It is so easy to just wander through life thinking that things "are the way they are". Taking the time to wonder why things are that way, putting those thoughts into questions, and then seeking answers to the questions is a bit like work. However, it is work that is well worth the effort.
There are three basic rules that I try to apply to my life:
1) Don't ask a question unless you know the answer.
2) Don't ask/acknowledge that something happened without also trying to find out why something happened.
3) Don't try to fix blame, focus on fixing the problem instead.
I almost got caught up in my own trap on those the other day when I was reading an article in the Roanoke Times, Saturday, July 5, 2008, Current Section Page3. The article, "Police forces tweak routine to cut costs," by Shawna Morrison included a table of the gasoline prices by locality.
I saw that only Christiansburg could not provide the specifics on gas expenses because they are clustered with other expenses. At first I was angry because the ability to break this information down into a more clear and more accountable method does exist. The Town, for whatever reason, chooses not to do so. What business do you know of would have a significant chunk of money dumped into a pile for multiple uses without having a means of tracking exactly where that money went. Or, if the business did do that, how long with it be before some accountant had a fit and made them start doing it differently.
Accounting for the details of expenditures is the only reliable way to evaluate expenditures for abuses or to indicate patterns that show where unnecessary expenses are made and where modifications can be made to save money. Keeping exact documentation of gasoline expenses, routine/scheduled maintenance, other repairs, tires and suspension repairs are just a few of the ways in which it is possible to determine if new vehicles are needed. Believe me, with my almost 20 year old van, it is rapidly getting to the point that, even though it is paid for, the cost of repairs and fuel efficiency are becoming strong arguments for a newer vehicle. (It's just that the van and I have had a lot of miles together, including cross country treks, and it would be like losing a member of the family. I think I have some pre-grieving to do before I can actually part with it.)
Now, back to my initially being mad. I was mad because as a citizen, I feel I have a right to know how tax money is being spent, every single penny of it, and I want to know who to hold accountable. I started to write all about that anger when a few thinks filtered through the smoke pouring out of my ears. ( Number 4 above should be never write a blog article when you are angry:)
This is the first year in which open meetings were held on the budget and citizens did attend. I suppose Town Council could have tried to keep that door closed, but it was determined to open the meetings and even allow citizen comments. All of the information provided for the report in the paper, was done before that open meeting occurred. I believe the Town is now aware that there are some citizens who want to know more and who want to have access to documents showing what is happening in the Town and how taxpayer money is being spent.
The budget items (including clustering) are closely associated to what is required to be presented to the State in annual fiscal year reports. What this indicates to me is that accounting is set up to meet the minimal reporting requirements, not to facilitate the type of monitoring that is important to running a day to day business. Both of those approaches are needed in order to help identify current patterns and plan for future expenses. If both are done, then were is the second set of numbers? How can they be accessed by citizens? They certainly are not in the budget!
Citizens had access to the proposed budgets for review. That is how I already knew that in many of the Town's departments there is no breakdown as to the specifics of expenditures, in fact, many of them fall into that political/economic blackhole of miscellaneous expenses.
The 'if' part is pretty clearly identified in the numbers presented in the article as a big "YES". Christiansburg did not or can not produce the specifics related to gasoline expenditures. The why of doing things this way is pretty much up to personal interpretation. Some of the people I have spoken with think it was just easier to do it that way 30 years ago and nobody thought to change it. (That old adage about "if it ain't broke don't fix it" does not mean that you cannot fine tune and improve on what is working!!) Others are sure there is something 'dirty' going on and that things are being kept hidden from them. Then, there is that 3rd group that usually hides within the midst of the 'silent majority' who are of the "I have no idea what you are talking about" group. This third group are those who tend to see local government as some ethereal entity that exists off to the side of life and has nothing to do with their daily lives.
Now, the important issue underlying all of this is that people are talking, thinking, and asking questions. We have already seen some of the changes made by the Town in response to those inquiries through opening up the budgeting process. What needs to be looked at now is: do we continue doing business as usual, or do we try to incorporate some changes that are simply good business practices and appropriate adaptations to bring Christiansburg into a more open form of government.
I think I have seen a lot of progress thus far by the Town Council, Mayor, and Town Manager. However, it is not enough. There is more to do and I believe we have elected officials who are up to the task. We, the citizens, need to be asking questions. That is one of the best ways to let officials know that we care and that we are active members of our community.
The first step in 'fixing the problem' is to identify the problem. The second step is to let those who are responsible know there is a problem. The third step is give them an opportunity to evaluate and come up with plans to fix the problem. The fourth step is to let them implement the plans. The fifth step is to see how the new/modified systems work and give them further feedback. And, sixth step, let them know....loud and long....when they have done it right. Try to put as much energy into pointing out the good as you do the bad, and I promise you that miracles will occur!