Bing's proposed budget ignores the recommendations from his tax-funded consultants who said the council should be part-time without the benefits. Bing decided to keep just enough in the budget to keep the council full-time. Expect Bing and the council to agree on a lot in order to preserve their survival.

Bing's budget increases the deficit to $380 million at a time when the city should be rapidly shedding its expenses. But I expect the emergency manager, Kevyne Orr, to cut the council to part-time. He has the ultimate say over the budget.