Take your fingers out of your ears, Councilors!

I continue to be amazed that I keep hearing some of the councilors talk about not knowing anything about the potential budget woes before Marilyn Peterson told them last work session. As late as yesterday's work session, Phil still acted as if it was some huge conspiracy....that everyone knew about the budget issues except him...like people kept the information from him. I guess have to forgive them for being so upset over the recall statements.......if you can believe them, they actually didn't know!

I'm confused as to how that is possible. Marilyn told admin staff last Spring. Chad seems to think it was discussed with councilors last spring, and yet they are still whining about not knowing. Hence the title of this post.

I thought several comments were entertaining in yesterday's work session. Phil said he felt he was being "screwed" and called it a "big screw." I think he was referring to the fact that he'd not been told about the budget problems and had to read about them in the paper. (Assume he's referring to the quotes from Marilyn Peterson in the paper about the urgent need to address the budget shortfall. I think that indicates he can read, so why didn't he read his materials last Spring?)

Phil was also pretty direct, too, about saying staff needs to be cut. I wanted to jump up and suggest he and the others cut their self-awarded pay increases, work session snacks, and any other perks they've got before he said another word about cutting staff. But, I limited my show of disgust to a few eye rolls.

Fortunately, the way things played out, there will be cuts to expenses but not to staff this time around. However, it was made clear....well, let's say that I heard it: come next budget cycle (for fiscal year 2009-2010) everything is on the table. That means staff, too. The current plan is to let attrition work its wonders, but at least one manager at City Hall says that staff cuts were promised, even if it wasn't actually said in yesterday's meeting.

On a silly note, I made coffee this afternoon for the council meeting tonight and told the folks I work with that I spit in it. No one believed me, of course, but one person actually gave me a high-five for it and said it was about time! And, no, I didn't really do it. These guys have enough problems without my spit in their coffee!!