Thursday, February 24, 2005 - Last evening the Nassau West Department of Administration approved the budget submitted by President Kelly K. Bartram. This proposed budget addressed the expenditure of funds received from the 2004 tax refund.

At the top of the list are a new washer and dryer for the laundry facility at the Capitol. Since moving into the Capitol in June of last year, all Capitol laundry has been done at the Benson Embassy. These new machines will make life a lot easier for Capitol staff and lessen the financial burden on the Embassy.

Next on the list of proposed expenses is a full-sized refrigerator for the Spread Eagle Saloon, which is currently under construction. A full-sized refrigerator was the option chosen over an under-counter model that had previously been selected.

As a result of this change, the Spread Eagle Saloon will boast of two beers on tap. The beers chosen for the bar are Dave's Electric Beer, from Bisbee, AZ, and a rotating flavor from the Helldorado Brewing Company in Tombstone, AZ. The new budget also includes a small microwave oven for the bar.

The National Security Council has requested and been granted funds from the tax refund for a paper/credit card shredding machine. This item has been on previous budgets, but has never been approved in the final draft. This year the machine will be obtained.

The final item on the budget is a 45-55 inch HDTV widescreen television for the President. Bartram said, "I don't watch TV very much, but when I do, I like it to be on a big screen!" His dream will come to fruition this year. Currently, the model and brand have not been selected, but it will probably be a Panasonic 47" HDTV-ready widescreen from Wal-Mart.

All remaining funds will be transferred to the Nassau West Department of the Treasury for disbursal to various Nassau West creditors, most notably for the President's Providian eBay MasterCard, which is currently near capacity.