What a concept...

The other day I had the occasion to be sitting across the table from some City finance people. One of them announced she had found $300,000 for a project. I replied that I get nervous when I hear a finance person say they found money because that means someone or something else lost it. "That's not how it works" she responded as she looked at me condescendingly over lowered glasses. I chose not to get into a debate. Pick your battles, I say. What I wanted to say, and will say once elected, is that is exactly how it works. Money doesn't just appear, even though that's what a lot of council people seem to believe. If you find $300,000 for something, you had to take it from somewhere else. Simple math. I didn't need three long years of grad school to know that. I don't really blame the budget and finance people. They serve at the pleasure of the mayor and council. They have to respond to requests, however misguided they might be, to fund whatever the "whim of the week" happens to be coming out of the 24th floor. But our elected officials need to understand the finite budget amounts we deal with every year. The question that should be asked is "I need $300,000 for this project and I need to know where those funds will be appropriated from." Just like you and I run our household finances. What a concept...