On Brookline

In a separate universe the idea that voters would have to bail out a town government—in a community of $14 billion valuation—to the tune of $6 million (or roughly 2.5 percent of operating revenue) would be the stuff of tragic comedy, not serious policy.

But here on Planet Brookline we’re treated to an epic display of breathlessness over our ability to save four police positions, to institute a world languages program and to provide a longer school day. We are staring at the abyss say the Proverriders, and God forbid the abyss should stare back.

Folks, when people in town government tell you they can’t cut a single dollar out of next year’s budget, they’re lying. Flat out. Bald-faced. Call it what you will, but they’re lying.

Here’s why. In this year’s municipal budget “services” account for $20 million of the $193 million budget. That’s ten percent going to so called services. What are services? Well, they are the contracts with outside vendors in building repair, consulting and landscaping services (plus many other things).

Our town government can’t find more than $120 thousand in landscape services (their deficit reduction plan of last month) to carve out of that $20 million? C’mon.

The Building Department alone shells out $4 million in contracts. The school department nearly twice that amount. In any other enterprise, services are the first items cut to balance a budget. Not Brookline, we’ll save the contracts but can the police.

And by now it ought to be clear why. The cuts proposed by the town and school administration are designed to scare you into voting for an override; but to impose no real harm should the ballot fail. Calling out the service contracts is liking sweeping the halls of cronies. We can’t have that.

Cut the services budget back to 2005 levels ($16.8 million) and you’ve closed the current operating deficit, with some money left over for extra programs.

Update: Check out this column in Congressional Quarterly. Money quote: “A fiscal crisis is a terrible thing to waste,” quips Jennifer M. Granholm , the Democratic governor of Michigan. “Instead, it’s a huge opportunity to make management changes that would otherwise be impossible.”