This is the spring of local government’s discontent. One week, city councils and boards of supervisors are searching for ways to reduce spending so their communities don’t run out of money. The next week, they are searching for ways to reduce water consumption so their communities don’t run out of water.

“Except the analogy is so poor, it’s the perfect storm,” Santa Rosa Mayor Susan Gorin told the City Council Tuesday, “first the budget, and now the water.”

A constituent watching the session on community television could be impressed that Gorin seems determined to keep the council – and her fellow citizens – moving forward despite the certainty of hardships. “We’re tough,” she said, “we can do this… I’m confident we will get through this.”