Friday, February 8, 2008

Chicago running out of money to remove snow

Yep, due to the higher-than-expected amount of snow we've received so far in 2008, the city has already used $14 million of its $18 million budgeted for the whole calendar year. There is lots of gnashing of teeth of how more will be paid for.

This is like an SNL skit. $18 million is nothing in the scheme of the whole budget. This is one of the few things the city provides that actually benefits everyone who lives and works here, and they might not have the money for it?

How big is the budget? I was blown away. It's $5.9 billion. This story cranks me off so much that I spent a few minutes poring over the budget, which you can do here.

For example, here's $1,132,000 that is going to be spent with absolutely no good definition whatsoever. This is the line item in the budget:

"For general assisstance to persons in need thereof, residing within the city of Chicago, and expenditures for the administration thereof."

What could that even mean? Why is that the city's job, whatever it is?

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