For two challengers for a Live Oak City Council seat, the goal is to preserve the virtues of small-town life — and to keep it funded.

Before a 50-person audience in Yuba City, Gary Baland and Rob Klotz, both city planning commissioners, made their cases Thursday for places on the city council — and grappled with how to sustain the north Sutter County town in a time of fiscal turmoil nationwide.

"My vision includes being fiscally responsible and ensuring our city is safe," Klotz said during a candidates' forum sponsored by the Sutter County Taxpayer Association. "And it includes making sure our city is not left behind."

The country's darkening financial forecast weighed heavily on the platforms of both men, who with incumbent Councilman Charles Epp are vying for two council positions. Epp did not attend the forum.

On top of falling stock prices and state budget deficits threatening city funding, new costs loom — for levee repairs and about $25 million for state-mandated upgrades to the city's wastewater treatment plant.

A plan to unite most of Sutter County's sewage treatment in Yuba City found favor with Baland as a cost saver for Live Oak, though Klotz was more cautious about giving up local control of the system.

Baland suggested Live Oak go further and encourage redevelopment along Highway 99, which he said would increase curb appeal for visitors — and revenues for the city.

Any new revenues are critical, both candidates agreed, for a community with growing costs.

"We've got major exposure with the sewage treatment, flood control and our budget's tight," said Baland. "I know it's time — in fact it's past time — that we hunkered down on our budget."