Maybe they don't have to.

We believe much of the cuts have already been made and there's no need to cut so deep that jobs could be lost, jobs that would affect the service citizens in the city are receiving such as trash pickup, police and fire protection.

It was fool-hearty to bank on a 1 cent sales tax to correct the city's budget woes or even plan a budget based on hopes the voters of Roanoke Rapids, had it been approved by the General Assembly, would ratify it in a referendum.

We agree with City Manager Paul Sabiston that the budget for the upcoming fiscal year is solid and lean. We agree with Mayor Emery Doughtie, who asserted that cutting out what little capital expenditures are in the proposal could cause the city maintenance and service woes in the future.

We believe the savings are already in the budget and stand behind the city manager who has all but sworn on the Bible his budget will stand.

Those savings include what will be saved by deferring part of the city's balloon payment on the theater. Those savings include reductions in what the city will be paying in health and property and casualty insurance.

Now if some of the city council members would agree to not be paid for a year there's another $56,000 in savings.

That would go a long way to perhaps restoring some of the faith the public has lost in city council as they continue to grapple with the debt bog that has become the Roanoke Rapids Theatre.

After talking with sources we believe there is another revenue stream that should be tapped and although we risk being run out of town on a rail, we believe it's workable, perhaps not palatable.

There is talk circulating about perhaps going back to vehicle stickers, according to what our sources are telling us, that and stickers for trailers.

Charging $15 to $20 for a vehicle sticker could help the city raise money that will be needed when the end of the upcoming fiscal year rolls around.

Before you jump on us, however, be honest with yourself. When the end of the upcoming fiscal comes, you're either going to be faced with the reality of a property tax increase or having your services cut. You're going to face losing amenities that you may take for granted like parks and services, things which make a community attractive.

With the loss of the theater reserve fund, there has to be solutions out there beyond letting trash pile up, closing the library or the recreation centers. We truly believe these things make a community what it is and believe that when that happens you will really hear the complaining.

Residents had their chance to talk about the budget during council's public hearing. None showed up and for all the complaining that is done behind computer screens, we were disheartened to see no one dared chastise council publicly. We can only take that to mean they must be fairly satisfied with the budget or they just don't care.

While it's easy to throw darts at the current city council, only two of them were seated when the theater came to Roanoke Rapids.

We believe the mayor is trying to do his best to navigate these treacherous waters and one way or another the public is going to have to pay for sins of the past.

We certainly believe that council must, and we implore them to, cut their pay for a year and we also believe that something like a vehicle sticker and trailer sticker would surely taste better than a huge tax increase or going without trash being picked up — Editor