I’ll post this periodically, which will look at how the city budget –- with its projected seven percent gain in property tax collections and its 1.75 percent increase in sales tax cash –- is doing in real time.
Today, how other governments are dealing with their budgets in the face of the continuing downturn in the economy.
• Gov. Perry, hardly a Chicken Little, has asked state agencies to cut discretionary spending and to limit travel. News-released the governor: “As good stewards of the resources entrusted to us by Texas taxpayers, we are obligated to not only watch the outside forces affecting our economy, but deal with them proactively.” The state, incidentally, projected a $2 billion surplus in May.
• Chicago mayor Richard Daley, facing one of the worst budget crises in a generation, is laying off more than 900 employees and not filling some 1,300 vacancies.
• New York City axed 2.5 percent from all departments last month, and told city agencies to make do with 5 percent less next year.
The Wine Curmudgeon 