It was that dreaded time of the year when the city had to approve its new annual budget. The council chambers at city hall were packed with the Citizens Against New Taxes – CANT. As the Mayor opened the meeting the citizens of CANT began chanting “eliminate government waste eliminate government waste”.
Hearing enough of the chanting one city council member stated WE HAVE CUT ALL WASTE IN OUR CITY. IF YOUR GROUP THINKS THERE IS WASTE IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT PLEASE TELL US WHERE YOU THINK IT IS?
One member of CANT yelled “The Fire Department.” Shocked the Mayor asked “where in the Fire Department do you see waste?” “The Dog” someone yelled. “You have a dog assigned to the Fire Department. Why? The dog must be fed, groomed and housed which all costs money. Why do you have to have a dog in the Fire Department? Other surrounding fire departments don’t.”
“Chief” the Mayor asked “would respond.” The chief stepped forward and said “sure”.
“Does the dog help you fight fires?” “No”, said the Chief.
“Does the dog help with crow control another asked?” “No”, said the Chief again.
“Does he bring your department good luck when you’re fighting fires” another chuckled? No, again the Chief said.
“Well then why in heaven’s sake do you need a damn dog in the fire department” the leader of CANT asked.
Well the Chief said two years ago because of your concerns the city council voted to eliminate our GPS support system.
Last year because of your demands to reduce taxes the city council passed a moratorium on the purchase of new maps, reference guides and plate books.
“Well what does any of that have to do with the dog in your fire department?” Asked the group leader. “We need the dog” the chief said “so our volunteer fire fighting personal can locate the fire hydrant when they arrive at the scene of a fire”.
