Ruth Oosting: Atwater can’t afford to give raises or buy firetrucks
Over the years, I have attended numerous Atwater City Council meetings. The decisions they make have a great impact on all of our lives, more so, since many of us live on fixed incomes. I attend as often as I can, but for a different reason: Poor financial decisions are made, one after another, so attending a council meeting is like watching a train wreck – it’s hard to stop watching.
The recently enacted city budget is an exercise in insanity. Why would competent leaders borrow millions of dollars, year after year then go out and grant salary raises to a select few? With all the personnel who have laid off, the council should have frozen all salaries of the still employed until the bottom line of the monthly financial statement turns form red to black. Why would the city buy a million-dollar firetruck (touchy subject to many)? This million-dollar baby has already broken down and has been out of service for months.
Citizens who would handle their finances in a similar manner would be forced to deal with bankruptcy.
Our inexperienced city manager and city council must come to their senses.
Ruth Oosting, Atwater
This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 9:59 AM with the headline "Ruth Oosting: Atwater can’t afford to give raises or buy firetrucks."