Conservative Commentary/Opinion on Local, State & National issues. Hours 6am to 7pm to respond to comments
Monday, August 22, 2011
Another Red-Flag - Lake Worth Budget
Comment Up We can't let the Lake Worth Budget slip by...there are many red-flags. So name one or more that deserve further scrutiny. Let's help the Commission out as well as the Finance Advisory Board.
A friend wrote--place the entire utility budget on hold until a breakdown of the numbers is presented to a Utility Board, even if that meant that Bill (Coakley) and Mary (Lindsey) are temporary appointments to the FAB
I suspect that the amount of the Tie Line repairs will not go over $100 - $150K. Hell, you could reconductor the existing line for the $700K. This is simply another slush fund.
The entire electrical budget needs to be stopped in its tracks until Clay, Becky and Mulvey break the items down into material, design and construction dollars. This lack of detail would never be accepted in a real utility. Yet one more reason for oversight by a Utility Board.
All the new positions except for the Internal Auditor should be put on hold along with any proposed raises due to reorganization. The Commission should decide how to staff the Internal Auditor position, not the City Manager. Once the Commission decides if they want the IA to be an outside individual or a City employee, the CM should ensure the funds are available. No one currently on staff should be making any decisions about what is needed for the IA position - that is the Commission's respsonsibility.
Each proposed new position and should be extensively scrutinized. The same should be done for all the proposed position changes and associated pay increases. It appears the savings obtained by laying off/dismissing 70+ employees earlier this year are being used to fund these personnel actions. I thought we were a city in a state of FINANCIAL URGENCY.
Get rid of the conservation department. The City increased this budget by $500,000 and then turned around and give some pennies back to us on our electric bill in the same amount. It is BS. We are getting nothing.
The debt in the golf fund was to be erased when they took this department out of an enterprise fund. Why are debts of principal and interest still in the budget? What is depreciation that is reflected there? Why are expenses so high? What is Culture/Recreation? Does this include revenues for the restaurant? Why is this not on a separate line? Why is $393,776 in the budget for future capital use? What for and when will they use it? Why does the city want this asset to fail?
Ok, I have a question. We were told that when we recycled, that we would be saving a lot of money on dumping fees. We were to get back a percentage on recyclables. Where is that revenue reflected? How much? How much are we saving on dumping? And why is our solid waste going up when it appears that it really should be going down?
Explain why the capital outlay for stormwater is so high. What exactly are you going to spend nearly $2 million on? Is it necessary? What is non-dept Other?
It is too convoluted. No one can figure out where the slush funds exist. We couldn't do it with any budget. Now we have to pay for fire pensions in a special assessment and listen to Ed Frye saying this is justified. Give that guy a raise. That's another thing, all the raises. Change the job description in order to give raises. We sure are stupid.
I understand your good intentions here Lynn but it is the Commission that should be asking the questions. It should be the FAB asking the questions. Not us. We don't know anything about this stuff other than something seems totally wrong.
ask for resume’s and salary levels for all the departments, they can be compare to private or other municipalities to see how bloated and levels of experience, or lack thereof, that it is costing the tax and rate payers, they will be in for a surprise. LW has long been the laughing stock of Florida, they really aren’t attracting quality in most situations, yet they are paying high salaries for little experience, start there and question the level of competency at these positions. It needs to be exposed.
Anon 12:16 I applaud Lynn for this post and your post and everyone else...Obviously they are NOT asking the questions and since its money out of our pockets its about time we stand up and make sure that WE Protect our investment to the City and ensure that our funds are not being wasted...
There are so many with in our community that do have the knowledge on budgets, line items, expenditures and more.....
There is no way anyone can tell me that there is not waste of funds in our budget along with any governmental agency but when do we as the tax payers draw the line.
As I see it....No commission seat is safe at this point of the game and even though many of the mistakes are from past boards and commissions its on the shoulders of the current boards and commission to make the right moves.
When you inherit a problem that problem becomes your problem...Hope Stanton and this Commission realizes that.
Special College Park Neighborhood Association meeting tonight, at their regular meeting place, the First Congregational Church, 1415 North K Street. The meeting will start at 6:30 and last for one hour to discuss the new tax assessments we are all getting hit with. Get the facts. The Commission meets tomorrow to vote on this.
