Follow the Money

“Closing Gray Dispatch will save $100,000 a year”- Councilor Skip Crane 10.17.2006

On a per capita basis, each citizen will save about $14.25 per year- equal to a 9-piece chicken bucket at KFC. But do you think that you will be receiving a rebate check on your tax bill for this year, or a reduction in your tax bill next year? Don’t be waiting by the mailbox.

To handle the medical billings, administrative duties, fire permits, and a host of other duties previously performed at the Fire Station by Dispatch, Deb Cabana has had to hire back one dispatcher.

ChaChing! “Closing Gray Dispatch will save $65,000 a year”In his most current blog addition, Chair Gary Foster has confirmed what the Town Manager has stated…that another administrative assistant will be hired at the Town Offices and the position may be offered to another dispatcher.


ChaChing! “Closing Gray Dispatch will save $ 30,000 a year”
During the discussion on October 17th, Vice Chair Andy Upham stated

This [ contract with County] will allow us to put some money back into the Department to take care of some retention problems the Chief had brought to our attention ( Did the Vice Chair actually cite a sum of $70,000?)


ChaChing! “Closing Gray Dispatch will save $0 a year”

It’s clear that Council wants to redirect monies allocated to a local dispatch center to other areas of the budget that they deem important. And that is not an evil or irresponsible act if such the same level of public service is achieved by contracting with County. But we all know now that the same level of service cannot be achieved. More significantly, there would be less of an outcry if the Council had let us all in on the grand plan and sold it to the citizens before the vote. But this three bid charade for a wired bid just spun a web of suspicion that was unnecessary.

So as the petition to reinstate Gray Dispatch gets into swing over the next month and you hear the manta that closing Gray Dispatch will save the taxpayer money, do what Deep Throat advised Bob Woodward:

“Follow the money”

If you can find it..