Unplanned Over Commitment
On Good Morning Ulster and Talkback I bottled out of explaining exactly how Sammy Wilson is getting his extra money. I mentioned that it was partly down to greater efficiency in collecting the rates, and partly to the impact of changes in inflation on the expected rate rise.
But I added that for a more detailed explanation I would need to be an accountant, and my audience would need to be accountants as well.
I'd been faced with translating the following paragraph into English:
"the introduction of a measure of overcommitment - in response to the removal of our EYF facility by the Treasury. I feel we need to re-introduce this "self help" measure to maximise spend across the Block."
Afterwards a party adviser chided me for bottling out, insisting that overcommitment should be an easy concept to explain to radio listeners.
However it was only a few moments later it crystallised in my mind. A Finance department official stood behind me in the queue for the Stormont canteen. He tried to pay for his fish supper but found he didn't have enough change. I offered to bale him out. Instead he negotiated a stay of execution on the bill until he could visit the cash machine.
There it was. An unplanned overcommitment, with a willingness to find the cash at a later stage - the guiding principle for our final budget.
P.S. Good luck to the official in question - he is running a half marathon at the weekend. After the budgetary process it should be a doddle.
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