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A budget becomes a nightmare

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By STEVE OTTO Steve Otto

sotto@tampatrib.com sotto@tampatrib.com

Published: June 14, 2009

At least the word didn't go from the commission chambers to send out to Alessi's Bakery for some cake to feed the multitude.

Actually, the multitude would have been happier if they had only turned on the air conditioning. It's not like they didn't expect anybody to show up.

Last Tuesday night, the Hillsborough County commission allowed the public to comment for the first time on proposed cuts for the 2010 budget. A story in Mother Trib that morning warned of an overflow crowd. We were right and the overflow was shipped up to the 26th Floor, also known as the "Shake and Bake Room," where steamed citizens got fried as well.

The budget process is always a contentious affair. These days it has become a nightmare.

Days earlier, the county piddled out threats of what had to be done to pare more than $140 million from the $1.1 billion operating budget. The numbers were more than depressing. Jobs and the lives of thousands of people suddenly were at the edge of the cliff. The word was that from 600 to more than 1,100 jobs were on the chopping block.

Not chump change

You know, $140 million is a pretty hefty chunk to have to deal with at once. You could almost buy a major-league slugger for that kind of money. For that kind of money, you could probably fix the cracks in another taxpayer-dollar hole, the C.W. Bill Young Reservoir.

But we're talking about the real world -your world. For that kind of money, programs and services to a wide range of people would have to be cut back or eliminated.

As you might expect, the real down and dirty cuts are proposed to come from groups that can't really fight back. Programs for the county's children, seniors and animals lead the list.

We are the people

Meanwhile, the commissioners, one with the people as usual, offered to trim their salaries. OK, they didn't go that far, but said they were willing to take a cut in monthly car allowances. Six-figure bureaucrats - and there are plenty -apparently will make six-figure salaries and the view from the top will be pretty good.

At least commissioners showed up Tuesday and for three hours listened to citizens devastated over possible elimination of programs such as child care licensing, cutbacks to animal services and in-home visits to the elderly. these are mean, heavy-handed cuts to those who need protection and assistance the most.

Maybe County Administrator Pat Bean's assistants, all of whom apparently got substantial raises, can come up with something more equitable. We noted in a story there are 303 county employees pulling down more than six figures. They must be smart. Maybe they can come up with a few suggestions.

There are going to be at least three more public hearings. I bet we can do a little better than what happened on Tuesday.

Keyword: Otto Graphs, for more of Steve Otto's musings.

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