Last week I read some local news about the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Governor. It seems that a local beltway project was completed under budget. I happen to live on Beltine which is what it has been called for over 40 years. When we bought in 2002 we were told that a sound wall was going to be built within 4 years... that was 8 years ago.
Now what got me on a frenzy to write emails and faxes and to call the governor, ODOT, my state representative and senators, the Eugene City council and the Eugene Mayor was that they proposed to use some of that remaining project money ... mainly $250,000 to replace the signs and to rename that Beltline after a local business man who was appointed to some ODOT board. They cited his heroic service on that board and la de dah we are supposed to let them spend tax dollars to create a monument in signs.
This was one of my arguments - Give me the $250,000 and I can replace the 30 signs paying people $20 an hour to do the work. I personally will haul the lift around and place cones and do the flag work for less then $25,000 and will use the rest to build a sound wall.
I asserted that the governor and mayor both have used the poor mouth argument while planning to fritter away $250,000 on signs. I voted for the tax increase this last election. I watched and kept silent as my property taxes went up while my home value fell $35,000. But this is too much and EVERYONE contacted claimed it was someone elses fault or they couldn't help it.
Now I was a water chemist at a waste water plant. My husband was a firefighter for over 32 years. Anyway, both of us have seen this peculiarity in budgets. Someone was tellin me that it happens even at companies. Near the end of the year they frantically spend every last dime so that thier budget won't be cut preventing them from buying a replacement engine or spectrophometer or RIA in a following year with a lesser budget. This is where a LARGE source of waste is found in government spending that leads to warehouses of crap rotting when the tax dollars could be better managed
This reminds me of the Chinese who I believe for centuries would basically clean financial house in thier private and business lives by the end of the year. But instead of rationally paying off debt the current budgetary practice is like clearing out savings accounts and burdening the contributors with increase demands to maintain the budgetary levels in later years. Believe me, I get it that you don't buy a HPLC every year but still need to have funds available when you need them without having to beg from those who haven't got a clue what it does. And my husband can tell you why 5" hose is better then 3" hose or why certain materials make better & safer turnout gear. And firefighters do die sooner than most professions so safety is a consern for those of us who love them and would like to see them when they're 62.
I get it that the budgets can not be allowed to drop year to year because there are big expenditures in the future of nearly any large enterprise. The waste is in the frittering away instead of saving or investing in a discretionary fund. If after years the fund grows beyond a certain point then the budget can be re-examined.
So in effect this decision to spend $250,000 on signs to honor one man who happens to be in thier industry is just this same kind of thing. They tried to tell me the tax funds were derived from gasoline tax. SO WHAT? It is still taxes that should be spent on stuff to benefit citizens and businesses. Many serve but few are canonized at taxpayers expense and loss of service
Why is this such an impossible thing to deal with. No passing money to friends by having them print a brochure or design some signs or buying more bandages then you will use in 10 years by which time they will be unusuable. OK accountants and lawyers tell me why it can't be fixed or tell me how it can be fixed. Really I manage money better than this.