[l2ridehd]

I have always found that folks who run public owned operations such as town, county, state and most federal have no concept of cost control. The base has increased enough to lower the rate for a few years but the total amount spent has always increased. Now they want the rate of increase to exceed the taxable base increase. If this was run as a business most would be fired. No one looks for ways to reduce cost. They all assume that what was spent the prior year is the starting point and then additional costs are added to that to establish a new budget. Where they should have to start at zero and justify all cost, not just the added cost.

I would want to know how much automation have they added to reduce cost?
How much have they consolidated services and buying supplies?
Have all services been standardized to reduce cost?
Looking at the Seco bill, has all lighting been replaced with LED? Is there a 5 year program to accomplish that?
I know it's heresy to even suggest it, but police and fire costs don't have to increase every year.

My point is that in the business world we would have to look at these things every year and most years budgets would be reduced. In the public services world these things are never considered.