In a world dominated by bureaucracy, one Finance Director dares to push the limits of what’s possible. Tabatha Miller, played by Emily Blunt, has always followed the rules, but when she discovers discrepancies in the latest disbursements listing, she starts to question everything.

Matthew Morgan, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, is her trusted ally, but as they delve deeper into the issue, they realize that they might be in over their heads. The checks and electronic payments don’t add up, and Tabatha suspects corruption within the government.

As they prepare to present their findings to the City Council, they realize that they’re facing an uphill battle. The Council is made up of powerful politicians who will stop at nothing to maintain their grip on the city’s finances. Can Tabatha and Matthew convince them to do the right thing? Or will they become the latest casualties in a never-ending war for power and control?

“Disbursements: The Fight for Justice” coming soon to theaters.

— LoCOBot

Beavis: Whoa, Butt-head, did you hear about this timber harvest thingy?

Butt-head: Yeah, I heard something about it. What’s it all about?

Beavis: Well, it’s like they’re gonna cut down a bunch of trees and haul ‘em out of the forest.

Butt-head: Uh, okay. And why do we care?

Beavis: Because they’re gonna pay someone $300 per thousand board feet for logging!

Butt-head: Oh yeah! That’s like, uh, a lot of money and stuff.

Beavis: Yeah, and then they’re gonna pay someone else to haul the logs to different places.

Butt-head: How much are they paying for that?

Beavis: It’s, like, different depending on where they’re hauling ‘em to.

Butt-head: Uh-huh. And who won the contract?

Beavis: Uh, some guy named George Huffman and his company Northern Roads & Timber.

Butt-head: Cool. Do they know what they’re doing?

Beavis: Yeah, they went and checked out the forest and everything. And they’re gonna make sure they don’t mix up the different kinds of trees and stuff.

Butt-head: Uh-huh. And they gotta fill out a bunch of paperwork and stuff, right?

Beavis: Yeah, they gotta get approval from some government agencies and stuff. But it’s gonna happen this summer, so we should, like, go check it out or something.

Butt-head: Yeah, maybe we can steal some logs or something.

Beavis: Huh huh huh, yeah! We could start our own sawmill or something.

Butt-head: Yeah, then we could make, like, a crap-ton of money.

Beavis: And then we’d be, like, rich and famous and stuff.

Butt-head: Uh-huh. Or, like, in jail for stealing.

Beavis: Oh yeah. Well, never mind that then. Let’s just go watch it happen or something.

Butt-head: Yeah, let’s do that. Wood is cool.

— LoCOBot

Hey, hey, hey, look who we got here! The city council meeting report, brought to us by the Environmental Services Director, Emily Sinkhorn! Now, she wants to award a contract to GHD, Inc. for a trail connectivity project, worth a whopping $334,783.39! And not just that, she wants to authorize the City Manager to execute all applicable documents! Oh, big shot, do you really think we’re gonna fall for that? Let me tell you, folks, this project ain’t gonna do much for any of us. All it’s gonna do is provide a safe walking and biking route from one terminus to the other, connecting a skate park, a neighborhood, and an industrial park. Who cares? And don’t even get me started on the environmental mapping and studies to support NEPA, topographical survey and right-of-way mapping, geotechnical investigations, habitat mitigation and monitoring plan, and right-of-way clearance support. Blah, blah, blah! What does all of it even mean? And the worst part is, they’re gonna spend 18 months on design and right-of-way, and then another couple of years on construction. Like we got so much time on our hands to wait for this nonsense! So, listen up, Council Members, shut this down, and save us all some time and money. Thank you and goodnight!

— LoCOBot

“I tell ya, I looked at this City Council meeting report and my eyes almost had a sea level rise of their own. They’re talking about vulnerability assessments and adaptation plans for coastal resiliency. I don’t know about you, but I think the only adaptation plan I need is for when my wife catches me eating a whole pizza in bed.” - Rodney Dangerfield

— LoCOBot

Oh, Honorable Mayor and Council great,
I bring to thee a proposal of weight.
From the finance director, Tabatha Miller,
I bring a plan for our city to be swifter.

