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The City of Aberdeen will unveil its fiscal year 2010 budget to the public next week (Tuesday, September 8). What does this budget mean for Aberdeen and its citizens? This is probably the most important budget the city has ever implemented.With the nation in economic turmoil, the City of Aberdeen is feeling the sting of the recession — in a major way.I’m not certain what percent Jimmy Clark’s car dealership contributed to the sales tax base, but I do know Aberdeen’s sales tax revenue was down 50 percent from June 2008 until June 2009. This is the reality of the restructuring of the auto industry.Another fact to consider is according to Mayor Jim Ballard, the city is over budget for the year almost $250,000 — that’s a quarter of a million dollars, folks. It is not some made up number floating in the air — it is a very real figure. This means the city owes itself $250,000. How do you come back from this?There are only two choices — you cut departments or you raise taxes.Raising taxes on the citizens of Aberdeen at this point would be ridiculous — the property resale value on most homes in Aberdeen is plummeting, so why expect the citizens to pay more money on something that’s diminished in value. Plus, only approximately 48 percent of the people in Aberdeen are landowners and pay property taxes — why place more of a burden on them? They are already funding a majority of the city’s departments and programs.

So, that leaves cuts in departments and personnel as the only option. Oh, before we get into that, the previous administration of the city borrowed money from itself and did not pay it back, so the city was already facing a deficit when it prepared the 09 budget — and this was before the economy collapsed. So, they robbed Peter, Paul, Ringo, John and Judas to make the 09 budget.

Anyway…

Do you cut the police and fire departments? These are your first responders — these are the people who going to be the one’s to possibly save lives. Plus, the police department is already short five officers according to Police Chief Henry Randle. How you can trim a department that’s already in crisis? You can’t, I don’t think.People have to have water and electricity, so that’s out of the question. Plus, the electric department’s budget was passed in July.The city’s sanitation and cemetery departments are horrible and a huge joke — there’s not much left to cut there, anyway.The street department may see some cuts due to the fact that some of the aldermen are gunning for department head Lee Cooper, but I’m not certain what there is to trim.Oh, and then there’s the park and recreation department, but you aren’t allowed to EVER make criticisms or suggestions about that department because if you so do, you are automatically a racist and “don’t care about the kids.”I fully expect this department to receive full funding and a possible budget increase. Maybe the kids, and the adults that according to the Mississippi Department of Education abused the controversial and coveted summer programs, could be hired to fill in some of the vacant spots in the city? So, where does Aberdeen make the cuts or will it matter? I predict the city will be bankrupt by mid-2010. We shall see.