Where's All The Money Going In Lisbon

HOW ARE OUR TAX DOLLARS BEING SPENT???? – PART 1

This town council is trying desperately to keep the truth from the taxpayers of Lisbon as to how the council is spending our tax dollars.  I do not know about you but if you are taking my money, I want to know how you are spending my tax dollars?  I do not mind paying my FAIR SHARE in taxes but when the town continues to raise my taxes and then does not provide any answers as to why, I become concerned. I am like most people and I have worked hard for my money and want to know how my tax dollars are being spent correctly.

Almost six years ago, $32,500 of our town funds were issued to a company that did not exist.  The reason provided was because there was no checks and balances within the system.  According to the council this has been changed.  However, our police department could not conduct an investigation to determine responsibility for the loss of these funds.  March will be six years later and the money has not been returned nor has anyone been convicted.  Instead of receiving monthly or quarterly updates, the citizens remain in the dark.  Why do we have to beg for information on the status of our money?

 Current Economic Director Scott Benson

Currently, there are eight outstanding loans under the Revolving Loan Program.  This is the same program in which the $32,500 was issued.  Of the eight loans, three loans are past their completion date and two are out of business.  Prior to these loans being approved, collateral was put up to secure the loans.  What is the town doing to recover the collateral for these loans?  Why are the people not informed on the progress of recovering these funds?

 Councilor Cote

Councilor Bickford

 

Several years ago, Councilors Roger Cote and Roger Bickford asked the people if they wanted to vote on the municipal budget by departments.  The overwhelming response was YES.  So these two councilors presented this to the town council.  Councilor Bowie kept putting these two councilors off until 2011 when the council placed the question on the ballot and 2025 people were in favor of voting on the municipal budget.  One would think this would be enough for the town council to go ahead and make the necessary changes .  

 However, this did not happen because Councilor Bowie talked the council into going with a ridiculous Charter change.  The people spoke out again and said this is NOT what they wanted so it never went on the ballot.  But what it did do was delay the people from voting on the municipal budget for another year.  Now since September 18^th, this council has made no attempt to work on this for the people. 

  Come to find out, this council has no intension of doing anything on this issue.  If the people want this to happen they are going to have to do a “Citizens Petition” to force the council to do what the people wants.  I believe it would be a waste of time to go this route; instead I believe we should do a “Citizen Petition” to revert back to the Town Meeting form of government.  We deserve to be represented by people who listen to our concerns and do their best to make the wishes of the community come true.

I personally brought up to the town council that LaRochelle Properties, LLC had been receiving a “Homestead Exemption” illegally for the past 14 years.  This means someone else has had to pay their taxes to make up the difference.  Since I brought this up, the council has not provided an update as to if LaRochelle Properties, LLC has paid back the past due taxes owed to the town.  Every time I bring this up the answer is the same “We are working with the state”. 

 Council Chairman Fern Larochelle

I do not understand this answer; they owe 14 years of back taxes regardless who is at fault and should be paying this money back to the town.  Remember when the town screwed up Councilor Cote’s excise tax and the town got the Sherriff’s Department involved and forced Councilor Cote to pay for the towns mistake.  So why isn’t Chairman LaRochelle reimbursing the town for back taxes owed?  What sets Chairman LaRochelle above the law and any other citizen in Lisbon who owes back taxes?  Why doesn’t the town manager brief the update on this issue?

At the last town council meeting, the Auditor briefed the town on the results of the yearly audit.  One of the major issues he stated was there was a “large write-off of tax receivables” during 2012.   This is the first time I heard about this and I attend almost all town council meetings.  ONLY THE TOWN COUNCIL CAN WRITE-OFF ANY AMOUNT.  So why are we hearing about this from the auditor and not our town council?  At all of the meetings I attended this issue was never discussed and no vote can be taken in “Executive Session” so WHEN did this happen and WHY? 

Apparently, there is so much going on the people of Lisbon are never informed about.  The town council represented the people of Lisbon and is suppose to answer to the people.  Well, we are asking and the town council is not providing any answers.  It is apparent this form of government is not representing the people of Lisbon.  These issues I have brought out in Part 1 need to be resolved and the people have the right to be kept informed as to what is going on with our tax dollars.

Larry Fillmore

Concerned Citizen