A Question for the Council Candidates

Here's an issue that needs to be front-and-center in the city council campaign:

As I have blogged before, the city of Monona faces a sizable deficit in its 2009 operating budget. The state-imposed 2% levy will not erase this deficit (indeed, a 2% increase will likely not allow the city to keep even with its expenses). The size of the projected deficit is in the $200,000-$300,000 range - whatever the exact number it is almost certainly too large to erase except through spending cuts that would lay waste to city services - unless.....

State law does oh-so-graciously grant the city the option of asking the voters to approve a higher levy increase in a binding referendum. Back in November 2007 when the council was debating the 2008 budget and the magnitude of the likely 2009 problem was clear, there was broad agreement that the city should ask the voters whether they would approve exceeding the levy cap. The earlier the better, went the refrain, so that we know what we are facing in 2009.

But when I reminded my colleagues in January that we needed to start formulating a resolution for the April ballot, I was told, 'awww, let's wait until September'. True, in September we will have a better idea of the size of the shortfall, but there will be less time to do anything about it if the voters say 'no'. I'm willing to tackle controversial issues, but I'm not the Patron Saint of Lost Causes - that's St. Jude's job. (Saint Jude, the Patron of Lost Causes as discussed on the Lucky Mojo web site).

The voters should hear the candidates for city council views on this issue. Are they willing to support a resolution placing the levy cap on the ballot? If not, the candidate needs to disclose how would he or she would address the deficit.

By the way, you can also fill your need for four-leaf clovers at the Lucky Mojo: http://www.luckymojo.com/luckyw.html