Residents Go Crazy For Decatur 2009-2010 Budget
Decatur Metro | May 20, 2009As popular as a new Harry Potter installment, city of Decatur residents have been gearing up for weeks to get their hands on a copy of Decatur’s latest and greatest 2009-2010 budget (pdf).
Residents from around the city lined up at midnight Tuesday in front of city hall to be the first to get their hands on a copy. Many were dressed as their favorite city employee, with many men donning wigs. “I had planned to sport a pair of “Hugh Saxon glasses” said a man in a purple cardigan who refused to give his name, “but when I heard that my neighbor was doing something similar, I went the Linda Harris route.”
When the real Linda Harris appeared on the city hall steps a couple minutes after midnight, carrying around 20 copies of the 200+ page document, cheers from the anxious throng echoed throughout the town like recorded birds-of-prey atop 1 West Courthouse Square.
After getting over the intial shock of seeing so many grown men in wigs, Harris regained her composure and spoke to the crowd. “With much anticipation, I present to you the 2009-10 budget! If you pre-ordered a copy online, please stand in a line to the right. After you receive your copy, please proceed in an orderly fashion to the commission meeting room where Andrea Arnold will be giving out autographs For those who didn’t pre-order, I’m sorry to say that we’re completely sold out.”
And with that residents got into their respective lines and upon receiving their copy thumbed immediately to page one. Some proceeded inside, while others made a beeline to their cars. “I’m going to be up all night reading this!” shouted a man in a light brown wig as he jumped into his Toyota Prius and sped off down North McDonough.
Just another day in the life.
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I did stay up all night reading it! Don’t worry, I won’t spoil the ending for others… as tempting as it is.
ps- did you see me in line, DM? I was dressed-up as city employee Catherine Lee. My costume was spot on.
Did anyone shave their head to look like Chief Booker?
Nicely done, DM, carrying on the style and humor of the late, lamented Decatur Blur (sniff).
Dumbledore dies on page 596.
Better place your order now, I heard Amazon has it available online too!
Lauren – yes! You were totally rocking those bangs!
Steve – now that you mention it…a couple bald infants were wearing police caps. Now I get it!
Thanks Dee. Just trying to make the budget more fun!
Oakhurst – is there a Kindle version available?
I am so heartened by the overwhelming interest in the 2009-10 budget. A city with residents that are so involved they line up at midnight to get a copy is a city that I am proud to raise my children in. To all my fellow Decaturites, thank you for taking such pride in our community.
This is just silly.
I agree Mom! Ya’ think?
I downloaded mine from Audible. Phrases like “within fiscal limits acceptable to the community” really roll off James Earl Jones’ tongue.
Robert, why is it silly? Some people are really interested in their community and want to know things as soon as possible. And it sounds like there was also a fun and neighborly aspect to it. So some residents decided to make an event out of it…big deal. Is that a reason for you to make an irrelevant and condescending comment?
I thought the original soundtrack by Decatur’s own Guitar Red was a nice touch in the Audible version.
As the world’s most gullible person (I fall for the pillow on top of the door trick every time my family does it), which parts of this thread are true?
I sold an Advanced Readers Copy on ebay last week for $30 bucks, but it turns out there was a chapter on sewer infrastructure in that copy which was cut out of the final edition. Damn, that thing is probably worth a fortune now.
Nice work. Let’s do it for real next year. Good excuse for a city festival! ….hmm but that would impact the budget…
Robert, you’re right. I’m too new to the post to have picked up on DM’s sarcasm. My bad. I’ll just keep my mouth shut next time.
I haven’t had this much fun reading about the budget in the 20 years I have been here. Plus, my daughter will pay a great deal for a photo of DM going the Linda Harris route. She says it will make up for all those photos I saved of her in dressed in 1970s clothing. Hmmmm maybe this is another revenue source…
Can’t wait to find out – Make it so!
LOL! Nicely played, E.
My thought exactly — nice work
NO!! You think???
I got so tired of standing in line, my heels were hurting my feet, that I placed my order with Amazon. I noticed that a couple of the men in the wigs had the wigs placed a little to the side. I left my camera at home and was unable to take pictures, oh man. PS Thanks so much for the good laugh! I love living in Decatur.
The budget is currently available for viewing. I think that’s about it.
Oh man Eric…now I just feel bad.
If ONLY this were a real event! I guess it’s not out of the realm of possibility in this town, though I thought the “dressing up as employees” part was a give away.
Eric,
You obviously do not have the ability to interpret DM’s sarcasm here.
This is a pharse. People were not really lined up to get a copy of the budget at Midnight at City Hall. It is available online as was linked to in the post.
[edited: no insults. no matter how small]
I love Decatur Metro, but I do miss the Blur!
P.S. DM – good one. I, like Snowflake, fell for it completely.
Ha!
I guess I’ll have to wear my custom-made Linda Harris costume to the Arts Festival, city-certified name-tag and all.
Oh man, I’m going to be so drunk with power… “You Magic Hat, in the name of all things Decatur, give me some free beer!”
That’s how it works, right?