Woe is Us

So can $1.5 million in free cash ever be problem?

It wouldn't seem to be the case. The city should be commended for running a bit in the black in these tough financial times, as the Daily News reports today. A surplus certainly beats a deficit as many other communities can attest.

But we wouldn't be us without looking at potential pitfalls.

Schools -  Ed Cameron mentioned the possibility of restoring some lost programs at the school. I'm not sure if the appetite is there, particularly since this money might be a one-time shortfall if tax receipts take a dip next year in a sagging economy. But what impact will this $1.5 million have on any override or debt exclusion votes for the new schools? Will people feel the city has enough to pay debts without more taxes?

Candidates - Anyone hoping to run on the platform that the city is fiscally mismanaged may have a hard time getting traction. The case would be much easier to make with a $1.5 million deficit.

Unions - Will public employee unions be emboldened to ask for more next time around. Union negotiations with Holaday have been largely uneventful - with the firefighters as the notable exception. Could that change?

Personnel - Does the city's decision to cut the part-time conservation commission agent seem an overreach now? I think the salary with that position was approximately $30,000. A surplus of this magnitude suggests that might have been money well spent. The deal to share a conservation agent apparently fell apart, according to the News.

Just some quick thoughts. I think city officials might have done themselves a favor by clearly spelling out what financial cuts/decisions have been made to bring this budget in line, such as personnel and program cuts. This would have made the surplus look more like the result of good management rather than good fortunate (and new revenue streams like the meals tax and, to a lesser extent, parking.)

But once the state certifies the existence of the cash I'm in complete agreement with the horde that we've got some infrastructure in woeful need of improvement. SIDEWALKS!

P.S. Cameron does a good job of putting the free cash total in perspective on his blog.

Got a Feeling

Back in 1997 when I was covering Newburyport City Hall, I thought I'd be writing the final chapter of the Water Front Saga when then Mayor Lisa Mead and Wannabe Hotel Developer Roger Foster agreed on a plan that that would pave the way for the hotel's construction.

I obviously was a bit naive.

Last week's NRA meeting gave me a similar feeling. The people present - while I agree not a guaranteed representative of the city at large - seemed receptive to the idea that we'd have to build on some of the waterfront to pay for the desired open space.

Today, the Masked Preservationist confirmed that the tide is turning with this little post, "The Final Word on the NRA, Paid Parking & The Waterfront."

If this is the best he's got.....

Next Step, No Step

I commend Councilors Tom Jones, Brian Derrivan, and Bob Cronin for bringing the city's case against the IBEW 103 union to a higher authority, as reported in today's Daily News.

I don't see how the AFL-CIO's Merrimack Valley Central Labor Council would intercede on the city's behalf, since IBEW protesters' behavior is inline with the Council's overall mission "to mobilize against anti-union employers, work on community issues, recruit and support candidates who champion working families, and organize grassroots political action to push for adoption of worker-friendly initiatives and policies on a national, state and local level."

Still, it was worth a shot.

But I'm not sure the councilors' refusal to accept an endorsement from IBEW is really any big deal. First of all, they're all running unopposed so the political risk is minimal. Second, where's the political value in such an endorsement since the community overall seems to have nothing but contempt for the group's tactics.

Are they also going to refuse to accept the endorsements of Derek Jeter and Rex Ryan?

Honestly, the best thing we all can do is just ignore the union guys until they go away, and they will. Every article published and letter written just adds fuel to fire.

They want to rent an office here? Fine. They want to stand on Market Square with the rat? Fine by me. They're not breaking any laws and they're certainly not garnering any support from the locals.