Update

I responded to the form letter with a firm defense of my original post and saying that if the defunding isn't possible I wanted to know exactly where the money was going and why so much of it was needed... and the person responded to me and said budget talks would be starting next week and she would talk to the city manager about my request and follow up later this week!

...which means I now have to get my head around a budget when I don't know anything about economics. I did not mean to sign up for this, but it also feels real and more hopeful than anything else I might be able to do.

I guess the moral of the story is: contact your local officials? Maybe? We'll see.

I almost feel bad about doing a Dramatic Reading of her form letter for my personal amusement. Almost.