President Trump’s brilliant idea to cut government spending with a Dept. of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by First Buddy Elon Musk, is causing panic in the Deep State and curling the hair of liberals.
Nevertheless, it is a big hit with the American people, and it is trickling down to state and local governments.
In Jacksonville, City Council Member Ron Salem saw the potential and grabbed it immediately.
After consulting with council auditors and determining there was fruit on that tree, he got the council president to establish a special committee named DOGE.
Wisely, the committee has no Democrat members. The idea is to cut costs, not increase them.
“We don’t plan to haver Democrats,” Salem said. “After what I have heard, especially by one, I’m not sure it would be productive.”
Indeed, several Democrats appeared at the first committee meeting Tuesday and wailed about the idea of saving money for taxpayers.
Democrats, of course, will be able to vote on any recommendations the committee makes.
Salem told Eye on Jacksonville “We are going to have a very specific, thoughtful, targeted approach to items in the budget.”
He pointed out that there are estimates of budget deficits in the near future, absent some solutions.
Salem said the committee also will look at capital improvements. The city government has locked itself into spending billions in coming years on capital projects that may or may not be needed. For example, septic tank replacement and the Emerald Trail.
Like the Skyway Express, the Emeral Trail was the result of federal money being offered and city officials jumping at the chance to match it with local money and thus getting what seemed like a bargain.
Other items could include parks that have little or no activity. Jacksonville has more parks and recreation space than any other city. That may be good for bragging rights, but does it make sense to have that much land off the tax rolls?
There is one issue the committee might want to reconsider. It took police and fire services off the table. That may be popular with some, but it excludes the largest cost in the general fund, which narrows the ability to make a real difference.
Even so, the DOGE committee was an excellent idea and is going to have a lot of support from the taxpaying public.
