Not all my predictions are as wrong as my 2006 council picks

I believe Davenport's budget problems can't be solved without either cutting services or raising income. Whether that's a tax increase, or a fee of any sort is immaterial. Either more money had to come in, or everyone start enjoying 20 minute response times to your next police emergency. I think a lot of people are going to get elected to city council on the "No new fees or taxes" rallying cry, and then immediately find out that in the real world of city finance, new taxes are sometimes necessary.
-Me, May 9th, 2005 in my first post on DDP

Here we are with a new council, partly elected on a "No new fees or taxes" platform. The working deal doesn't completely repeal the stormwater fee, yet it also cuts public safety. It seems like no one wins here. Shawn and his gang have failed in their campaign promise, and all 11 elected officials are going to be on record with a cut to police and fire. Police and Fire. Do we have less need for police suddenly? No, I would argue we have a much greater need lately. Do we have less need for firefighters? No, considering how much building has been going on in the last 10 years.

As I've said, this seems bad for all politicians involved. However, the anti-fee squad told all of us that the city was just scaring people about public safety whenever fee-repeal talk came up. Now the city is not even repealing the whole fee, yet public safety is indeed being cut. Apparently the scare tactics weren't just a bluff. Many people also wanted a council that could behave like adults, and instead we have half a council that takes their ball and goes home when things don't go their way. I would say we could have another big turnover election in 2007 if our council keeps going this way. The people who wanted civility in the chambers aren't happy. The people who wanted fee cuts with no cuts in service aren't happy. The people that wanted continued growth and downtown progress aren't happy. At least we haven't had any Christmas poems yet.