Throwing out the majority of the city council and mayor in Auburn won’t solve a thing.

Residents are mad. They’re mad that the city made stupid mistakes on their revaluation statements. They’re mad because, for a lot of them, their taxes are going to go up. And they’re mad because they feel helpless to do anything about it.

But the recall effort launched last Tuesday is not the answer. And even if it were, it’s an impractical solution to a problem that has troubled much of the state for years: high property taxes.

Recall is a blunt instrument that should be used only sparingly and when there is real evidence of wrongdoing. Swung wildly like a madman wielding a hammer, it holds the promise of stalemate, confusion and frustration for the next year.

First, the process: Charles Mollica, who is leading the recall effort, told the Sun Journal last week that he doesn’t expect any problems because his group has followed the city’s rules for recall. Exactly which rules are those?

On Nov. 8, Auburn voters overwhelmingly approved a new City Charter, that among other things gives voters more say over bond issues. But it also changes the rules for recall, making it more difficult to remove someone from office.

According to state law, the new charter will replace the old charter in July, when Auburn begins its new fiscal year. However, a section of the state law also says that elements of the new charter that involved “conducting” elections will take effect immediately.

So which set of rules will bind the recall? It’s unclear. And regardless of which set is followed, either the recallers or the politicians facing them could have a legitimate argument for a legal challenge.

Second, the timing: The next scheduled election in the city will be held in June, during the peak of the budget process. As difficult as crafting the Auburn budget is during the best of times, trying to accomplish the task in the midst of a recall election is a recipe for disaster.

A special election could be held earlier, but requirements that the ballot be available at least 30 days before an election and potential delays from legal challenges make a late winter, early spring vote a long shot.

In addition, the new charter mandates that every member of the council and the mayor stand for election in November for a one-year term so city votes can take place in odd-numbered years beginning in 2007. It’s a bad idea to put the city through the stress and expense of extra elections when one is already scheduled.

Third, how do you measure success? Even if the recall effort removes the councilors and mayor from office, the budget could already be done for next year and another election close on the horizon. After potential legal challenges and a new election, the replacements would likely have terms measured in weeks before facing another election.

Many residents at a meeting Monday night were angry because the council refused to undo an earlier decision on a new parking garage in the city. While it’s a legitimate disagreement about public policy, it doesn’t seem to rise to the level of a recall offense. While there were perhaps 1,200 people at the meeting, Auburn voters elected the council and they properly considered the garage deal, even if the outcome doesn’t please everyone.

To break the agreement now to build the garage would hurt the city more than help it. Above almost all else, we hear from business leaders that stability – being able to count on government to do what it says it will and not change the rules of the game midstream – is crucial for economic development. By reneging on the promised garage, the city would make itself less attractive to new businesses looking for a home, worried about whether they can count on the city to honor the deals it makes.

Voters will have an opportunity in November to elect a new city council if they want. It is not an undue burden to wait until then.

Residents of Auburn are angry, but there is time for them to affect next year’s budget and the property tax rate. If the process fails, let the revolution begin in November.