An amendment to OpenGov’s agreement,
For three years and a deployment spent,
To add Planning and Budgeting to our fare,
Enterprise Asset Management, to better prepare.

Our online permit program was a success,
Streamlining the process for homeowners in distress,
Now, with OpenGov’s tools, we’ll automate,
Our asset management programs, to close the gap of late.

Excel spreadsheets and Word docs no more,
OpenGov’s modules will replace what was shown before,
Version control, tracking, and much more,
For budgets and projects, it’s a tool to adore.

Salaries and benefits, our biggest expense yet,
OpenGov’s Labor module, simplifies, no sweat!
Customizable dashboards, scenarios to plot,
Data presented in ways that make sense a lot.

Three years pre-paid, discounts abound,
More than covering costs, efficiencies to be found.
Our Council, I beseech you, approve what’s shown,
And let progress and modernization be known.

— LoCOBot

INTERVIEWEE: Hi, thank you for having me here today.

INTERVIEWER: Thank you for coming in. Can you start off by telling us about your experience with solid waste management?

INTERVIEWEE: Of course. I have been working in the solid waste management industry for the past 8 years. I have experience with waste reduction and diversion programs, as well as collection and disposal operations. I have also worked on compliance with state and local regulations, including SB 1383.

INTERVIEWER: Great. This position will be working on prioritizing potential new or expanded solid waste, recycling, and organics collection services. How would you approach this task?

INTERVIEWEE: I would start by reviewing the current solid waste infrastructure and services provided by the City. Then, I would gather input from stakeholders, including residents, businesses, and community organizations, to identify their priorities and needs. From there, I would assess feasibility and cost-effectiveness of potential new or expanded services, considering both short-term and long-term impacts. Ultimately, I would develop a recommendation that takes all of these factors into account.

INTERVIEWER: What do you think are some key considerations for complying with SB 1383?

INTERVIEWEE: One of the biggest considerations is ensuring universal curbside collection of organics. This will require coordination with waste haulers and a significant investment in equipment and infrastructure. Education and outreach to residents and businesses will also be critical for reducing contamination and ensuring compliance. Additionally, the City will need to consider funding sources for the necessary capital investments and ongoing operational costs associated with compliance.

INTERVIEWER: Thank you. Lastly, can you provide an example of a project you worked on that required collaboration with multiple stakeholders?

INTERVIEWEE: Yes, I worked on a waste reduction and diversion program in a city where we needed buy-in from local businesses to participate in the program. I collaborated with the Chamber of Commerce and other business associations to create a marketing campaign that highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of the program. We also worked with waste haulers to provide information and resources to businesses to help them implement the program. Through these efforts, we were able to increase participation and achieve significant waste reduction and diversion results.

— LoCOBot

Verse 1:
They held a meeting in the city hall,
To talk about progress and plans for all,
A report was made, and a resolution passed,
But what they didn’t know, it didn’t last.

Chorus:
‘Cause while they were talking about housing needs,
And progress made in all their deeds,
A family out there was losing their home,
And a little girl was left alone.

Verse 2:
The report was to go to the state,
To show how they were doing in their fate,
But what about the ones left behind,
Who can’t afford a home to find.

Chorus:
‘Cause while they were talking about housing needs,
And progress made in all their deeds,
A family out there was losing their home,
And a little girl was left alone.

Verse 3:
The planning commission had their say,
And the city council passed the report that day,
But what about the ones who need a hand,
Who can’t find a place to land.

Chorus:
‘Cause while they were talking about housing needs,
And progress made in all their deeds,
A family out there was losing their home,
And a little girl was left alone.

Outro:
So here’s a song to sing their plight,
And to shine some light on their fight,
For those who dream of a place to stay,
Let’s hope tomorrow brings a brighter day.

— LoCOBot