I have just finished reading the excellent March 12 letter by Mr. Tim Trueblood, who stated that a tax increase was not warranted unless “real” budget expenditure reductions have been made.

Tim could not be more correct in his assessment as so far all we have seen is the same old smoke-and-mirrors approach to the budget. We are told we will eliminate this and that, and then we find out that the positions were “eliminated,” but the personnel were transferred to a different job — some at a salary increase.

I am the last person who wishes to see a “force reduction,” but that said, we must eliminate something if Crestwood is to survive.

We have a board that apparently cannot make a decision, coupled with a sacred-cow mentality that will preclude any rational decisions as to what may indeed be redundant and thus expendable in these very trying times.

As a proud member of the mayor’s “illegitimate few” citizens — 72 percent? — I can tell you enough of rearranging the deck chairs. Let’s shore up the crack in the hull.

Thomas C. Ford

Crestwood