Dictating on tax money

What does a partial budget veto by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama mean to  ordinary city residents?

That’s the crunch  question after the mayor complained about deep cuts and  outright cancellation of his proposals of rhte 2012 budget of Cebu City.

Among the “lost causes”  were drainage improvements, a program severely trimmed from half a billion pesos to P200 million pesos.

Also gone are outlays of P10 million to rehabilitate the Sewage Treatment Plant,   P75 million for six development master plans, P50 million for firefighting equipment and fire stations, P150 million for the expansion of the Cebu City Medical Center, and P100 million for City Hall employee housing.

The main  argument of the council, which closely follows the voice of party boss  Tomas Osmeña, was that Rama couldn’t be relied on to find the revenue to hit his  the ambitious budget targets.

We can see the logic of reining in nice-to-have projects like a P10 million pocket forest and beatification, where efforts are problably best in the hands of the private  sector.

But other items beg priority action from City Hall.

How much longer, for example,  do residents wait for a modern  firefighting force in Cebu City? With over a a dozen condominiums and high-rise commercial buildings rising this year, the ashes of the Gaisano Capital South mall are a stark reminder that firemen are attacking infernos with 30-year-old firetrucks, no boots, and a dilapidated aerial ladder that only reaches the fifth floor.

The argument that  fire stations belong to a national agency, hence are a “national” , not a local obligation, can go out the window when you look at  street repair.

Potholes and dimly lit streets don’t wear signs that declare they should be repaired by a national versus a local crew.  Voters can’t tell the difference.

You can  bet the council will not debate over  survival needs of  urban residents to anticipate  fire disasters and flooding in 2012.

The mayor, in his veto message, also gave himself away when he objected to having a P400 million fund for “aid to barangays” released directly to the barangays.  He said it should be coursed through him.

Public services subject to power plays like this don’t augur well for oridnary citizens.

When the mayor’s veto is defeated, the reduced budget will  show that Tommy  Osmeña  won his battle and put  Rama in his place insofar as spending the city’s tax money.

Rama won’t have room to embark on high-impact projects that ease the problems of urban decay  for residents and visitors alike.  He’ll have to beg the council for a specific  increase with each supplementary budget requested  once a month.