"It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage, than the creation of a new system. For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by the preservation of the old institutions and merely lukewarm defenders in those who would gain by the new ones." Machiavelli
Albany Budget QuestionsBy DIA, Section News
Today is the final chance for the public to make any comments on the 2008 budget. If you'd like to do so, attend the common council meeting tonight and
So far there has been public comment on the issue of parking fines going up up up. Valid points. There doesn't appear to be much concern for the overall financial health of the city. So here is what I predict. The common council has until the end of November to make any changes to the proposed budget. At the end of the month they will make some big fuss about not raising parking fines, and they might not raise them. Nothing will be done about the fact that despite raising taxes this year's budget includes a ton of borrowing to "balance" it. The city of Albany is like the Average American Consumer. For the past two years, and for the first time since the Great Depression, Americans are spending more than they earn. In 2006, Americans saved at a rate of negative 1 percent, according to statistics released February 1 by the Commerce Department, meaning they not only spent all of their after-tax income, they also dipped into their savings or increased the amount they borrowed. The savings rate in 2005 was negative 0.4 percent.So, I guess we shouldn't blame Jerry the Average. He is just doing what the rest of America is doing. And your taxes are going up. If you don't mind that, keep voting with your
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