Firefighters or books: The choices get tougher

July 16th, 2009 at 01:15pm Linda Grist Cunningham

Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey tossed a grenade onto the budget-balancing bargaining table this week when he told Register Star reporter Jeff Kolkey that “No one … should expect to do business the old way. We are in a new environment, in a new world. For us, it doesn’t mean we panic. I’m not panicked. It just means we have different moves we have to make.”

At stake: How will the city pay its bills?

Faced with the dual whammy of an escalating revenue shortfall and escalating expenses driven in great measure by personnel costs including, salaries, benefits and pensions, every responsible governing body is making Solomon’s choices. Every choice hurts; the days of whacking low hanging fruit disappeared in 2008. Today’s decisions are which are  least damaging to the community’s quality of life.

Morrissey is nothing if not determined. He has made clear his priorities for the city’s future and he is pro-actively going about business. Nothing he’s doing or saying should come as a surprise. He’s been true to his first- and second-campaign promises, and true to the activist roles he played before elected office. He’d prefer things go smoothly, but he’s neither a stranger to confrontation nor does he back down.

Right now, he’s got two things on the table: Get the next budget squared away with available funds driving his priorities; and, get police and fire contracts done — without financially draining the city’s already empty coffers.

That’s the setting into which he tossed the grenade: Pick between books and firefighters.

OK, sure the argument isn’t that simple, but the message is. If residents want the city to keep paying more than $650,000 a year in library pensions, then some other city expense has got to be reduced. And, that four-man versus three-man firetruck bruhaha is back in the fray.

The mayor (and our editorial board among others) say three can get the job done. The firefighters’ union and supporters warn of dire consequences. The city council refused to go down that path several months ago and the four-man crews stayed.

Make no mistake. This mayor is willing to make tough decisions. He’s willing to challenge aldermen to do the same. But he’s not going to sugarcoat the choices, nor will he pretend things will get better if we just muddle along.

The mayor and I don’t always agree, but on this we are in sync: Get the expenses in line with the revenues and fund those core priorities that will position the city to thrive once we’re past this current economy.

Entry Filed under: Uncategorized