confusion reigns

I am confused by the actions of a local resident. I dont know if his wife is a teacher or not, but he is apparently soliciting donations from the local community to make up for the coming cuts from the School Board. The School Board has realized that we are in a recession, tax revenues are decreasing, and there is a need to tighten its belt accordingly. Whether it is because it would adversely affect his wifes work (if she's a teacher) or because it could affect his kids education (or both) isnt clear. It COULD be very innocent and decent gesture by a guy who is just concerned about our educational system.
At the same time, somehow, magically, the City of MS has avoided the recession, has NO fiscal pain, and is ready, in his eyes, to spend MILLIONS of dollars on a new gym, incurring major debt to do it. He sees No recession in HIS future, as he has a lucrative bid in on the new gym project and will easily be able to pay the increase in taxes. He apparently has NO concern about the rest of the MS residents who WONT make a LOT of money on the project but WILL get stuck with the bills for the next twenty years. At the very least he appears self-serving. Both cases appear to be in the best interests of our community (good schools and a new gym) but it is not at ALL clear if that is all there is to it. If he truly believed that we are in a recession and need to tighten our belts he could see it applies to the City of MS too, and the new gym project is a polar opposite to that end. Can it be that he DOESNT believe that MS, and the nation, are in a recession? Can he be ignoring the four dollars a gallon, and still rising, gas? rising unemployment, especially in the construction industry? rapidly falling property taxes and revenues to the City? The City Manager's warning of "Draconian" cuts in the near future?
Or is it that he really doesn't care about all of that, as long as HIS pockets are lined at the City taxpayers expense? You decide.