WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN, PENDING DEFICITS IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF FORT SMITH, AR?
December 1, 2014
Where did the money go? Is the alleged deficit a new phenomenon or has it been accruing over a period of time?
Nothing about the proposed 2015 budget meets the smell test and certainly does not favor the taxpaying citizens in any manner. The budget proposes more city government expansion and accompanied by maybe a dose of incompetence.
The Directors’ proposed cuts are cosmetic, meaningless…travel, entertainment, advertising, etc.
If City Manager Gosack and the Board were approaching the 2015 budget with citizen concerns in mind, they would tailor the budget to existing revenue streams.
Instead, the opposite: Bestow raises to employees without existing revenue.
Apparently they have toyed with Fire & Police pensions resulting in a shortage numbering in the millions. Why has a shortage occurred?
The application of the 1% street/sewer tax , while calling for more sewer & surface water taxation will bring the cumulative to 3 taxes for water & sewer—one old and two new. The 1% tax has been in effect for 29 years and generated hundreds of millions of dollars…where did the money go?
Up for a vote in May, the city is angling to divert 20% of the 29 yr old street/sewer 1% tax to a new massive unfunded program—Bikeways, Trails, Signage, Event Nodes, etc., as well as the Fire/Police deficit pension funds. And by the way, what is the cost & function of the Frontier NGO (non-elected) that has arisen from the ashes like a Phoenix?
Then there is the fluoridation of water in spite of citizens’ voted objections, and no funding to install and maintain except for a $1 million buyout of the F.S. Directors by the Delta Dental Insurance Co. Arrogance & hubris would you say?
The following is stunning. In your face private sector citizens. City employees’ pay raises could easily exceed 7%! E.g. 1% cost of living increase, 2 ½ to 3% or more merit and/or step salary increases, coupled to a 4% add-on cost for employee health insurance.
How many tax increases, diversions, and fees are they proposing and will get? For starters, a 25% increase in utilities fees, 4% increase in water & sewer rates, raise franchise fees 25% for telephone service, electric, gas, and cable TV ¼ %, and the possibility of the reincarnation of latent business license.
What is the cost to the city for Chief Lindsey’s membership and protocols from at least two memberships in international policing organizations?
What was the cost and the results for Gosack & cronies to fly to Dallas to renegotiate a pending EPA lawsuit that has been smoldering for 30 years pertaining to damaging sewer & surface water problems? And on the subject, where did the money go (1/2 of the 1% street/sewer tax dedicated specifically for that purpose)?
The possible illegal diversion of Fort Smith city taxpayer money to the fledgling “private” enterprise Marshal’s Museum. How much from city, county, & state, inception to present?
Why were there no cuts in or the abolishment of the yearly $250,000 dedicated to Mayor Sanders?
Then there is the murky Sen. Jake Files/city government softball complex deal.
Are the taxpaying citizens of Fort Smith, AR victims of a rogue city government?
Joe McCutchen
arkansasfreedom.net