C’est Fini

The budget is concluded.  The final compromise, detailed earlier, is what passed.  If you supported the CIP, et.al., you've likely moved on to the next thing, like making dinner.  If you opposed the plan, you're probably marking the calendar and plotting the political demise of those that supported the CIP and budget plan.  Those in the middle who supported the project nearest you but considered the balance of the CIP a luxury, well you're mad too…:)  It seems as though everyone was equally angry so it was probably the right deal.  The final two cent cut might leave us a bit of a hole to fill next year but we'll have to wait and see.

My hat is off to those citizens who attended some of the budget meetings.  I listen to everyone but the opinion of someone who has bothered to educate themselves on the budget and the process is especially interesting.  I chatted with many of you at length and, even if we didn't agree, I think we understood each other and there's a certain amount of respect developed.  It's also cool to think that some of those folks will get involved either as a volunteer or to run for office!

I'd also like to thank all of those who took the time to email or call.  Especially those who disagreed.  That feedback is important and it does make a difference.  Without feedback that final 2 cent cut doesn't happen.  While email is not quite the level of committee as dragging yourself to a meeting, it really does matter.  Especially now that we don't have a local newspaper.  For whatever it's worth, I think the feedback I received both via email, phone and public meetings was slightly in favor of the budget/cip.  It isn't black and white as some of the feedback supported this or that project but maybe not the whole thing.

Those of you who elected to insult Council members (or other members of the public) either at public hearings or via email, I'm at a loss as to what your strategy was.  I am President of an IT company, maybe you're a stay at home mom, a lawyer or a government employee but we are all just people.  Few people respond positively to insult.  Having a difference of opinion is fine but we should be able to maintain civility.

In any event, what's done is done and we're off to start building and fixing things.  I'm excited as I believe this will be the start of a new development/redevelopment cycle for Manassas.  We have the opportunity to pick a new City Manager soon and D-Mag is working hard on the schools side to get things squared away.  For the Council, I suspect the committees will be very busy this summer and we'll likely start the fall/late summer off with several days of interviews for the Manager position.  I'm also hopeful that the Central Office is torn down July first…:)  In the end, this is a CIP and budget that's all about growth and investment.  It's what Manassas needs.