Note: Gate City Musings, a column on City Hall happenings and other Nashua items, is published every other Monday. It is written by a veteran political observer whose identity is known to the editors but who wishes to remain anonymous, and breathing.

AT YEAR'S END, let's review what our city's parents (AKA the mayor and Board of Aldermen) have accomplished or not in spending our tax dollars. Here are a few of hundreds of examples:

. The mayor and aldermen increased taxes under the guise of using surplus funds, also known as "taxes and funds borrowed but not spent."

. Made front-page news in the New England media by floating the idea of a potential fine on aldermen when our leaders are not polite to each other.

. Authorized the expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars to a Tennessee consulting firm to improve our city's "image," better known as a "brand."

. Spent thousands of our tax dollars to upgrade city hall with technology to make our city officials more appealing on television.

. Approved $2.5 million to purchase a new downtown parking meter system.

And what of our school board, which finally got around to tackle a policy on the use of credit cards? You will remember that less than 10 years ago a previous administration's CFO uncovered many abuses by a former superintendent who thought things in Nashua could be handled like they were in Texas. She is back in the south, consulting, and Musings hopes someone there is checking her card.

Enough criticism - for this year anyway. But be warned that next year is a city election year and many of our incumbents will be tooting their horns and telling us about all the good things they accomplished. Ask them how much money they saved from our hard-earned tax dollars, and will they vote in lock-step with Mother Mayor and Big Mac when they ask you to foist on us another tax increase.

Musings has been wandering around Main Street the past few weeks asking folks what New Year's resolutions their elected officials should be making Tuesday.

One Main Street regular said "shut off the city television," and they'll concentrate on thinking of the taxpaying wage-earners rather than playing to the cameras. Another said we have too many unions in our city and each of them, aided and abetted by many aldermen, wants to outdo the others when it comes to raises and perks.

As for individual aldermen, one wag said that only four members (David Deane, Mark Cookson Barbara Pressly and Jim Donchess) really care about the taxpayers, while the others apparently are led around by the neck by the mayor and/or Aldermanic President Brian McCarthy.

Perhaps other aldermen, such as Dan Moriarty, Art Craffey, Paul Chasse and Kathy Vitale, might resolve to work more with the Deane-Cookson-Donchess-Pressly combine in hopes they will take more care of the beleaguered taxpayers than special interests. However, I guess that's too much to ask.

Let Musings know what ails you about and/or with our city government and what you think can be done better. Just email gatecitymusings@yahoo.com.

To all Nashuans and those who wish they were, please have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

We'll be back with all guns blazing next year.