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SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE PUTS LOADED GUN IN THE HANDS OF ‘THE CHILDREN’ … TAXPAYERS GET HOSED AGAIN

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By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, DEC. 1, 2014) — Welcome to December, when snow finds its legitimacy  and snow jobs grab the spotlight — as when THE PLANET considers the latest sabotage of taxpayers performed by that body of our Right Honorable Good Friends known as the Pittsfield City Council.

For 17 years, an obscure state law has been on the books empowering local councils override power over school budgets. The law, product of a Napoleonic Beacon Hill, exemplifies bad legislation, defined as passing a law when one isn’t needed. How bad? In all the years of its existence, not one city, town, or community has adopted it. No empowered board, council, or commission has been that stupid — until now.

C’mon down, Pittsfield City Council!

Even When It’s Right, It’s Wrong

Prior to the lunk-headed adoption of this measure, when presented with a school budget from the mayor (and by extension the school committee), the city council had three options: approve, reduce, or send it back. It cannot add to the budget request.

Now this spend-drunk collection of political do-gooders has the power to tack on more of Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski‘s dollars to the school department budget, which, as you know, has — even without this dumb move — become the fattest calf in a corral of obesity. The council’s action cannibalizes a previous recommendation by its own Ordinance and Rules Committee not to adopt the measure. O&R got it right, but the council itself hurled. That’s how hapless this current edition of The Gang of 11 is right now: Even when it acts responsibly, it doesn’t.

To the poor (and THE PLANET means “poor”) bedraggled Pittsfield taxpayer, it spells potential doom, like putting a loaded Glock handgun into the hands of a kid on the playground.

Taxpayers have councilor-at-small Churchill Cotton to blame for the shot in the head. The one time all year Cotton decides to say boo! is to advance a measure that has the potential to sink Benigno Numine. Or haven’t you noticed that, even without this measure, the city is in the throes of a generation-long spending spree, approving budgets it can’t afford by taking on debt it cannot responsibly repay in slavish response to the games politics plays with The Suits and Special Interests?

Cotton Action Basically Calls Taxpayers ‘Honky’

Cotton — supported by seven spendthrift colleagues, notably Ward 5’s John Krol — argued for the measure as a “safeguard” against an “anti-education mayor” (opposed and on the right side of this quack measure were Lisa Tully, Kevin Morandi, Melissa Mazzeo, and Kathy Amuso).

John Q. Taxpayer, Cotton just called you a honky, because you can search from now to Armageddon for a sane person who’s “anti-education,” and you won’t find one. So what’s really going on here? Cotton, Krol, and Co. are speaking in code. What they actually mean is they want to ensure the city’s taxpayers don’t elect a mayor who’s aim will be to induce fiscal sanity back into the department that consistently asks for and receives the fiscal loon. Remember, “It’s for The Children.”

Yes, friend, The Suits just made sure fiscal reform in Pittsfield will not occur! A mayor looking to tackle the city’s terrible spending excess in light of a shrinking population and tax base would naturally begin with the school department, which consumes 70% of a $140+ million budget. The new measure makes that more difficult (though still doable). Defenders of the new law point point to supermajority requirements required from both the council and the school committee. Unfortunately, these two bodies have for a generation been tools for the Special Interests, doing their bidding by spending, spending, and more spending. Supermajorities haven’t been difficult at all.

This measure only hastens the day and fossilizes the certainly that Pittsfield will end up filing Chapters 7, 11, and 13. No, those chapters are leaves from Dan Valenti‘s latest murder mystery. They are the filings for municipal bankruptcy.

Amuso: Measure Not Needed; More Spending Will Be Too Tempting for Councilors 

Cottonmouth says the measure “levels the playing field,” whatever that means. Cotton noted how in FY14, the school committee asked for $2 million more than the almost $100 million it received (operating plus capital) but received only $1 million of that thanks to action by Mayor Dan Bianchi.

Boo hoo-hoo, pity the overloaded school department, with its filo-dough layers of administrator on top of administrator.

Krol blasted Bianchi for dictating rather than cooperating with the council in his move to reduce the amount of the school department hike in FY14. He’s not playing mayoral politics, is he? Sorry, JK, we’re not buying it. Krol issued forth with this doozy: “I felt like our school budget ought to have been a higher number last year.”

That’s the kind of statement that can come back to haunt a candidate on the campaign trail.

Amuso, in opposing the measure, had once of her best moments as a councilor. The former school committee member argued that the current budgeting process — prior to the passing of this bad law — required mayor, council, and school committee to work together. She then made the essential point: Passing this law will provide the council with the mechanism to jack up school spending beyond its highest limits.

Taxpayers, you just got hosed again.

Next year is a municipal election.

Do the figuring.

—————————————————————————————-

“Out on the streets for a living. Picture’s only begun. Got you under their thumb. Hit it.”Kiss, “Black Diamond,” (1974).

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

 

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riverside
riverside
9 years ago

Dan,

I usually agree with your line of thought. However, on this are you saying its better to have one man set the school budget (the mayor) over 11 people by super majority vote?

An 11 member panel, each representing their constituents seems to me to be more democratic than the current system of one man dictating the budget. It in essence strips the mayor of much power.

Am I missing something here?

ShirleyKnutz
ShirleyKnutz
Reply to  riverside
9 years ago

Riverside,
Obviously you are missing the point. The school committee works on the budget for the school system.

