What a difference several months make? for those in government anyway.

Then (April 25, 2007)

City: Mountain Xpress ? ?Revenue surplus sparks budget battles?? ?For the 2007-08 fiscal year, which begins July 1, City Council has the happy task of deciding how to spend at least $2 million in surplus revenues. That was the word from Chief Financial Officer Ben Durant during the year?s first budget workshop, held just before Council?s April 17 meeting. Durant credited several factors with helping create the surplus: The city spent less than was originally budgeted, the city?s tax base grew two percentage points more than was projected, and fewer property owners than expected appealed the recent property revaluations.?
Matt: ?Don?t spend money you don?t have. All indications are that the housing market in
Asheville is slowing down and may even see values drop.?

Now (January 5, 2008)

City: Asheville Citizen-Times ? ?Asheville may face $1.3M deficit? ?- ?Growth this year has been the lowest in 10 years at 2.3 percent, said Ben Durant, city Chief Financial Officer. Much of the drop is due to the housing market slowdown, Durant said.?
Matt: ?You shouldn?t have spent money you didn?t have. All indications were that the housing market in
Asheville was slowing down and that values would likely drop.?

Sometimes is really stinks being right? At least when those who are deciding how to spend our money won?t listen to us? So, how are we coming on getting that tax payer bill of rights adopted in NC? Additionally, are there any cities in the state that have passed TaBOR type limitations and protections into their local charters?