In a Feb. 26 article about the need for repairs to the sewer and water systems and the potential source of funds, it was noted that the some of citizens’ payments to these two enterprise funds are being transferred to the general fund.
Councilmember Jim Berrios was quoted as saying, “I’m on the council and I’m still not sure where that money goes and that makes me nervous ….” Well, Councilmember Berrios, most of us can tell you where those funds go – to higher mayoral pay and debt payments on the ShoWare Center, to name a couple places.
What makes me nervous is Councilmember Berrios’ seemingly lack of fiscal knowledge in governing this city.
I think the City Council should first make the enterprise funds whole and stop siphoning off money like the federal government does with Social Security. Maybe then the city can pay for all of the repairs from the appropriate funds – supplemented with EPA grants/loans or low interest Public Works Trust Fund loans – with little or no impact to us customers. Then the Council can adjust the budget of the general fund to what it really can afford from its mainstay sources of taxes, fees, subsidies and grants. It would only be ethically right to do so.
– Ron Garrow
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