No comment is even necessary -- action only! Here are some of this year's year-end financials from the City compared with LAST YEARS... Really, I am only listing a few, just to get us started...but you have to know DOWNTOWN, this is utterly ridiculous.
IF WE HAVE SAID IT ONCE, WE HAVE SAID IT TOO MANY TO COUNT TIMES, NO FUND IS ALLOWED TO BE IN THE RED.
December 31, 2005 December 31, 2006
GENERAL FUND $( 640,832.64) $( 1,595.512.40)
MOTOR VEHICLE HWY $( 473,374.34) $( 473,374.34) ????????
LOCAL ROAD & ST $ 197,828.48 $ 376,329.58
PARKS & REC $ 155,889.88 $ 180,582.64
LAW ENF CONT EDUC $( 633.30) $ 11,884.39
RIVERBOAT FUND $ 805,108.93 $ 1,276.938.35
RAINY DAY FUND $ 140,235.67 $ 25,354.19
DONATION $ 57,568.72 $ 82,710.67
I'll do more numbers later...but get this. Without a budget, and I'm printing some other minutes to reflect what is going on...we took in $867,196.02 with our NEW STORM WATER FEES and WITHOUT A BUDGET OR APPROPRIATIONS, we spent $725,627.99, leaving a grand balance of $141,568.03. (They are calling this Storm Water & Drainage.) Sorry, folks, that's just the way it is......
According to January Sewer Board minutes, the new Storm Water "billing office" will EAT 1/3 (ONE-THIRD) of all collected monies for ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. Somehow, I just don't see this as even close to the mark as to what, where and why this Board was necessary. I am just positive the EPA did not plan on this City SPENDING ONE-THIRD OF THE MONIES COLLECTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.... More to come later.
I seem to have gotten ill simply looking at just the General Fund...we went from $640.832.64 in the hole to $1,695,512.40 in the hole? This is something I don't even think I am physically or mentally able to challenge this Administration on. Some of us have worked soooo hard to get these books straight...it's sickening.
Now how much money do the candidates think we have they are so anxious to get their hands on? And the Chamber of Commerce wants $90 some thousand a year for the next few years...? WE DON'T HAVE IT.
More on the numbers later. I'm ill looking at them, realizing what they mean, and not knowing what we can do.
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3 comments:
Can one say more other than OUCH!
You have to know it is a lot more than OUCH! It's sickening. And reality has dawned on me today (because the sewer utility Audit is separate), can you even imagine what that Audit is going to reflect?
Yeah, OUCH just doesn't quite fit the ongoing indebtedness and illegalities we, as citizens, are taking on the chin.
The Sewer Bonds got me, too. I did have $59,520,863.00 in outstanding "Sewer Bonds". I somehow floated another $11,000,000 bond last year (which neither Susan nor I recall); retired a $1,869,379 bond; paid $3,174,310.84 in interest on said bonds; leaving us with a grand balance owed on Sewer' bonds of $74,678,063. I only had $65,602,878 starting this past year in debt. And, the sewers still don't work.
The words simply won't come at this point in time...I can't find the words. Violation of my trust? Violations of laws? Violations of Council orders? As much as I've tried as a taxpayer advocate -- violation of "my rights" as a taxpayer/citizen of this community.
Incompetence, maybe...Toooo many labels to choose from, wouldn't you say? From disgust to anger to -- well, let the chips fall where they may.
Thanks for reading. If you have a Tribune, the numbers were published yesterday in the legals.
We'll try and scan the whole durn thing in later. Right now, please allow me to "reel" while I'm standing on my feet -- don't seem to be too steady with the anger and frustration I am experiencing. Please forgive.
Don't u wish it was fuzzy math?
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