We started the first of this month with an April's Fool posting about the city's Parks and Recreation department tearing down the Genesee off-leash park to construct a flag football field. But the state of the municipality's coffers are no laughing matter.
The bean counters at City of Seattle have estimated $120 million deficit for 2010. City departments would have to shave five percent from their budgets for the municipality to break even. The media are rampant with stories about the potential off city employees, reducing and/or eliminating human services programs, and closing parks... including canine off-leash areas.
It may be too early to sound the general alarm, but it's never to soon to monitor the situation and advocate for our dog park. Our city leaders haven't shown their hand as to how they will address the budget deficit. But if the situation gets contentious and nasty -- as many predict it will -- we will have to lobby on behalf of the Genesee off-leash area.
The Seattle City Council's Budget Committee:
The City of Seattle's Parks and Recreation Department:
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