Things got testy at times today at the Midland, Texas, City Council hearing. The Council did its best to convince everyone that there is no way to cut the budget. And the citizens did their best to convince the Council members that they didn't want to pay any more in taxes.
Neither side budged. A couple of the citizens got a little hot under the collar, and the same could be said about at least one of the Council members. The "Even Keel" award goes to Mayor Wes Perry who managed to keep a calm and sometimes cheerful attitude throughout the entire procession.
Then there was the incomparable Jason Moore. Those who saw him for the first time may have thought he could have been the star player on his high school football team when he was younger. And those who heard him spar with the Council may have thought he had been the captain of his high school debate team. He made some eloquent and artful remarks, and he held everyone's attention when he spoke.
The Council voted to recess the morning session and reconvene tonight at 7:00pm to let the rest of the community have a say, so it's not over.
But one thing was abundantly clear. Those of us who gripe about high taxes really have not given them enough credit for what they've done in the past. Raise taxes and the taxpayers let them have it. Cut services and the citizens who want those services let them have it. Cut jobs or salaries and the city workers let them have it. There is no way to please everyone, and they've taken on a thankless job.
Anyway, take a look at some photos from this morning's meeting.
If body language could talk! Whew!
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