trustee on the Santa Cruz County Board of Education before running for Scotts Valley City Council in 2016.

Now serving his second term, Dilles told MyScottsValley.com that Scotts Valley “needs to focus on finances. … [B]ecause sales taxes and hotel taxes make up 50 percent of our General Fund budget, and because these revenues took a huge hit from COVID-19 impacts, the city was forced to burn through $2 million in cash reserves last fiscal year.” That crisis forced the city to cut more than $1 million by not funding vacant positions in the Police, Community Development, and Public Works Department—and by cutting other costs.

First elected: Nov. 8, 2016

Day job: Financial consultant

Alma mater: San Jose State University (MBA)

Other position held: Trustee, Santa Cruz County Board of Education; Finance Director, cities of Scotts Valley, Morgan Hill and Santa Cruz

Notable quote: “I would like the city to expand the inclusionary zone where housing projects must include 15 percent of homes as affordable. This zone currently covers only the Scotts Valley Drive and Mt. Hermon Road corridors, and I am advocating to expand this zone to the city limits. Second, I would like to encourage interested homeowners to add an accessory dwelling unit on their properties as an investment. This would add rental housing units in a way that would not change neighborhoods and would provide an opportunity for residents to earn rental income.” (Source: Scotts Valley Times)