Okay, I hope that you can now make out my post, so let’s turn our attention to the first sentence. (That would be the words in the RED font!!!) If you read those words carefully, you will find that NOWHERE were the terms: “cruiser”, “police”, “budget”, “line-item”, “bid list” or “purchase” used. That is because this simple statement was not specific to any of those items. I was merely making a GENERAL statement about our city’s apparent attitude toward fiscal policy. More specifically, I was trying to give a GENERAL, POSSIBLE answer to a question posed by Mr. Hermes. Here is his post:

Hermes wrote: Knowing these members Vet they probably bought all SUV's. And I agree,did they get bid's on this or what ? And where did the money come from ? I thought the city was broke and in the red ?

Here is some additional reinforcement:

After the “public safety payroll tax increase” failed (I believe in November of 2007), and the Fire Department had only been funded “quarter-by-quarter” (council was counting on the tax increase being passed), the City needed About $350,000 by the following April 1^st or the Fire department would be force to close at least one more station. All of a sudden, at the last minute, Mr. Lyons “found” the money needed “tucked away in one of our other funds!” Now those were HIS words, NOT mine!!!

So, let’s fast forward to the November 17, 2009, city council meeting.

The amount, once again, was about $350,000. (Now I’m sure that $350K is not a great deal to you, but it is to most of us, and 350K here in this fund…350K there in that fund…and before you know it, you’re talking some real money!!!

The situation at that council meeting was that there was an opportunity for a sweet deal…just too good to be true…at the airport, BUT (there’s always a “but” isn’t there?) council had to act quickly. They had to decide right away, or else they will need an “Emergency Ordinance“ and you know how much they hate those!!!

Here are some ACTUAL QUOTES from that meeting--THEIR WORDS, not mine-- and PLEASE do not take my word for it. Go to BlipTV.com, watch and listen to the meeting (I hope that you are not hard of hearing along with your other infirmities) and verify for yourself that these quotes are transcribed exactly!!! You can also see and hear them in their exact context.

Judy Gilleland (JG): “We have some other funds available that we can borrow from”;

Dave Schiavone: “…some internal money might be available”

Anita Scott-Jones (ASJ): “…the public is hearing: we are going to borrow money and there are several accounts…”

JG: “…It could be borrowing from an internal fund.” “But again, we have funds that have balances, obviously, it could be borrowing from an internal fund.”

ASJ: “Those funds are for a specific use. Somebody might ask: ‘Why are we having budget issues?’ That‘s what I‘m trying to get at, for the public‘s sake.”

At least ASJ sounded like she was trying to look out for the people, but she never did get a straight answer!!!

And to top things off, later in that very same meeting, they passed the 2010 Budget Resolution, but not until after a whole lot of hand-wringing about what bad shape we were in and how the fire department needs more money, and maybe they should fund them incompletely and solve the problem during the first quarter of 2010. (Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?)

In conclusion (which means we are nearing the end), if you remain confused, please tell me, and I will try again to explain, but using a larger font and smaller words (but no colors).

PS: I hope that this helps!!!