To the editor:

A snowball rolls downhill. In an effort to make up for the failed multi-billion dollar stimulus fiasco and the reckless trillion-dollar spending sprees, the feds cut the umbilical cord to numerous states. Now that the state coffers are nearing depletion, the governors are forced to snip the purse strings to many cities. The misplaced anger toward Topeka should be directed at Washington.

In turn, Lawrence has to deal with the hand we are dealt. In the past, our commissioners could make much easier decisions and be Santa to every wish list. Some serious chopping is in order. Maintain infrastructure, streets and sidewalks. Beyond that, everything is fair game. We have the mistaken concept that only one person can do a job. For starters, reducing the city manager’s pay by 15 percent for each of the next five years should be on the table. If he chooses to leave, an engineering grad from KU could easily fill his position for half the expense.

A police chief is always going to want more pay, more men and more new cars. If you ask a fire chief, he’ll want another new crew, more new trucks and a new fire station. The list goes on and on. Everybody has their hands out wanting, “More please.”

Enough already! The best way to have more tax revenue is to not make families and businesses leave the city seeking relief from the higher rates. True leaders simply do not raise taxes during difficult economic times. It certainly is not a time to say yes to every whim.