About Government budgeting

Almost every political candidate I have listened to has claimed he/she will lower taxes, work within the budget, streamline departments to save money…

I worked for several years in a large county jail. One Saturday my assignment was the periodic imprisonment division, which was across town from the main jail in a soon to be replaced courthouse. A delivery arrived consisting of several large mahogany desks. These desks, as I recall, were listed at $1,500.00 per item and there was a truckload of them. I told the driver he must be at the wrong address. I explained that this building would be empty in about 5 months. He said he would go to the other building if I insisted, but asked me to call a supervisor first.

I called my sergeant who said he had no idea what to do. He suggested I call the woman whose name appeared on the invoice, one of the top county officials. I thought of how this might effect my career. I came to the conclusion that It was a mistake to call such a powerful woman in the middle of one of her few days off during the largest relocation in the county’s history to suggest that she had made a mistake. I then carefully weighed the alternative, say nothing and let him deliver the shipment. Now I had pictures of getting a phone call on my day off and hearing the sheriff yell at me about allowing a truckload of desks to be delivered to a building I knew would be closed in a few months. It was a coin flip. I called her.

This powerful woman whose name often appeared in the local papers answered her phone, she did not seem to be too excited about hearing from Deputy who? I apologized for bothering her at home, on her day off. I then explained that these beautiful, big, solid, judicial desks had, more than likely, been shipped to the wrong building. The OLD COURTHOUSE.

She had a chuckle in her voice (Which was a great relief to me) as she explained, “Oh deputy, you have no idea of how government works do you? I stammered trying not to sound stupid, naive or disrespectful, “I guess I don’t.” She went on to give me a quick tutorial, “Young man, in government you budget for the year. If you spend less than you requested, you get less in the next fiscal year. The trick is to be within, but not below, budget. The best way to accomplish that is to be prepared to go big item shopping at the end of the year.” She added, “I suggest if you need office supplies or any equipment ask your supervisor for them now, it’s the best time.” I then asked if these desks would be moved to the new courthouse and she scoffed and replied that the new courthouse would be furnished with all new furniture. I thanked her, hung up the phone and cleared a large area for the driver to unload the nicest desks I have ever seen.

While the driver was unloading I penned a letter to the current president, Georg H W Bush. I did appear naive in this letter, I’m sure.

In summary I lamented, that I had just learned, “How government budgeting works..” I explained that I appreciated the fact that while he was a candidate he had said he would trim the budget and be fiscally responsible.” I continued, “If you meant what you said I ask that you change the process and reward supervisors for coming in under budget.” I suggested he adopt a policy, as many private sector companies do, of rewarding supervisors for coming in under budget while still accomplishing all of the set goals.

The president responded. As I recall, it was a beautiful form letter thanking me for my concern and telling me that our country needs citizens like me. I found the stamped signature was equally impressive. I didn’t expect The President of the United States of America to call me at home, but I was hoping my letter would have had some effect.

If any current, or future presidents are reading this please keep my words in mind- If you punish people for not spending money, they will spend money. I believe if they are forced to spend money at the end of the fiscal year they may waste it. Who knows, they may do something really stupid like buying a truckload of $1,500.00 desks to use for 5 months.