Search Results: Staggers

It seems the city wants their cake and eat it too. They want large reserves, unneeded infrastructure projects, and they want to raise our taxes;

For one, the audit shows that Sioux Falls has more cash on hand and more assets than the average of 10 other cities in the region.

Then why are they constantly gunning for more increases? More, More, More, that’s why.

Plus, Sioux Falls’ long-term per capita debt is lower than those other cities’ and still below the threshold that’s considered to be high.

Nevermind it doubled between 2006-2007, I guess that isn’t important. It mostly doubled because we took out a loan for a water pipeline that we ‘might’ have by 2012. That’s right kiddies, we are paying interest on something we don’t have or know when we will get it.  It would be like taking out an equity loan to get your roof fixed and after you paid the contractor he tells you he will be back in 3 years to do the repairs.

These are all welcomed signs indicating that Sioux Falls is making good decisions about its reserve-fund levels and long-term debt.

Doubling our debt to pay for something we don’t have is hardly a ‘good decision’. I have said all along, we should of signed a contract with Lewis and Clark telling them we will pay them IN FULL when the water starts to flow. And instead of paying interest on a loan while we are waiting for the water, we could be setting money aside for the project letting it gain interest in an account. But that would make sense? Wouldn’t it?

The topics of saving and spending have been particularly heated at times in recent years as residents and city officials debated whether to fund certain projects – and if so, then when.

There has never been anything ‘heated’ about it. Citizens tell the city they are spending too much money, they ignore them and cower to the special interests.

In addition, City Councilor Kermit Staggers is correct to point out that the internal audit didn’t include a review of the city’s capital budget, which tells the rest of the story about Sioux Falls’ financial health.

Yeah, when is that audit coming out? Never?

Of course, the internal audit doesn’t mean that tough public debate ever should disappear. And it certainly isn’t a license for city officials to begin spending out of control.

Too late, they have been doing that for the past 6 years.

First with the propaganda;

“We conclude the financial strength of Sioux Falls is excellent,” said Rich Oksol, the city’s lead internal auditor.

Sure. What Mr. Oksol doesn’t tell you is the audit only includes HALF of the city budget, the operational budget. The audit doesn’t include the Capital Improvement Budget;

Rocky Balboa psp But Councilor Kermit Staggers said the audit didn’t include a review of spending in the city’s capital budget, which is a separate budget from the general fund, which pays for operating expenses.

“It’s not indicating to the public the true cost that’s taking place each year,” he said.

 

Oksol responded that capital budgets are harder to analyze because they can have big swings.

The EXACT reason why it needs to be audited. More half-truths, and half-reports from the city.

I also got a chuckle out of Vernon BrownKnows comment about putting the audit on the city website;

Councilor Vernon Brown suggested the audit be put in a prominent place on the city’s Web site so that more people can see the results.

Hey, Mr. Wants to be mayor, it is on the website, how do you think I got the information for my blog yesterday? You would think someone in the telecommunications business would know how to navigate the city website?

More worthless legal advice from the city attorney

First Transit of Cincinnati is expected to emerge with a five-year contract to manage the multimillion-dollar bus system. The company runs the system now and will receive a management fee of $147,851 this year. But some city councilors say they are concerned that they haven’t had any oversight of the process and might never be asked to approve a new contract.

And of course Judge Grumpy Butt put his stamp of approval on the negoiations;

City Attorney Robert Amundson said he believes state law allows the city to keep the proposals confidential until after contract negotiations are finished.

“They’re confidential because you don’t want to disrupt getting to a contract,” he said. “Once you get to the finality of a contract, it can be released.”

 

It’s unclear whether the council will approve the contract. Amundson said he thinks the city charter allows the mayor to sign the contract without council oversight.

“I suppose there could be a disagreement on that,” Amundson said.

 

“If someone had a dispute, and they wanted a review, I would have to look at it,” he added.

So what you are saying is, you don’t know and don’t want to do your job and look into it? Kinda of sounds like another issue you refuse to address when it comes to petitions . . .

Then Kenny points out the obvious;

“There were issues last year that cost the city a lot of money,” Anderson said. “We represent the citizens of this city, and I think we should have been more involved.”

Obviously Kenny hasn’t been let in on the big secret, the councilors are powerless due to the unconstitutional Home Rule charter.