Bullfight

The argument is that public safety is so paramount that the police and fire departments should be valued more than other City departments.

Keep in mind that when we’re discussing projected budget deficits, we’re primarily talking about projected General Fund deficits.

The General Fund is money primarily used to pay personnel and department operating expenses.

Affordable housing projects, creekside greenway acquisitions, infrastructure and road projects tend be funded from others sources outside the General Fund.

I favor across-the-board cuts because I recognize the value of each City department making contributions to ensure an efficient delivery of government services, whether that means processing a planning permit or preparing public notices.

These City departments may not be as visible to the general public as public safety, but they’re valuable as well.

Councilor Larry Wahl said in the E-R:

"I don't like to see the cuts in public safety and I hope there's a way we can lessen, reduce them, or even drive them to zero. I'm not sure how we can do that without strangling other departments, so across-the-board cuts may be needed or we may have to hunt and peck, which can be difficult ... It's going to be a tightrope to walk."

He’s right. No one gladly wants to make cuts in public safety.

But if the public safety budget remains relatively untouched given that public safety constitutes the largest General Fund expenditure, then other departments will suffer disproportionately.

Today’s Scrabble word is tor, a high, craggy hill.