Neary-Sighted

Starting last year, the Lakewood City Council has commissioned five-year financial projections for our city budget. The idea is to look at how potential changes in the various forms of tax revenues affect the budget. No economist knows the future, but we need to plan long-term based on something. The results are in and scary. The report was delivered Monday night by Choi Halladay, an assistant city manager and finance director. It was sort of a kickoff to the budgeting process that starts in late summer.

The news is grim. Even assuming the recovery starts this year, we'd be looking at a $600,000 deficit in 2010; and if the recovery doesn't continue but falls within certain likely expectations, there could be a deficit of $800,000. The deficit for 2011 would be $1 million to $1.33 million. That projection of course assumes similar spending patterns, which is a complex and separate discussion I'll save for another day. There are many variables, not only in terms of what we spend but how quickly we can spur economic redevelopment in Tillicum and Woodbrook and generate jobs and payroll.

In terms of the budget, I'm prepared to make the tough decisions and vote. That's why I ran for office. But if you remember me even as a newspaper editor, you know I stand for better and clearer communication about government. In fact, I fret about it. I'm more worried about whether the public understands how dire the situation is. I'm more worried about whether people understand what's going on in local government.

I can't even begin to tell you how many conversations I've had this year, even during a major recession, where the most well-intended and caring people say, "I know money's tight but you can still spend more money on _____fill in favorite and almost always truly needy cause here___"

We've somehow got to get ourselves reoriented and real, not only to help make the best decisions about what to cut, but also to maintain public confidence in public finances. I suggested to the mayor this afternoon that council members should be going to the citizen advisory groups and briefing them. Lots of times these groups like to suggest how money should be spent; this year more than ever, it will be about how and when we should cut. The coming budget deliberations are not going to be about saving the sacred cows, but deciding which ones should be ground into hamburger.

If you've got the time, you can read the financial projections that start at page 15 at this link.
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