The Kabuki theater** of Plainfield's FY2010 budget inched towards its close Wednesday evening with the Council hearing scheduled presentations from the Plainfield Public Library, the Inspections and Recreation Divisions, the Corporation Counsel, the City Clerk, and, in a reprise, the Planning Division -- which the Robinson-Briggs administration wants to gut, despite opposition from the Council, the public and employees.
Wednesday's scheduled hearing was to conclude presentations on the Operating Budget.
A hearing is set for tonight on the Capital Spending Budget -- projected large scale projects (like roads) and certain purchases which have long depreciation schedules (such as fire and police equipment).
I say 'Kabuki theater' not to demean the process or the presentations departments and divisions make (and over which they sweat and labor), but to underscore that this is always a stylized performance.
The 'sausage', as seasoned observers know, gets made elsewhere.
That will be AFTER next Monday's public hearing on the introduced budget.
After the public has had its say, and the CBAC (Citizens Budget Advisory Committee) makes its recommendations to the Council, the Council then withdraws unto itself to ponder amendments to the budget.
Those amendments, enacted at the second and final budget hearing, then form the framework within which the Robinson-Briggs administration must work for the balance of the 2010 fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2010.
Any potential 'savings' will be mitigated by the fact that half the fiscal year has already lapsed by the time the budget is put in place.
The fact that the Robinson-Briggs administration chose NOT TO INTRODUCE its budget proposal until AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION has not escaped attention, and it is commonly perceived that Robinson-Briggs wimped out, missing the state's budget deadline on purpose and saddling the Council with all the dirty work. Pretty slick trick.
Perhaps Dan should revise his strongly-held opinion that the Robinson-Briggs administration is largely inept and incompetent?
Or maybe it was a decision made by someone other than Robinson-Briggs or City Administrator Marc Dashield?
**Kabuki is the highly stylized dance-drama which is considered Japan's classical theater tradition, embodying qualities the Japanese value most in their national character -- honor, loyalty and 'the Samurai determination to see a course through to its end, regardless of the cost'.
City Council: Capital Budget Hearing
Tonight, December 17
7:00 - 10:00 PM
Council Chambers/Municipal Court
Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street
Tonight, December 17
7:00 - 10:00 PM
Council Chambers/Municipal Court
Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street
-- Dan Damon [follow]
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2 comments:
The presentations are pretty much a waste of time for all involved. There is no meat in them. There are no metrics that show any kind of success. There is nothing that indicates quantitatively what was done last year, and the proposed accomplishments for next year.
Perhaps next year there will be some guidance as to what a good presentation entails, so that those who create them, as well as those who watch them, will gain some true insight into how the city uses our money.
Robinson-Briggs is inept and not qualified to be the mayor, but she is slick and has a very experience mentor. If she gets through the next four years without being impeached will be a miracle. Unfortunately, the people of Plainfield will have to pay for her ineptness and the poor choices she makes to run the city.
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