Can Mike Do Simple Math? Or Was LMT Reporter Wrong? Either Way, Where Are The Editors?

So, when does 10% of $12,000,000 equal $10,000,000?  I know, I have heard of "new" math and all, but come on, percentages are percentages no matter who uses them.  I am hoping this was a typo, or at a minimum a misunderstanding between the reporter and the councilman.

If it was not, then what does that say about a councilman who is supposed to sit in review of our $435m city budget? 

Of course this mistake could clear up a lot of things.  Like, why the school districts were in such an uproar over the possibility of losing up to 10 percent of the school budgets during the last legislative session.  Mike you know works at UISD in the administration.  Maybe they thought they were going to lose 10% of their budget, which is around $230 million.  Maybe they thought they were going to lose $192 million.  No wonder their hair was on fire.  Well, let me assure you that 10% of $230 million is only $23 million.  At least in Missouri it is.  That is where I went to school.

So, either LMT editors, or reporter Kreighbaum, or Mike, please review your math flash cards for percentages.  We don't want to over excite anyone in thinking there will be an additional $10 million in the city budget.  However, $1.2 million is nothing to sneeze at, so let us know the cost that Chevron will charge and give us the real net savings number soon.


A small portion of the article as it appeared in the Laredo Morning Times:

Council eyes licenses for contractors

By Andrew Kreighbaum
Laredo Morning Times

Published: Tuesday, August 2, 2011 6:08 AM CDT

Chevron will also guarantee projected savings to the city in a potential contract, making a “no risk” situation for the city, Villarreal said.

Councilman (Mike) Garza said the city has a utility bill of about $1 million each month.

“If we generate even 10 percent that’s $10 million dollars” over a year in savings, he said.