Shaking sticks at daze of infamy.

When Job One is preserving the wealth of monied oligarchies and privileges elites at the expense of everyone else in the country, the GOP implements a governing order that really and truly trickles down to all of us, mostly in the form of raw sewage.

NA-FC School Board accepts budget reduction plan, by Jerod Clapp (One Southern Indiana House Organ)

Nash: "City council needs to address budget shortfall."

Another good one from Matt.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I really must get to work on Mrs. Baird's marching orders.

NASH: City council needs to address budget shortfall

... Councilman Price does not think it is proper to use “Rainy” day funds to cover the budget deficit. He equates it to living on your savings account. Under the guise of fiscal responsibility he has refused for years to use these funds for any projects that have been proposed. Now we need that money for public safety, and he still refuses to use it. What exactly is he waiting for?

I'll have my budget scrambled, please -- and can you hold the brinksmanship?

Top Ten Ways to Close the Budget Shortfall

10 Make all them fancy downtown bars and restaurants go away, at least until they put a damn cheeseburger on the menu

9 Open Air Museum triples price for yearly visitations, with pass outs no longer allowed

8 Laid-off policemen and firemen to set up coffee can toll booths at major approaches

7 Sell by-the-day tent space on the lawn of CM Price’s rental properties

6 Ron Craig auctions Historical Preservation Commission on Ebay, graciously kicks back 10% of proceeds

5 Get rid of all that fancy, expensive new fire equipment, just use the old ones sitting there in that nasty old Coyle building

4 My cousin Vinnie agrees to be narcotics cop at half the going rate

3 Kick off inspirational “How Low Can We Go” propaganda campaign, with Dan Coffey as namesake chairman

2 All councilwomen agree to drive a hybrid Lexus until the crunch eases

1 Bring back the Asian health spa for downtown stress relief

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Indeed, living NA-style means the next crisis is never very far away.

New Albany City Council says no to plan to balance budget; City primed to being 2011 with a near $3.7 million deficit, by Daniel Suddeath (News & Tribune)

... Council members Diane McCartin-Benedetti, Dan Coffey, Steve Price, Kevin Zurschmiede and Jeff Gahan voted against the EDIT appropriation. The latest proposal — which entailed using multiple boards and funds to shift money to cover the shortfall — called for proceeds from a 2008 revenue bond to be used to pay backthe EDIT account for the $1.7 million expenditure.

Monday evening draws near: It's showtime!

The Tribune's Daniel Suddeath previews tomorrow night's episode of America's Favorite Grandstands and surveys the topic most likely to be the subject of our most famous ward heeler's frequent, non-Robert's Rules caterwauls.

CM Coffey provides a memorable quote in Suddeath's Sunday article: State audit raises questions about New Albany’s bookkeeping.

But Coffey said he would against spending more money on employees or computers until there’s more accountability.

“I’m tired of spending taxpayers’ money on things that don’t work,” he said.

Finally we agree on something. I, too, resent spending my tax dollars on things that don't work. How much council pay does Coffey draw from the taxpayers ... and for what?

Never mind. We'll soon begin the process of redressing that particular bit of overpayment via the Pants Down Progressive Political Action Committee (PDPPAC).

Meanwhile, here's the agenda.

Yippee.

If we'd just run the city like a deep fryer ...

Q - What did the New Albany councilperson say after the next election cycle?

A - You want fries with that?

Price secretly wants some, but Robison can't bear to watch.