Recent stories in newspapers throughout the city have been stuck on the idea that the Mayor’s Office of Special Events (MOSE) will reduce the size and scope of summer festivals that have been summer highlights for a generation of Chicagoans.

The talk out of the MOSE is that as departmental operations budgets tighten and city faces a $650 million budget shortfall, something must be done balance the books.

MOSE said no “major cuts” are in the plans for summer 2011. At the same time, they said there are no plans yet for 2011.

This month, MOSE expects to have an open call for proposals from private companies that would seek to lease Chicago’s events calendar and run the program for the city.

MOSE Director Megan McDonald this week said the city would not expect to see final bid proposals until March or April ­— something she admits will cause problems booking acts for at least six huge music festivals, several parades and the summer festival anchor Taste of Chicago.

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has openly opposed leasing the Taste to anyone who will charge an entry fee. MOSE said if the offer was right, the city “might have to reassess its philosophy.”

Daley’s opposition to charging for the Taste leads to the possibility that a festival sale to the highest bidder will fall through, which in turn increases the probability that MOSE will have to throw together a summer events schedule on short notice and, in doing so, save money while being able to say that cuts to programs and events were beyond their control.

If the city were to hit a winner and lease the summer schedule, direct operational responsibility to the city’s taxpayers and voters for the success or failure of any one festival, parade or event would be passed on to a corporation. It’s akin to the much-despised parking meter lease deal.

All summer long Chicagoans report to friends and family, downstate and across the world, what they did over the weekend and sign off with those famous words, “Yes it was free.”

MOSE should keep in mind that, outside a world-leading business environment, nothing sells Chicago better than Taste of Chicago and the Chicago Blues Festival and the tens of thousands of happy citizens and guests spreading the word of a fun, world-class city by the lake.

As winter comes and people largely move inside for its duration, everyday Chicagoans will begin to focus on next summer and the 2011 city events calendar. MOSE would do well to keep those people in mind as they go forward.