Budget (1): Water, water everywhere

With Plainfield looking at a budget gap of $4M -- rumor has it -- between the wish lists of department heads and the hard reality of the upper dollar amount the State will approve, one hopes the Administration of Mayor Robinson-Briggs is casting about for ways to rein in expenses.

Without having to cut into the eats-and-treats account, of course.

Water comes to mind.

Water has been in the news lately. Thirst-quenching and simple, most of us have grown accustomed to the ubiquitous plastic bottles from which to chug on a hot summer day. As the New York Times points out, it takes 1.5 million barrels of oil a year just to make the BOTTLES for the water we chug. That's not counting trucking it around and refrigerating it in the stores.

As far as the City's budget goes, maybe the Administration could consider forgoing the bottled water that so many offices use and go back to drinking tap water.

After all, as President Bush says, sacrifices must be made.

Perhaps employees could even be outfitted with individual canteen kits as a cost-saving measure.

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NY Times: "Water, Water Everywhere, but Guilt by the Bottleful"

-- Dan Damon

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