As Raleigh faces a projected $18 to $22 million budget hole for the upcoming fiscal year, city officials are pushing forward with “free” Wi-Fi in a 50-block area of downtown ($180,000 to install plus $20,000 a year to maintain). “Free” wireless follows “free” bus service ($800,000 per year) instituted between downtown and Glenwood Avenue restaurants.
So if Wi-Fi and buses qualify as prioritiy spending as the city ponders where to find roughly $20 million to fill the general fund hole, and ponders a 17 percent water rate increase as well, exactly what isn’t a government priority to the mayor and council?
