Budget Suggestions

The Mayor of Toledo has recently challenged the members of City Council to come up with a plan to balance the 2009 city budget, since they didn't like the way that he was going to do it. Now while it does seem a bit childish on the face of it I believe that the Mayor, who has held little but fairly good paying government jobs most of his life, has presented those of us out here with a voice an opportunity to help. Perhaps we can show the Mayor how budgets out here real world households are handled, and as a consequence, how to handle the larger issues. 

Keep the house maintained. 
It's easy to say that you will let go some of the repairs that need to be done when times are tough, but this is in fact when it's most important. Small repairs not handled today can turn into big repairs tomorrow. That includes patching the driveway, keeping the drains clear, and home safety (You know, like roads, sewers, and police and fire protection.)  

Don't add the deck or the workroom onto the house this year. 
It would be nice to add some extra space on for relaxation or hobbies, but you don't have the cash to do it. Wait until the money is there again, then wait again to make sure that you really need it in the first place (You know, NO MORE BIKE PATHS!)  

Let the maid service and the digital cable TV go. 
It was great to have a maid service come in once every couple of weeks to clean, and to have 150 channels on cable, but you can do with less until times are better again. In the meantime, learn to get by on less. (You know, cut down on staff and give up some of the frills. I'm not talking about for just for the city workers, but for all. How big a staff does a Mayor need? How many boards does a city need? Lead by example and cut staff.)  

Sell the boat, the jet ski, and the motorcycle. 
It was a lot of fun and maybe even useful to have hobbies, but you can't afford them now. Get rid of them and their related expenses. (You know like getting rid of departments that do little more than make people feel good about themselves. The same holds true for the businesses that you own competing in the private sector. Go back to doing the basics as mandated by the City Charter and budget to cover those costs, and those costs only.) 

Sell the vacation home, you can't afford to take one anyway. 
I know the real estate market sucks, but making payments on multiple homes is only the way to bankruptcy. You may have to take a bath, but that's better than going under. (You know, sell off the Erie St Market, the Docks, Portside, The Commodore Perry, the Steam Plant, and every other piece of real estate the city owns. You never did very good at real estate speculation and the costs of maintaining these properties is only more of a drag on the budget. Get back what you can, but get out now.)  

Stop Gambling. 
It was a bad habit when you took it up, and now you simply don't have the disposable income. It's over as of now. (You know, stop entering contests. Few people knew, fewer cared, and the there's no money for flowers and signs to spare. Give someone else a chance to earn a few meaningless titles.)  

See, it may not be that hard after all. I'm sure that if the Mayor and Council can get behind the simple logic of the way that they probably run their own homes that they can find a solution to the problems of the city. I am likewise sure that if they can't, we will find a solution to the problems that these elected officials have become.