It's too bad that people are NOW jumping into the game at this late stage, when it's nearly too late to do anything else but tax and assess the citizens. All of a sudden it hits OUR pockets, and of course, everyone's up in arms. Wasn't ANYONE listening when it's been apparent for a while that it would all come to the citizens paying? Was it the job of the Commission to inform the public of what lay ahead? If not, then who? Does it all come down to the people of LW being more involved? What's the answer Lynn?
Anon 10:05, I might not be Lynn but I would like to chime in on your post. One I completely understand your frustration and concerns but want to point out that MANY people have been saying and warning this and past commissions of these same issues for several years.
The problem is that it falls on deaf ears. Where this commission and the past commission have stated on many occasions that they are concerned with the budgets and cost of living....they continue to make the wrong decisions.
Not on every issue but on the budget it simply is "the elephant" in the room so to speak.
More over the Commission formed the FAB and then proceeded to ignore their recommendations and as per Lynn's earlier blog we heard from the current chair who echoed exactly that sentiment.
To our commissions defense they most be under some sort of spell by the CM and continue to agree with what ever she says....It really is the same repeat of past performances by bad CM's but this one is REALLY bad...I'm not saying that she is not smart or not making tough decisions but I am saying she is Raping the tax payers while continuing to fund projects that can simply wait and the bill....Well is our bill to pay....and the commission is in same light as the old comic visual of an Ostrich with its head in the sand.
They are not even listening to us which is the biggest mistake of all.
I don't offer this with out a solution....We need to change this guard to a combination Commission and CM that understands the complexity of building revenue streams while maintaining our small town feel and concerns for the environment...and YES this can be achieved and has been proven in many other cities country and world wide. Grow business, maintain neighborhoods and reduce crime equals a reversal of falling property values and a healing for our wonderful city. That my friend is a simplified formula that needs leaders to make the right decisions to make it happen. I'm not that person but here is what I agree with your post...To late never but yes we need the right people to step up even at this point of the game.
A friend wrote--place the entire utility budget on hold until a breakdown of the numbers is presented to a Utility Board, even if that meant that Bill (Coakley) and Mary (Lindsey) are temporary appointments to the FAB
ReplyDeleteI suspect that the amount of the Tie Line repairs will not go over $100 - $150K. Hell, you could reconductor the existing line for the $700K. This is simply another slush fund.
ReplyDeleteThe entire electrical budget needs to be stopped in its tracks until Clay, Becky and Mulvey break the items down into material, design and construction dollars. This lack of detail would never be accepted in a real utility. Yet one more reason for oversight by a Utility Board.
ReplyDeleteAll the new positions except for the Internal Auditor should be put on hold along with any proposed raises due to reorganization. The Commission should decide how to staff the Internal Auditor position, not the City Manager. Once the Commission decides if they want the IA to be an outside individual or a City employee, the CM should ensure the funds are available. No one currently on staff should be making any decisions about what is needed for the IA position - that is the Commission's respsonsibility.
ReplyDeleteEach proposed new position and should be extensively scrutinized. The same should be done for all the proposed position changes and associated pay increases. It appears the savings obtained by laying off/dismissing 70+ employees earlier this year are being used to fund these personnel actions. I thought we were a city in a state of FINANCIAL URGENCY.
The CM needs to be told to stop spending.
Get rid of the conservation department. The City increased this budget by $500,000 and then turned around and give some pennies back to us on our electric bill in the same amount. It is BS. We are getting nothing.
ReplyDeleteThe debt in the golf fund was to be erased when they took this department out of an enterprise fund. Why are debts of principal and interest still in the budget? What is depreciation that is reflected there? Why are expenses so high? What is Culture/Recreation? Does this include revenues for the restaurant? Why is this not on a separate line? Why is $393,776 in the budget for future capital use? What for and when will they use it? Why does the city want this asset to fail?
ReplyDeleteOk, I have a question. We were told that when we recycled, that we would be saving a lot of money on dumping fees. We were to get back a percentage on recyclables. Where is that revenue reflected? How much? How much are we saving on dumping? And why is our solid waste going up when it appears that it really should be going down?
ReplyDeleteExplain why the capital outlay for stormwater is so high. What exactly are you going to spend nearly $2 million on? Is it necessary? What is non-dept Other?
