You show up to work every day, do your job, then receive a paycheck every week or two.  That's the way it usually goes, unless you work for the town of North Providence.  Due to its deficit, th town predicts it will run out of money by June 12th, which means employees won't be receiving their paychecks.  The town "hopes" to pay their employees within a week or so of that date, but there are no guarantees. 

     The national economy has made things tough for many states and municipalities, but we shouldn't allow the economy to be used as an excuse for mismanagement.  There are 39 cities and towns in Rhode Island, yet North Providence is the only one I know of who can't pay their employees.  Of course, if you listen to mayor Charles Lombardi, their problems are due to the Senate's refusal to allow the town to levy a supplemental tax on its citizens.  As he said, "It's not fair to have our employees living in fear of not receiving a pay check...that's why we needed the state Senate to help us get through this."  Essentially, he is angry he didn't get the equivalent of a bailout to help dig them out of a hole created by his incompetence.

     For all the things Charles Lombardi has done wrong, he did get one thing right.  He says managing North Providence's finances "...has become a great juggling act."   That's an apt description, since this clown has turned the town into a circus.  Let's hope the voters remember this in 2010.