The decision to spend $150K to bring a firm in to tell city officials how to save money is laced with irony. It is comical until one realizes it is also another waste of taxpayer dollars in a budget year that has seen misplaced priorities become the norm.
Adam Beam writes in The State that the city will pay for the study by selling a piece of land and through other means. Councilwoman Belinda Gergel voted against it and told Beam:
"This was not budgeted, and it's a tight budget year," said Councilwoman Belinda Gergel, who voted against the study. "When you set a budget, the intention ought to be to follow that budget."
Agreed. A tight budget certainly seems to stretch, as necessary, to fit in whatever "needs" are suddenly required. Council resembles professional wrestling where they put on a show in public but behind the scenes seem perfectly willing to go forward with poorly thought out plans.
Council member Devine chimed in the city needs experts to help figure out the problem. Shouldn't that have been thought of prior to placing public safety in jeopardy with cuts to two engine companies. Devine tells Beam the fire department recommended the cuts but in reality that only occurred after council imposed a sharply reduced budget midstream.
Council doesn't need to pay a firm for their expertise. They need only to look at their previous decisions and vote opposite.
Politicians love to spend that money regardless of the harsh economic times. And what good will calling in a "firm" do? One thing it will do is spend more money!
Posted by: Paul | November 13, 2009 at 08:03 AM
My 2 cents from California
Find the money to pay for this "Pork Project"
A. Layoff one or more of the four Assistant City Manger's.
B. Cut their pay by 25% down and the CFD Office Command Staff by 15%.
Getting "Over paid for doing little or no
work".
The City Council essentially wants to "flush" this money down the drain to find out why the City isn't "functioning".
It's dysfunctional! 4 Assistant City Manager's? (How about the Citizens vote in a totally New City Council?)
Cut them first before the FF's have their budget reduced more, with the exception of the Inspection Staff. They're over paid and underworked!
What an embarassment to the City, it's Citizens and the Fire Service as a whole. Tammony Hall Politic's and it's worst.
Posted by: uk-fb-buff | November 13, 2009 at 03:31 PM