10/07/2009: "$270,000.00 Must Be Cut From FH Budget!"

The Friday Harbor Town council now struggles with trying to get a balanced budget. I can understand that. I can also understand that each of the town departments will have to struggle to make the cuts necessary to fill the estimated $270,000.00 deficit. I can also understand that it won’t be easy.

But.. It would have been much easier had the council done their homework when a couple of weeks ago they approved the purchase of the $600,000.00 fire engine. The budget deficit amount almost matches the difference in the cost of the fire engine that should not have been purchased.

Coincidence? The money allocated for the fire engine came from the emergency fund. If a nearly $300,000.00 deficit is not an emergency, then Webster needs to re-evaluate the definition.

Let’s not forget that this year, we will see a 24% increase in utilities. Coincidence?
What can we do to make them understand that it’s our money they are throwing away? DON’T LET THE SAME PEOPLE STAY IN OFFICE “VOTE” THEM OUT because they are not listening to us no matter how many times they say they are.

Let’s understand that these budget issues are not to be simply “o well’d.” they are important, critical and vital to the continued well being of our town. Let’s NOT make the same mistakes bureaucrats have been making for years by spending needlessly and without regard for the taxpayer.

I have received news today (Monday) that the council has asked the treasurer to find a way to get the fire engine with a loan. That’s good news, too bad it still will cost $600,000.00. You can get a video of the September 17th evening meeting just so you know I wasn’t dreaming all this.

Robert Low
Friday Harbor