City council shouldn't take the summer off

The most difficult budget season in recent memory is over for the Auburn City Council, but that should not bring an end to the hard work.

The budget approved by councilors on Tuesday - which preserves government jobs and raises taxes by 5 percent - is more of a bandage than a permanent solution to the city's financial struggles. The projected deficit can be closed under this plan (though some doubt how the numbers have been crunched to make all of this work), but if there is to be true financial stability, Auburn cannot escape making some substantial changes in its structure.

But for those changes to happen, the work on a restructuring plan needs to start now - as in tonight's council meeting. And it needs to continue throughout the summer until some concrete changes have been put in place.