It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
In Asheville Tuesday night, members of city council expressed not optimism, but confidence the municipal fund balance would grow as sales tax revenues soared. The city’s DPW didn’t even see a ghost of a chance that a hotelier, whose plans had been delayed for a year by “the economy,” would not now be able to complete his project.
The same day, just to the south in Henderson County:
During an all-day budget workshop, County Manager Steve Wyatt told commissioners that while he’s fairly confident the county can maintain a balanced budget through the 2011-12 fiscal year, he has “great concern” beyond that because of lagging sales tax revenues, potentially decreasing state dollars and general uncertainty about the U.S. economy.
Wyatt added that the sooner commissioners start preparing, the more options they will have in navigating turbulent waters down the road.
“I do not see a scenario where you’re not going to have to make hard decisions,” he said.
Sample Problem: Suppose you lived somewhere between the two jurisdictions, say in Skyland. Would you hope for a bright tomorrow or start saving against harsher times? (Remember, there are no right or wrong answers.)
(a) I would spend profligately.
(b) I would hoard stingily.
(c) I don’t know. I have to ask my party.
