It is New Year's Eve, for state and local government that is.
June 30th brings to a close the fiscal year. Should it be as simple as an accounting process to close the books on what has transpired during fiscal 2013.
Of course it isn't.
Even reconciling the books is seldom as simple as most think it is.
At some point in the future, the account books on all the issues embroiling the town will have to be settled. No, I am not referencing the monetary aspect here, although there is that dirty little issue too.
Politically, we have seen several matters over the last two years that have at a minimum realigned some of the ledger columns. For some, those realignments just don't add up. For other's the math works.
For still others, nothing seems to have changed, except the process you use.
Anyway, it is what it is ...
Now we have to contemplate on what it will be. The tone for the "what" will be set tomorrow night. An extremely ambitious agenda, dealing with hot button issues and some long lingering issues, and issues needing decisions and direction.
In fairness to the board, I don't know how we break the logjam at this point that just seems to keep growing bigger. Might be easier if perhaps there could be a few "take backs". Doing that, or attempting to do that can create more problems.
The reality is that logjam has to be broken. Wait too long and it will explode under its own weight and pressure. Not a comforting thought though if you have ever seen a documentary on such things.
One thing I feel pretty confident about, is people have to stop thinking and arguing in absolute terms. If some common ground cannot be found, and soon, when that logjam breaks, both sides are going to find most of the ground between them has been swept away.
Enough for today. Be Safe.
In the past two years the cities and towns around Fairhaven haven't seen much change. Fairhaven on the other hand has been turned upside down.
ReplyDeleteThe key issue is as always money or as they say "Cash is king." You can't deny many voters vote their pocket book first. The town chose to lease land and invest in a partnership for a long term revenue stream.The individual voters,the town, actually became investors in a community project that was or is going to last twenty or more years.
In business there is always a risk. Among the hazards facing the location of a business are health risks.The pocketbook voters today are looking at long term litigation fees and a substantial monetary loss.
The log jam has to be broken. We are all witnesses to a documentary that could explode under its own weight and pressure. The answer to the issue at hand is what is worth more money or health.
Evident from previous articles, and several articles today in the S-T, the New Bedford school department has seen much change. I think the city has been turned upside down by what has been uncovered during the past year.
DeleteJust look at the budget portion of the department. How long did the unchecked/unquestioned spending go on, and what's happening now because of it?
How much control of that situation did the 'individual voters' have?
"Voters vote their pocketbook first?" For me, often, but not always. Fairhaven voters saw a real need for a new school, and voted for it. If everyone had put their pocketbook first- it wouldn't have passed.
Today, it doesn't matter why the turbines passed. Maybe it was for the potential of monetary gain, or maybe it was to give the technology a chance.
Now the question is, what to do with what we've got.
You can have money an poor health,or good health an no money,money an good health,bad health an no money.Pick your situation an the turbine project does not effect any one of these scenarios.All the cities an towns around us have faced similar problem,PCB=New Bedford,solar +Dartmouth-Acushnet,etc.Its all part of the changing economies of our country..Some good,some bad,all of them necessary evils.We all have different answers to all issues.
ReplyDelete