Budget Ready for Perfection.

The City Council Budget/Ways and Means Committee reduced the proposed expenditures for the fiscal year 2002/2003 Tuesday evening $375,000 by postponing improvements to Hazel Avenue along the west side of the Myers Park Development. The Committee went into the meeting with over $200,000 more in expenditures proposed than projected income. The Committee’s actions will need the full Council approval.

Even with the cushion created with the Hazel project out, the Committee continued to whittle at department requests. The Committee reduced propose expenditures from the Fire, Police, Parks and Engineering Departments. The Street Department budget was not affected by Tuesday’s meeting.

The Committee also will recommend a modification of policy concerning funding of the Main Street Carthage program. The Committee wants to contract with Main Street to promote business development in downtown Carthage. A contract for $17,000 per month is proposed for a total of $20,400 for the year. The proposed contract would require quarterly reports, but eliminates specific funding of any particular project.

NASCAR to the Max

Saturday night’s running of the Pontiac Excitement 400 from Richmond, Virginia turned into a two-day affair. The scheduled start was delayed several hours due to rain. The threat of rain remained during the early going and the race was ultimately stopped on lap 66 of the scheduled 400 from the ¾ mile track with the hopes of the rain quickly passing. This was not to be and the race was postponed until Sunday morning. The race was an exercise in patience from the fan’s perspective with the race featuring a record tying 14 cautions for 103 laps. With less than 100 laps remaining the race was stopped for a second time to clean up debris from a collision between Rusty Wallace and Ricky Rudd and between Jeff Green and the outside pit wall. The pit wall is protected by a series of water filled barrels designed to cushion just such an impact. The disintegrating barrels do leave a significant clean up and reconstruction project requiring the red-flag period. Green walked away from the accident unscathed. Tony Stewart was able to avoid all of the on-track carnage and claimed his second win of the season. Of Stewarts 14 career wins, 3 have now come at Richmond.

Ricky Rudd, who is reportedly considering retirement at seasons end, appeared to have the race well in hand in the late going until his entanglement with Wallace. Rudd did however tie "Iron Man" Terry Labonte’s record of most consecutive starts with 655. The series is idle this weekend in observance of Mother’s Day with the following weekend being The Winston, NASCAR’s non-points version of an All-Star game. That will make Rudd’s attempt to break the record May 26 in the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, NC. The 30 and under crowd have won 7 of the 11 races contested so far this year. While the 40 somethings have won 3 with Bobby Labonte at 38 taking the other win. Stewart and Jeff Gordon are both 30 but are still considered part of the NASCAR youth movement.

After most of the figures are in for the proposed budget for next year, the unspent budget looks somethin’ like this.

The "emergency" reserve, equal to 25% of the operatin’ budget will amount to just over $1.5 million. The "set aside" fund for future work on Civil War Road and the proposed interchange at Fairview and 71 Highway equals $595,000.

After the proposed cuts bein’ recommended by the Budget Committee, there is about $330,000 in uncommitted funds. Most on the Committee seemed ta want a little extra cushion this year due to the uncertainty of the economy. With about a quarter of the City’s income bein’ sales tax revenue, they figured there needed to be a little next egg sittin’ back just in case. Basic services should remain about the same.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

Last year I forget to drain out my gas in several lawn-mower-type motors, and this spring, they all started perfectly. I know you guys have recommended a gasoline stabilizer for seasonal storage, but how come my motors started right up.

I used unleaded gas without alcohol. Without the lead, can gas be stored without varnishing? - Elmer

RAY: I can tell you’re a scientist, Elmer. You’ve experienced an interesting phenomenon - your lawn mower stared perfectly after a winter of storage - and now you’re testing a promising theory: Can unleaded gasoline be stored without producing varnish?

TOM: And like a scientist, you’re about to utter the well-worn words "Dang! Back to the ol’ drawing board." The phenomenon you experienced, Elmer, was luck.

RAY: Unleaded gas still tends to varnish. And without a gasoline stabilizer, a lot of engines stored with sitting gasoline over a period of many months won’t start. And worse, their carburetors may need to be removed and cleaned if you ever want to get them started again.

TOM: This is a classic application of our famous Great Unyielding Truth: It’s the stingy person who spends the most. You try to save a few bucks on a can of gasoline stabilizer, and you end up having to rebuild the carburetor later on.

RAY: So you can press your luck again next year, Elmer, and you may get away with it. Or you can play it safe and take our advice: Bite the bullet, buy a can of stabilizer and ensure yourself a place next year among the great, unvarnished masses.