Gene
Gene
Reply to  riverside
9 years ago

As it stands now, the school budget is a deliberative process. The superintendent and his staff put together a spending plan. He then presents it to the school committee. The school committee then sends it to the mayor.
From there, it goes to the city council. This is not “one man” show whatsoever.

Russell Moody
Russell Moody
9 years ago

Dios mio…

charles Kronick Berkshire
charles Kronick Berkshire
9 years ago

Caccamo’s words were priceless. I admire his tolerance for self abuse.

Wilson
Wilson
9 years ago

Not much of a “code,” they are pretty clear about protecting funding from taxpaying voters. The power and money balance has shifted too far for any reform, taxpayers should focus on leaving

Charles Kronick Berkshire
Charles Kronick Berkshire
Reply to  Wilson
9 years ago

Agreed – Caccamo said as much. Essentially quoted in the Eagle saying we may need this power should the taxpayers elect tea party types who would seek to limit the school budget.

change you can believe in
change you can believe in
9 years ago

Dan,

I’m sure you’ve already heard of this.
The Supreme Court is hearing a case that may have profound effects on online blogs, social media and freedom of speech depending on how they rule.

If people have to worry about going to jail for what they post online, it could have the effect of shutting down the First Ammendment and free speech.

I know awhile back you were ordered by a sitting judge to remove content from your web-site so I would think you’d look to the outcome of this case with keen interest.

http://agovernmentofwolves.com/2014/12/01/u-s-supreme-court-hears-arguments-in-online-free-speech-case-rutherford-institute-warns-against-criminalizing-provocative-facebook-postings/

charles Kronick Berkshire
charles Kronick Berkshire
Reply to  change you can believe in
9 years ago

If you post an incitement to commit a crime, you are committing a crime yourself, even if you post on a blog or use a pseudonym. You are also liable for defamation of character and commercial products. So, yes, think twice before you write it. Not all malignant speech is not protected by the US Constitution.

Get Real
Get Real
Reply to  charles Kronick Berkshire
9 years ago

So, you already know the outcome of this supreme court case before its decided?

Obviously you cannot threaten of defame anyone. Those laws are already on the books.

However what if you post something in opposition to Obama’s policies and get thrown into jail for voicing your opinion?

ShirleyKnutz
ShirleyKnutz
Reply to  charles Kronick Berkshire
9 years ago

Does this apply to Ferguson?

dusty
dusty
9 years ago

Let’s see now. We are going to get a new 150 million dollar school, and they got new buses they did not need and every body has had recent raises and Krol thinks they should get more money? Just what far away planet does this fat cat come from? Did he grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth? Just what is it that he thinks the local school system is missing that money can fix?

I know he reads this so I am asking him to please join the discussion and tell us all just why the tens of millions of dollars, plus all that has been borrowed on their behalf, is not sufficient for this school system?

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
9 years ago

Pittsfield politics’ finances are unsustainable and Pittsfield is heading for another round of insolvency and then bankruptcy. Pittsfield politics is spending money it doesn’t have.
The Good Old Boy network’s control over Pittsfield politics sucks!

Gene
Gene
9 years ago

This vote was a huge mistake that may come back and haunt the city. No one is “anti education” as the column points out. Except maybe the tax and spend crowd (Caccamo, Krol etc.)

Nota
Nota
9 years ago

No one is more progressive in spending, than Tax and Spend!

Zen
Zen
9 years ago

The mayor and all the councilors are just different flavors of tax and spend. They only argue on who can spend and tax more than the other, and on what things. These kind of moves also discourage any fiscally sane person from ever running for mayor. But I guess that is part of the plan.
This city is doomed.

Payroll Patriot
Payroll Patriot
9 years ago

How prejudiced are the elected (formerly elected) city officials?

The mayor’s chief of administration and her school administrator husband are officially called DINKS dual income no kids. So let’s add to the list that the elected (formerly elected) official can use to stereotype people.

FINKS – fixed income, no kids
PINKS – poverty income, no kids
LINKS – low income, no kids
RINKA – retirement income, no kids anymore
SINK – single income, no kids or OINKS – one income, no kids
FARMers – Fixed (income), Already Raised Mine

After Caccamo’s comment there needs to be some new(replaced) lawn signs.

Not “Save St. Mary’s” But “St. Mary, Save US.”

Bea Breef
Bea Breef
9 years ago

Hail Mary, full of space.

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
9 years ago

I wish I never knew about Pittsfield politics because it just makes me upset to read about all of Pittsfield’s problems day in and day out. WHY?

Bea Breef
Bea Breef
9 years ago

At one time Jon Pittsfield was a wonderful place to live jobs were abundant with scenic beauty year round, not much crime and everyone knew each other Church’s flourished and morality for the most part was always present. Economic conditions, drugs and moral breakdown have contributed to a once promising City. Now it’s everyone for themselves.

Payroll Patriot
Payroll Patriot
Reply to  Bea Breef
9 years ago

No not everyone. One brush does not paint all textures.

Bea Breef
Bea Breef
9 years ago

Nit pickin Patriot, you know what I mean?

Bea Breef
Bea Breef
9 years ago

great comment Bea!

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
9 years ago

thank the HEAVENS I decided not to stay in this place.

PopKornSutton
PopKornSutton
9 years ago

Good move Shakes!

Nota
Nota
9 years ago

Again, it’s the Planet, time after time, delivering the transparency needed to uncoil the truth, the public linchpin in motion, who for all, deems answers and those in leadership to be accountable.