This bothers me.
No, not the part about 101 full time and the 46.5 half time jobs left unfilled (that's a lot of jobs....and why are so many half time? And where are these jobs? Police?, Fire? Public Works? Does it really make a difference?)
No, what bothers me is our City Manager comment:
"The staffing shortfall is negatively affecting our ability to respond to information requests in a timely manner,We will, of course, continue to adhere to the Sunshine Law. While the law provides for us to seek cost recovery for the extensive research time and copying costs necessary to fulfill some of these requests, that does not mean we can recapture that time."
WHO is making all these requests? Those pesky reporters? Those folks in the peanut gallery who actually supply the funds that make this city run? Bloggers? (They talking about you, Jackehammer?)
City Manager Burris, I think you got this back a** backwards. You and your staff should doing everything in your power to quickly answer the questions of your public. We are the ones who with our taxes and purchases, make this city run. To imply that our requests for information take up too much time is ---well, if this was happening in a business world, see how fast the customers walk out the door. In Springfield's world, see how fast the voters say no.
Just because we question you or want to know information about our city doings doesn't mean we don't like you.
Geez, the third largest city in the state and the City Manager is basically saying he ain't gonnna tell us nothing unless we pay for it.
Yep, 1/3 largest city in the state is governed by volunteers and run by a guy who ain't gonna tell us nothing unless we pay for it.
Ok, I'm a busy man, I'm going to D Lake!
The bad thing about shooting from the hip is you run the risk of shooting yourself in the foot.