PAYING OUR BILLS
We were sitting at the kitchen table paying the bills the other day and my husband started his usual "I don't know how we are going to make it" spiel. Honey, I said, don't worry about it. Take England's advice and cut that cable off. I was trying to be funny but he didn't find it too funny. "To hell with him" says my husband.
When I told him I wish we could do like this darn City does, spend spend spend, he just started more griping. He knows I have been going on and on about the year end report for 2009 showing the shortfalls across the board for the City and usually he just shrugs. This time though, I got his attention. He said "let me see that damn report". I watched his eyes get bigger and bigger until he really started cussing. "What the hell is this crap" he asks. "How can this be" he asks. I tell him I don't know honey and I sure don't understand it, either.
He asked me what those dots were down the side of the report. I told him that's the shortages and overspending done by England this past year. He got as rattled as I have been. After much discussion he says "put this crap out there on your blog". Okay, honey. Here are the numbers along with his comments (sometimes I don't think he realizes how funny he can be).
The General Fund was over spent by $5,343,770.75. (My husband asked me if that was really 5 million dollars in the red. Yes honey.)
The Parks Department was over spent by $330,314.81. (My husband said you mean they can't even run the Parks Department and they want to build a water park? Yes honey.)
The TIF Park East Industrial Bond over spent by $1,130,019.12. (My husband asked aren't they trying to improve all of that to bring more business in? Yes honey. Husband says how if they are in the hole? I don't know honey.)
The credit Bond Interest is in the hole $2,911.50. (My husband asks how in the hey can interest be in the hole. I don't know honey.)
The Sanitation Fund was over spent by $5,721,213.19. (My husband asks how can that be? Isn't the garbage outsourced? Yes honey.)
When I told him the garbage contract wasn't up until 2012 but England is going to renew it this year, he asked why. I don't know honey.
When I told him England told the City Council he was going to have to lay off people and shut the ambulance station down and yet the new contract had already been signed he asked why England lied to the Council. I don't know honey.
My husband now really wants some answers. I told him I do too but I can't get any answers. My husband agreed with me finally. He wants to spend spend spend without any repercussions. I told him I don't think our finances can handle that kind of strain. We don't have 14 checking accounts and all those different funds to hide under. He is not a happy camper, but neither am I. How about you?
