For at least several decades, Bainbridge Island has been known as a philanthropic community, including possessing a propensity to assist islanders who are in need. Whether that trait will continue during this economically difficult time remains to be seen, but up to now supply has come close to meeting the demand. But the real test is soon to come.

The city’s ability to fuel much of the altruistic engine on the island will continue to be seriously curtailed as it grapples with its financial crisis. Perhaps the organizations most in jeopardy are those receiving funds from the Health, Housing and Human Services Council, which funnels thousands of city funds annually to the agencies that help the growing number of people who are struggling these days.

The problem with the city during the last two years has been a reluctance to let go of what it has created. For example, many see the water utility as a city asset, rather than a basic service the city provides its residents. That’s because the water utility funds drawn from ratepayers at a rather alarming rate have co-mingled with the general funds on a regular basis, which, by the way, is a practice that the State Auditor’s office is now investigating with a perfermance audit.

That’s just one indication that Bainbridge finds it difficult to reduce its government’s size in order to avoid bankruptcy. Such action continues to be a real possibility as revenue continues to shrink and the city delays its extraction from many costly endeavors, most of which are not the current council and administration’s fault. Nevertheless, surprises keep happening and the city is reacting as if everything is going to be just fine.

It’s budget time, of course, so the ability required to keep the thin line between success and failure from being obliterated is getting a little more invisible these days. Let’s hope that those making the decisions realize there are many, many people actually depending on them to right the ship during the storm that is currently battering our shores.