"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Thursday 24 March 2011

Dichotomy

A word to describe something with seemingly contradictory qualities.

Could be used to describe a budget process.

In January an ad appeared for a manager of customer services for the town with a salary of $80Ks. Add benefits and tools and the cost for budget purposes is $100K.

The budget had not been passed. I challenged the ad. It was explained the position was not new. It was a replacement. I questioned which. The position cited had  already been filled.

It was agreed the job would not be filled until after budget approval.

On Tuesday,the position was questioned in a different context. Again it was explained it was not new. It was a replacement. But not the same as previously described.

A budget is an extensive process. Department Managers prepare estimates, submit and justify them to Directors, who in turn submit and justify them either to the CAO and Chief Financial Officer or to what is now known as the Executive Team.

So, theoretically estimates have run the gauntlet at least twice.There should be no unrealistic expectations.

They should be tight and tidy when they arrive before Council. From then on, scrutiny is under a spotlight.

The end result is nothing less than increasing the burden of taxation. A serious responsibility.

When Council completes scrutiny and approves a budget,  ownership of the document becomes theirs.

No-one else is to blame. No-one else is accountable.

There is no place for cosy,comfortable.smooth and silky acquiescence.

I did not vote for re-organisation of the administration in 2010 with the addition of managerial positions proposed in 2011. I have seen nothing since to convince me I was wrong.

We have received two contradictory accounts of the need for a customer services manager. It is not for me to choose which is  most plausible.

The opportunity to convince me of the merits of the addition of that or any other manager's position is thereby lost.

They will be added to the list I want to see cut from the budget next Monday night. No doubt other Councillors will have their own ideas.

Unanimous support for a budget is the best assurance the interest of the community has been served.

We have work to do still.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Evelyn:

To an observant outsider, it would appear that someone is trying to create a fiefdom at the Town Hall, and I doubt it is Mayor Dawe.

Do we need any more serfs?

Sprite

Your on the right Track said...

Once again you are proving exactly why the voters returned you to your rightful place. Now more than ever your wealth of experience knowledge and wisdom are needed to set the example ,ask the tough questions and demand accountability.
Only this time round you have the added benefit of having 5 other highly respected team members who appear destine to do the right thing for ALL the citizens rather than just the select few.
24 March, 2011 7:39