Wow! Can you believe that it took Auburn city councilor David Dempsey to get city manager John Salomone's attention?

Gee, all Dempsey said was let's get the taxes down and use revenue from the landfill to make up for it. Isn't this the same stuff we've been saying all along?

Every time Salomone has pushed for a trash tax, the people have asked for some kind of explanation for the lack of revenue from the landfill. Now out of the blue, Salomone listens to Dempsey. Could it be because Salomone and his trash tax buddies' jobs are in jeopardy? They think they can secure their jobs by patting each other on the back for ideas that weren't theirs from the get go. They must think they can weasel their way out of this mess they've gotten themselves in with the residents of Auburn.

While this budget crisis continues to unravel, let's not forget that there's money being mismanaged and improperly spent. We need to bring in an independent investigator to look into this horrific mismanagement of the landfill. This would require full disclosure of all financial documents, including all transfers of moneys from and to the general fund.

Where is the landfill money?

First, we're told we aren't making any money on trash, then during council meetings we're told we have been. Is the difference simply bookkeeping? Then where's the money? Administrators need to act and perform like professionals from Fortune 500 companies. They shouldn't be misusing their positions for personal gain or to help their buddies' wallets.

It's enough to make you sick when you see how much these managers are getting paid. Public Works is a good example: about $80,000. Isn't that crazy? There are a bunch of these high-paying city jobs that we can't afford any longer. I know why these good old boys are getting so many raises ... it's so they can afford to pay their taxes.

I agree that there needs to be some kind of consolidation of department head positions. And everybody needs to give back their city cars and expense accounts. In addition, all city entitlement programs need to be reviewed for renegotiating. This includes pension, health, investment programs, etc.

With a shrinking population and tax base, it's becoming impossible for fewer taxpayers to pay for more and more people retiring. These elected officials need to get rid of the idea that the property in Auburn is worth a ton of money. Because it's not and we can't continue to pay these automatic 5-percent tax increases year after year.

There needs to be a cap placed on these taxes. Our cities and schools should be run the way that we run our households and companies. If we don't have the money for something then we don't get it. People are moving out of Auburn so there are less of us to be burdened with these heavy tax increases.

Tough times call for tough measures.

Ducayne's column appears

Tuesdays in The Citizen and

she can be reached at

sacredheart6005@hotmail.com