As a taxpayer and as a long-term employee of Auburn, this City Council’s history of a spending spree on one hand and personnel and program cuts to pay for it scares me.

In a time of serious economic woes for most of us, they continue to spend and to obligate us to debt service far into the future. It is no secret what they have been spending on. The monstrosity on Court Street is just one example.

The city is about to do it again with the Lake Street School project. Spend not for what we need, but for what we want, regardless of cost.

There has been little mention of cutting administration positions in either the city side or school side of the budget. Almost all positions that have been cut are the “worker bees” of the city.

If anyone was to look at the list of cuts, it’s teachers, service workers and programs that directly affect all of us that are being eliminated. It’s time to start looking at the top. Both the city government and the schools are top heavy in administration.

I am not advocating that anyone’s employment be taken from them, but I do think that the city’s personnel resources both in the schools and in city departments can be more wisely used.

And to the City Council: Please put a lid on spending until the economy of this city can easily afford it.

Michael Lemay, Auburn

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