BUDGETEERS

...in action we are.
We never seem to get very far.
Spent weeks in a numeral haze,
Round and round in a daze.

You'll be amazed at year's end.
We don't have any money to spend.
Were banking on bake sales and grants.
Meanwhile, were floating on rants.

If we can make it a couple of years,
The hotel will soothe our fears.
That's why we're shooting it down.
We need him now, the town clown.

His only friend is parsing all pence.
That's to keep us all in suspense.
Will we end up Ruston or Tacoma?
Or Pierce county still in a coma?

Ruston regular council meeting Monday December 15th, 2008 page two:

Ordinance 1276 Salary Classification budget 2009

Weird and incomprehensible, muttering and sputtering. As short as I can get it.

Council - Need to do both tonight (salary classification and budget), need second reading December 22nd council meeting (salary classification). December 22nd wins.
Dan - need more readable form. Is this part of the budget?
Clerk - Yes.
Wayne - not comfortable with this.
Dan and Wayne - refuse to make motion for approval (previous ended up in court).
Bradley - makes motion.
Jim - removes merit pay?
Clerk - fixes salaries at current levels. Everybody at current wage, top step.
Council - doesn't understand.
Clerk - salaries fixed at current salary, need budget amendment to increase.
Wayne - attacks fire department, wants budget amendment, keep us informed, wants budget reduced.
Mayor - to Wayne, to put this is perspective the budget is $700,000 out of balance, you want to go through this for $261 dollars? Wow, are his days numbered? Straight talk in Ruston?
Council - some talk of need to repeal Ordinance 1238. Not sure what for? Another red herring slowdown?
Police Chief Reese - asks permission to speak, granted. fundamental problem, removing something we spent hours doing (Ordinance 1238). My concern, we need grid for Police Department salaries. Is it necessary to repeal Ordinance 1238?
Attorney - this Ordinance (1276) seems redundant. No staff requirement.
Jane - ending confusion, let's redo this at December 22nd meeting.
Bradley - include Ordinance 1238 and supplemental budget.
Jim - motion to approve Ordinance 1276 Salary Classification first reading. Passes 5-0. Second reading December 22nd council meeting.
Public - do you get the feeling this is all done on the fly? Or are some council members having remarkable success sewing confusion. The Town Clerk, God bless her, knew the correct answer but was totally ignored. Come November 2009 we can ameliorate this balderdash and bring back sound reasoning. But it will take some pro Ruston candidates to step forward between now and then. Nineteen minutes chasing their tail in dog terms.

Sorry, Ordinance 1277 Budget 2009 next blog. I need a break. It is remarkable this goes on meeting after meeting for $30 a month. Believe me it is not the money. It's all about the Town - sink or swim. Stay tuned it gets worse.