Political Gumbo: The Next Big Ticket Item

We’ve had the elections, a brouhaha at the Convention Center last week over an international crisis.

But we’re not done yet.

Up next, budget hearings. 

Yep in about a month and some change the hearings kick off. 

The defund the police crowd will show up. That ain’t happening folks. 

The take money from this department or that department and invest it in housing crowd will also have something to say.
Of course, that’s their right. 

Others will chime in as well, and I am sure along the way someone will see a conspiracy or two in the process. I’m sure some folks are staking out the Grassy Knoll in Dallas as we speak hoping to see something.

If you don’t know, Google it. 

Last time I looked, I thought I saw my former PW colleague Carl Kozlowski fleeing the area on 11.22.63, although he wasn’t born yet.

That means the Koz invented time travel. I just solved the JFK case. On a Koz aside, I spoke to him last week. He just won one of those radio contests where you call in and answer a trivia question. 

I guess they still do that sort of thing in Arkansa.

The question has to do with a famous sax solo in a 70s hit. The answer was “Baker Street.” 

Koz called me as the song was oft discussed at PW. That song perfectly sums up our time at the PW, maybe even more now.  

Congrats again Koz. 

The City Charter requires that on or before the third Monday in May the City Manager shall submit to the City Council an annual operating budget for the succeeding fiscal year.

The Charter comes through again.

Last year the City Council approved a $1.2 billion budget to further the City’s mission to deliver exemplary municipal services responsive to “our entire community and consistent with our history, culture, and unique character,” according to Miguel Marquez.

This year’s budget probably won’t hit the $1.2 billion mark when you consider last year it contained ARPA funds and Measure R money.

I’m calling it to land someplace just above $1 billion. No inside baseball, just a guess. No I have not seen the damn budget. It’s a guess.  

Could be wrong on that one, wouldn’t be the first time I made a prediction that didn’t come true, just ask our former President Hilary Clinton. 

Mentioning that election, if the budget lands at $1 billion, as I expect, that means Donald Trump has to come with the equivalent of almost half the City’s budget by tomorrow. March 25. 

You don’t come up with that by emptying the change you been dropping in a Sparkletts bottle every night. 

The City’s General Fund is the primary operating fund of the City. The fund is supported by a variety of revenue sources including taxes, license fees, permit fees, charges for services, fines, forfeitures, investment earnings, rental income and a variety of other miscellaneous sources, according to the City’s website. 

Back on topic, the City’s budget is easily one of the biggest responsibilities exercised by the Mayor and the City Council, and it gives the people the opportunity to hear and take part in the discussion on city services and how tax revenue is spent.

Locally, the budget process is a collaborative and transparent effort that involves the city manager, department heads, councilmembers, and the public that starts in July or August of the previous year, when the city manager and department heads begin developing the budget based on input from various departments and stakeholders.

Watch and listen. 

It’s worth the time.

And just think, Charter reform still has to come to council. 

Maybe, the City should start its own streaming service.