So we raise taxes so we can stick the money in reserves?

On Friday, Mayor Munson had an interview with Don Jorgensen in which he bragged about being able to put $5 million dollars in savings from 2008 into the reserves;

Last year, they budgeted $110 million for operating expenses, but spent only $105 million, sending $5 million back into the reserve fund. 

So why did we have to raise taxes to a full 2% to get additional money if it was there, even without cutting one single program from the 2009 budget?

One word; Greed.

Like I have argued with many people, the city has gotten by just fine with 1.92% tax rate for years, as you can see, we had an additional $5 million leftover.

Not only was this tax increase greedy and a handout to special interests that fund some of city leader’s campaigns, it an example of incredibly poor management, but we are starting to get use to that from SD politicians, aren’t we?