How is it that two residents could see the train coming, but not city officials who were sitting in the middle of the tracks?

During last year's Auburn city council race, challengers Matt Smith and Jerry Morgan both alluded to looming million-dollar budget deficits. Smith pointed out that the city would be facing a $1.4 million deficit in 2007, using figures that had been presented by city manager John Salomone and comptroller Lisa Green.

When asked about the Republicans' call for concern, Salomone downplayed the issue, pointing out that the $1.4 million was based on a conservative estimate and if the city were to make no changes during its budget talks. He also made sure to point out that the deficit was projected for the city's fund balance for the general fund.

Would you like to reconsider the urgency of the deficit at this point, Mr. Salomone?

At last week's city council meeting, Salomone unveiled a bleak budget, which included a whopping 9- percent tax hike and more than 26 potential layoffs of city employees. Salomone told city employees Thursday which positions were being considered for elimination.

“It is the most difficult job of an executive to do,” he said. “This was a last resort.”

If we have reached a last resort, why did Salomone not sound the alarm a lot sooner? To hear him dismiss the looming budget deficit raised by Smith and Morgan in November, you suspected Salomone wanted to dismiss anyone who would second-guess his management of the city, especially two city council candidates who carried the blessing of Salomone's loudest critic, Mayor Tim Lattimore.

There will be difficult decisions in the weeks ahead as Salomone and the council - including one of the boys who cried “Wolf” during last year's election campaign - try to wrestle with this year's budget.

But residents should have expected their city manager and comptroller to have provided a better forecast of what will be one of their most troubling budget seasons in recent years.