Previously, I took a stab at trying to determine what course of action N. Enrique Martinez might take in his efforts to bring financial reform to Redlands.  It was speculated, based on the dearth of available information, that Martinez would immediately seek to raise taxes to stop the bleeding of red ink.

News today is already pointing to the desire to raise taxes in Redlands...and there is a laundry list of potential "revenue" sources. 

Taxes are on the table. This November, voters could be asked to increase bed taxes and create a tax on warehouses. The warehouse tax would be based on the size of such facilities.

In the spring, Redlanders could be asked to OK street-lighting and landscaping-assessment districts. Residents' committees could be established to consider bond sales for police facilities and street improvements.

However, we still have not seen anything of any substance with respect to reducing spending, other than floating the idea of a worker furlough.

What makes this all even more incredulous is when you take a look at a recent development in the City of Redlands.  An editorial in the Daily Facts referred to the $2.2 million dollar windfall as money found in the pocket while doing laundry.

So...Enrique Martinez is brought in expecting to have to overcome a $3.5 million structural deficit.  He is gifted $2.2 million from day one and thus is only responible for trimming a mere $1.3 million to balance the budget.

Isn't there something downright disingenuous by a call to raise taxes to balance an annual budget of $50+ million dollars, when you have been gifted $2.2 million and the structural deficit that currently exists represents a mere 2.5% reduction in spending?

Enrique Martinez is held out to be a financial guru and turnaround mastermind, and yet, he cannot find waste and excess in the budget of Redlands totaling 2.5%?

At the end of the day, it appears that we have a city that is paying $25,000 to find a city manager and around $250,000 a year (when you aggregate perks and benefits) to pay the city manager just for the privilege of being able to call for an increase in taxes!

We are told that Martinez is used to making tough choices, tough decisions in order to bring financial sanity back to government.  And in Redlands, he cannot overcome a structural deficit of 2.5% of the annual budget without demanding the people of Redlands shoulder more of the burden for the City Council's woeful mismanagement of tax revenue.