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Editor’s Note: This column, “LBWA” (Leadership By Wandering Around), is based on the premise that, in order to find out what’s going on in the field, a parks and rec leader has to leave his or her desk and “wander around” the area of operations, talk to people, ask questions, and kick around ideas with the individuals in the thick of delivering services to the public. So the author will bring up issues and ask the leaders among the readership to share their knowledge and experiences.
OK, I admit, I’m writing this column because misery loves company, and I want to know if everyone else out there is feeling this budget crunch as badly as we are in Peachtree City, Ga.
One thing I’ve learned since starting in local government is that public-finance people are, by nature and profession, tight-fisted, frugal and penny-pinching--at least the good ones are. That’s their job--to make sure there’s more money left at the end of the month than month left at the end of the money.
I’ve worked with at least three different finance directors since taking this position in 1997, and each year as we went into the budget cycle we heard the same lament.