Charlie Smithgall would have made far deeper cuts in the fire department (which he was telling people as he campaigned door-to-door), and he would have slashed other essential services to narrow the budget deficit. Smithgall would have also quickly wiped out Lancaster City’s reserve funds, which is basically what the budget he left for Rick Gray four years ago would have done.
I don’t agree with the cuts in the fire department. On the other hand, the sudden collapse of tax revenue during 2009 called for drastic action RIGHT NOW, not years into the future. No matter who did what, it would NOT have been pleasant.
As for the snow: Lancaster City’s response to the double-whammy has been far better than I would have ever expected, considering how few employees remain in the Public Works departments.
