Last year it took four votes to pass the budget and each time the budget kept getting depleted to what I thought was a dangerous point. I'm very happy to say the vote passed the first time out.

When we examined budget issues last year, we realized if we kept going the way we were going, we would have to increase taxes 28 percent over four years and we had to look at ways to compromise.

They were great. We have been depleted all year, we didn't have all of our guys, but we didn't quit and it showed.

We spent four weeks discussing a one-year deal and drawing lines in the sand. Then it took an hour to get a multiyear (deal) done.

Our budget on an annual basis this past year is $660,000. We currently have expended $400,000 over that budget.

Ed took an interest in Maurice last year and did a lot as far as getting him to practice before the season,