ReplyDeleteIt is too convoluted. No one can figure out where the slush funds exist. We couldn't do it with any budget. Now we have to pay for fire pensions in a special assessment and listen to Ed Frye saying this is justified. Give that guy a raise. That's another thing, all the raises. Change the job description in order to give raises. We sure are stupid.
ReplyDeleteWe know they are (your red flag, Lynn) padding the budget but we don't even have a finance board doing anything. There is no oversight here.
ReplyDeleteI understand your good intentions here Lynn but it is the Commission that should be asking the questions. It should be the FAB asking the questions. Not us. We don't know anything about this stuff other than something seems totally wrong.
ReplyDeleteask for resume’s and salary levels for all the departments, they can be compare to private or other municipalities to see how bloated and levels of experience, or lack thereof, that it is costing the tax and rate payers, they will be in for a surprise. LW has long been the laughing stock of Florida, they really aren’t attracting quality in most situations, yet they are paying high salaries for little experience, start there and question the level of competency at these positions. It needs to be exposed.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. That is one area that The League of Cities can help us. They have all sorts of data on what cities pay.
ReplyDeleteAnon 12:16 I applaud Lynn for this post and your post and everyone else...Obviously they are NOT asking the questions and since its money out of our pockets its about time we stand up and make sure that WE Protect our investment to the City and ensure that our funds are not being wasted...
ReplyDeleteThere are so many with in our community that do have the knowledge on budgets, line items, expenditures and more.....
There is no way anyone can tell me that there is not waste of funds in our budget along with any governmental agency but when do we as the tax payers draw the line.
As I see it....No commission seat is safe at this point of the game and even though many of the mistakes are from past boards and commissions its on the shoulders of the current boards and commission to make the right moves.
When you inherit a problem that problem becomes your problem...Hope Stanton and this Commission realizes that.
I give up.
ReplyDeleteSpecial College Park Neighborhood Association meeting tonight, at their regular meeting place, the First Congregational Church, 1415 North K Street. The meeting will start at 6:30 and last for one hour to discuss the new tax assessments we are all getting hit with. Get the facts. The Commission meets tomorrow to vote on this.
ReplyDeleteI hope someone can give a detailed report as I will be at the Commission Budget meeting.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad that people are NOW jumping into the game at this late stage, when it's nearly too late to do anything else but tax and assess the citizens. All of a sudden it hits OUR pockets, and of course, everyone's up in arms.
ReplyDeleteWasn't ANYONE listening when it's been apparent for a while that it would all come to the citizens paying?
Was it the job of the Commission to inform the public of what lay ahead? If not, then who?
Does it all come down to the people of LW being more involved? What's the answer Lynn?
Anon 10:05, I might not be Lynn but I would like to chime in on your post. One I completely understand your frustration and concerns but want to point out that MANY people have been saying and warning this and past commissions of these same issues for several years.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is that it falls on deaf ears. Where this commission and the past commission have stated on many occasions that they are concerned with the budgets and cost of living....they continue to make the wrong decisions.
Not on every issue but on the budget it simply is "the elephant" in the room so to speak.
More over the Commission formed the FAB and then proceeded to ignore their recommendations and as per Lynn's earlier blog we heard from the current chair who echoed exactly that sentiment.
To our commissions defense they most be under some sort of spell by the CM and continue to agree with what ever she says....It really is the same repeat of past performances by bad CM's but this one is REALLY bad...I'm not saying that she is not smart or not making tough decisions but I am saying she is Raping the tax payers while continuing to fund projects that can simply wait and the bill....Well is our bill to pay....and the commission is in same light as the old comic visual of an Ostrich with its head in the sand.
They are not even listening to us which is the biggest mistake of all.
I don't offer this with out a solution....We need to change this guard to a combination Commission and CM that understands the complexity of building revenue streams while maintaining our small town feel and concerns for the environment...and YES this can be achieved and has been proven in many other cities country and world wide. Grow business, maintain neighborhoods and reduce crime equals a reversal of falling property values and a healing for our wonderful city. That my friend is a simplified formula that needs leaders to make the right decisions to make it happen. I'm not that person but here is what I agree with your post...To late never but yes we need the right people to step up even at this point of the game.