How to spend $600,000, Part 1

Huntington city government ended the 2005-06 fiscal year with $600,000 more than expected. The question now: What does a local government accustomed to living on the edge of a financial razor blade do with $600,000?

At least one councilmember wants to spend half on buying new police cruisers and half on street paving. Another wants everyone in the administration and on council to develop a list of priorities. Among those priorities is a new computer system for City Hall. The councilman has a point there. From what we've been told, the City Hall system predates Windows 3.1. It's expensive to maintain. And it's inadequate for the job of tracking who has not paid their city taxes and fees.

Sounds good from here. Let's get a list together of how the city needs to spend its unforeseen $600,000.