In the latest chapter of the seemingly endless textbook Death By Bureaucracy, Mayor Mark Funkhouser, taking a break from his day job of appearing on national talk shows, has decided to throw everything he’s got at the city’s financial crisis. Our fair town is facing a roughly $89 million shortfall next year, and what will the mayor do about it? Budget cuts? Immediate tax hikes and redistribution of city resources? Urgent appeals to the citizenry for sacrifice? Ha, no: he’s calling for an economic summit… in three weeks. Brilliant! From our Dear Leader’s blog:
The Mayor will soon hold a Forum on Financial Preparedness with community leaders, council members and experts, who will assess the city’s finances, consider the impact of the global financial crisis and begin to develop a contingency plan should Kansas City experience a dramatic decline in revenue.
Hmm, a “contingency plan” for a “dramatic decline in revenue.” You mean like… the current one? And a summit? Really? What, did we decide against a task force or a commission? A blue-ribbon panel wasn’t available?
[...] have serious budget issues to contend with, a spiraling homicide rate, citizens who are crying out for true leadership, and [...]