tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post2160303232703778829..comments2024-03-22T16:02:08.213-05:00Comments on The Wheel: Speaking English: Balanced Budget (2012 Definition)Mark Stegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376182294736839659noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-40256090488277236082012-07-22T14:31:54.584-05:002012-07-22T14:31:54.584-05:00Right. If...Right. If...Mark Stegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02376182294736839659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-4576985191658198202012-07-22T14:30:12.840-05:002012-07-22T14:30:12.840-05:00Oh, you meant "IF the expenditures exceed the...Oh, you meant "IF the expenditures exceed the revenues again this year, that you'll be watching to see if anyone questions it", not that you've seen a budget document that showed this to be the case, right? The way you phrased it ("What I really want to see this year is if any council members have the gumption to question the (new) city manager why expenditures have to exceed revenues ... again.<br />"), I had the impression that you had seen something the rest of us hadn't...<br /><br />Billmccalpinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02768191960822864278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-86921447633558432092012-07-22T08:58:25.651-05:002012-07-22T08:58:25.651-05:00I was referring to the proposed consolidated budge...I was referring to the proposed consolidated budget for 2011-2012, in which expenditures ($188.6 million) exceeded revenues ($186.9 million). The 2012-2013 budget isn't finalized yet, but that's the number that I will be watching.Mark Stegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02376182294736839659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-88340292391871075792012-07-22T00:03:19.789-05:002012-07-22T00:03:19.789-05:00Mark, please clarify what you mean when you say th...Mark, please clarify what you mean when you say that the expenditures will be larger than the revenues...again.<br /><br />Are you referring to the General Fund or all Funds or what? In the General Fund, the budget - as presented to the Council at the retreat - has revenues exceeding expenditures by nearly $10,000. Please see page 39 of the budget at http://www.cor.net/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=4709<br /><br />Of course, there are numbers and then there are numbers...please clarify which numbers you mean...<br /><br />Billmccalpinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02768191960822864278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-21813623001197197422012-07-21T16:31:05.959-05:002012-07-21T16:31:05.959-05:00I am referring to the use of nebulous terms and ph...I am referring to the use of nebulous terms and phrases for the purpose of plausible flexibility in meaning. Most disciplines have well-defined terms so that those who speak the language have a common understanding. It would seem that we get a lesson in creative use of common language and vocabulary on a regular basis. Construed non-standard meanings often differ from the implications of the spirit in the literal text. If we are not critical with our language, we are liberal and its meaning becomes questionable. When is a spade not a spade?Nathan Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125033575992516328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-7874395115317724222012-07-18T13:43:41.082-05:002012-07-18T13:43:41.082-05:00I guess I wasn't clear myself. In finance as i...I guess I wasn't clear myself. In finance as in quantum physics, the language of the common man is inadequate to express the complexity of the subject matter. If local government is speaking gobbledygook, its critics are speaking gibberish.Mark Stegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02376182294736839659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-26070425337695477762012-07-18T13:36:02.769-05:002012-07-18T13:36:02.769-05:00Welcome to the club, Mark. We all think the langu...Welcome to the club, Mark. We all think the language of the common man should be the language spoken by local government when it comes to distributing information regarding public business.<br /><br />As you have correctly discovered and stated, you may as well be asking for the moon.Nathan Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125033575992516328noreply@blogger.com