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THE ROOT OF OUR PROBLEM AS I SEE IT!!!!
Several years ago, Mike Bowie recommended that the town do away with the elected Budget Advisory Committee. This was presented as a Charter change to the people and the people bought into it. This was done because the Elected Budget Advisory Committee had recommended NOT to accept the proposed Municipal budget.
Instead, the Town Council formed an appointed Finance Committee with the majority of the Committee members being former Councilors. Chairwoman Ward said at a council meeting that the reason the council did this was because these former councilors understood the municipal budget. This is a very accurate statement because for the past six years they have been doing nothing more than protecting the Police budget at any cost. These former councilors raided our Undesignated Fund until it is below the Charter recommended level.
These former councilors are the real reason that the town is in the financial disaster it is in. These councilors Mike Bowie, Lori Pomelow, Charlie Smith, Fern LaRochelle and Norma Wells are responsible for depleting the Undesignated Fund from three (3) million dollars to just barely over one (1) million dollars. These funds did not go into our roads or infrastructure; they went into the Police Department for “Toys for the Boys”; assault rifles to be used on Lisbon residents; and a communication center that costs the taxpayers approximately $500,000.00 a year.
I have clearly shown how this occurred on several occasions. The Town Council did not want to be challenged by the Budget Advisory Committee so they dissolved this committee and installed a committee that will always support the Police Department instead of doing what is in the best interest of the community. The Budget Advisory Committee was elected by the people and always had the best interest of the people at heart.
The real question is why I can find all these discrepancies in the system and the Finance Committee cannot. Why is Chief Brooks allowed to request Police vehicles be “purchased” from the council and then “Lease to Purchase” the vehicles? Once the funds have been appropriated they cannot be used for any other purpose without the council approval. This approval has NEVER been obtained from the council.
What good is the Finance Committee other than to support the Police Budget?
Larry Fillmore
Instead, the Town Council formed an appointed Finance Committee with the majority of the Committee members being former Councilors. Chairwoman Ward said at a council meeting that the reason the council did this was because these former councilors understood the municipal budget. This is a very accurate statement because for the past six years they have been doing nothing more than protecting the Police budget at any cost. These former councilors raided our Undesignated Fund until it is below the Charter recommended level.
These former councilors are the real reason that the town is in the financial disaster it is in. These councilors Mike Bowie, Lori Pomelow, Charlie Smith, Fern LaRochelle and Norma Wells are responsible for depleting the Undesignated Fund from three (3) million dollars to just barely over one (1) million dollars. These funds did not go into our roads or infrastructure; they went into the Police Department for “Toys for the Boys”; assault rifles to be used on Lisbon residents; and a communication center that costs the taxpayers approximately $500,000.00 a year.
I have clearly shown how this occurred on several occasions. The Town Council did not want to be challenged by the Budget Advisory Committee so they dissolved this committee and installed a committee that will always support the Police Department instead of doing what is in the best interest of the community. The Budget Advisory Committee was elected by the people and always had the best interest of the people at heart.
The real question is why I can find all these discrepancies in the system and the Finance Committee cannot. Why is Chief Brooks allowed to request Police vehicles be “purchased” from the council and then “Lease to Purchase” the vehicles? Once the funds have been appropriated they cannot be used for any other purpose without the council approval. This approval has NEVER been obtained from the council.
What good is the Finance Committee other than to support the Police Budget?
Larry Fillmore
1 comment:
When an elected committee becomes an appointed group, that is socialism. This is what they do in Russia. Our taxes go up because the former councilors are off the Council, but still want to put their fingerprints all over the bloated budget, ie., the police dept. Yes, our roads are difficult to navigate but God help us The police dept. has SUV's to patrol the roads. Give Public Works the money to do their job and subtract that money from the frivolous needs of the PD. Thanks Larry for all the investigative work you do. The taxpayers appreciate it.
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