Budget Snoozer

I'm not sure why, but this year's Monona operating budget discussions have been lacking a certain something. It is sans je ne sais quoi. The only 'buzz' is from the audience catching some zzz's. (I'm really not complaining. I kind of hope it stays quiet.)

Maybe it's the limited leeway under the levy limits or the desire not to add stuff in the current economic climate. (By the way, I hope to get around to posting about some truly awful income trends since 1999 that I read about in Issue #122 of the Left Business Observer, an excellent little publication that I commend to your attention.) But really, one would more likely expect scarce resources to create more disagreement.

Or maybe we are just missing a rouser of the rabble, a role formerly filled by Peter McKeever and Chad Speight - actually, I think Peter invented the role; perfected it anyway.

Or maybe we are just saving the disagreement to the end. Here is a list of 'parking lot' items, the term someone suggested for things we need to take a closer look at. But even this list is mostly, as they say in Germany, Maus Nusse.

I. Youth Center Allocation - Cut to $3,000. OK, this is one is important, but still not much money. The proposed budget would cut spending for Monona Youth Center from $6,000 to $3,000. Good chance part or all of the money will get restored.

II. Police Uniform Allowance (Capital to Operating) – approx. $7,000. Possibly moving this cost out of capital.

III. Ambulance Revenue – Potential Increase. Possibly increasing the ambulance fees.

IV. Operators Licenses Fee – Potential Increase to cover Criminal Records Checks costs when a person applies for a "bartenders" license.

V. Adjust Attorney Fee line item – Just more accurately allocating cost between the city attorney and the labor attorney.

VI. Add the words "Tree Trimming" to Tree Removal line Item. This would just change the description in the budget.

VII. Look at the potential of increasing Fire Chief salary. If we combine the Fire Chief and EMS Director/Fire Marshall into a full-time Fire Chief, we may need to pay more. We may also need to increase pay or create some type of deputy chief and for inspector duties. (I hope to post some details about this issue and the discussion at Public Safety this past week.)

Maybe the capital budget will be more exciting.