November 24, 2008

We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat!

Back in October of 2007, a little over a year ago, we told PRU readers Lesson #1: Pay Attention!



In that piece we wrote about how the council's Finance and Budget committee, chaired by the Lord of the Manor, Ald. Rich DiPietro (2nd Ward) had been cancelling meetings. We viewed those cancellations as a mixed blessing but warned that, "We sure do hope the Lord of the Manor is paying attention, because his won't be the only ass that could get bitten by something that creeps up from behind."

Six months later, in April 2008, we again wrote about the Finance and Budget committee meeting to discuss some serious budget issues that had crept up. We called that piece
Lesson #2: Pay Attention or Pay Up!

Well people, just another six months later and the piper's come calling again, and he's got really really big teeth and an insatiable appetite! The city's bloody red spending is starting to look a lot like this --



Who's the guy on the surf board, you may ask? You'll find the answer in the mirror.

Last year's red ink totaled a whopping $1.7 million dollars, and according to some of the recent articles in the local rags, the city is poised to be swamped with another red ink wave of the same magnitude.

We're glad to see the Finance and Budget committee hasn't cancelled their next meeting (.pdf), but we sure do wish they'd post those financial statements their background memo (.pdf) refers to.

So people, how long can you tread water?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

it makes me sick--all the $$ we've spent on "studies" they (the finance committee) approve for Howie's friends

Anonymous said...

What a cluster. I read about the city's goals in the newspaper and couldn't believe these retards think that building a new police station is the first thing we need and if there's any money left over then maybe they'll see about helping us not have flooding. Unbelievable!

Anonymous said...

Priorities!

Howard's side show
the other nights which
cost the city a very
pretty penny by the way
was all smoke and mirrors.

If you think for one min
that Howie has a long term
with a short term plan ...
then we can sell you a bridge
to know where too.

Hey, maybe Mayor Daley
will want to purchase/steal some Pk Ridge
properties.. that fits right in to the final approach pattern to O'Hare.

That might help the housing slump
here too.

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Maybe this is what Howard meant by doing more with less when he got the council cut? More red ink with less aldermen keeping on top of things? More spending with less restraint? More plans for more debt with less resistance? Yessiree, Howard sure is doing more with less!

Anonymous said...

howard frimark should go back to kindergarten to learn simple math. what an idiot!

Anonymous said...

How many times do people need to be told: Frimark doesn't care about anybody but himself, his friends and his benefactors. Plus he doesn't even understand municipal finance, so he's like the ignorant and apathetic guy who claims he doesn't know and doesn't care.

He's looking at at least $3.4 million in budget deficits, yet he wants to spend another million-plus a year on a new police station. And that makes sense how?

Anonymous said...

Change Subject:

The Obama Drama bus will be leaving
in front of Howard's office
a few days before swearing in
for Washington D.C.

We all have reservations at the area PADS facility too!
3 slops and a flop!

Anyone seeking seats on the democratic express should contact
Howie.

Let's see...Howie's driving, Rosemary will be up front too along
with Linda ( Slick - Ski ),
and more..

Hope to see you there!

Anonymous said...

Anon 8:07 - what are you talking about? What does Obama have to do with Frimark and our budget issues in Park Ridge? And I'm fairly certain Frimark is a Republican.

Anon 2:46 - use of the word retard is offensive, unnecessary and inaccurate.

Anonymous said...

I guess it's a new american way.....spend, spend and spend. Oh...can't pay the bills???? Let's go for a bailout and take more of our tax dollars. It works for the auto industry, wall street, banking, why not cities and villages???? Go on...keep spending!

Anonymous said...

Hey maybe there's FED money
there for us too!

Keep up the great work Howie!

Anonymous said...

Mulligan and her biggest supporter, Frimark are both republicans, but mulligan actually used obama's picture in her campaign fliers. She flies whichever way the wind is blowing. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, don't insult us democrats by calling Howard one!!