Budget deficit only half as horrible

So …the 39 school closure policy announced in the June budget (which was trimmed back in December following a public outcry) was probably not really necessary (as savings were quite small over time anyway). Does this better budget position mean the original grand version of the Al Grassby statue can now go ahead? As we all know, that would be far more sensible expenditure than supporting uneconomic schools.

“At least we know labour is spending the money we give em. “

I don’t think this is a good thing. Having a culture of always spending everything you have doesn’t seem to me to be a smart approach. I actually don’t mind the idea of putting some $$ aside during the good times to help us out in the lean times.

“Whether it is appropriate or not is always going to be subjective”

No argument about this.

Half a pile of shit is just a smaller pile of shit

An article in the CT a few days ago suggested it was due to the costs of pay and super in the ACT public service, which has to offer conditions similar to the APS to retain any staff.

do you guys realise that if there is a surplus in budget it probably means that we are being over taxed 🙂

At least we know labour is spending the money we give em. Whether it is appropriate or not is always going to be subjective.

Oh yes that’s right, expenditure is going through the roof. This is a government who started running a deficit through the biggest every property boom this country has ever seen. Staggering incompetence, and in another desperate grab for dollars they are now going to start taxing broadband.

Ummm…to the skyrocketing cost of healthcare, budget overruns in big ticket spending items like the GDE & the prison, and to moribund, underpupiled schools. I suspect that Stanhope’s Tree-World and statues of pimp-suited ex-politicos, while a waste of money, don’t really put that much of a dent in overall budget.

Flame away, ya bastids.

I think he’s decided it’s better to just use his bully pulpit to rubbish the coroner rather than risk another judge upholding her findings.

Funding appeals against the fundings of the Bushfire Coronial will undoubtedly get a slice

Surely there must be a fundamental position where the council knows (approximately) what’s coming in, and budgets spending accordingly? Perhaps the spending needs to be looked at a bit harder?