From the Bridgeport Public Library:
Mayor Bill Finch will hold the second in a series of public budget presentations at the Black Rock Branch Library, 2705 Fairfield Avenue, Wednesday, April 11th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
According to Mayor Finch, “We want to increase the transparency of our budget process so that every citizen who is interested in the process can learn more about how our city budget is put together.
“In these tough fiscal times, it’s ever more important to give citizens an opportunity to learn how their dollars are being allocated.”
This program will be repeated at the North Branch Library, 3455 Madison Avenue April 24th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.
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This should be interesting. The mayor will be in BR discussing his make-believe budget. I hope he can explain some of the hidden budget items we have found in our first look through the budget.
There will only be a chance to learn when there is no lying about the numbers. What’s going to change transparency this year when every year so far has had a SHERWOOD curtain of deception and deceit when it comes to explaining the City budget?
The only allocation the citizens of Bridgeport are going to know about are the tax dollar allocations from everyone’s wallet.
The Finch/Wood administration just can’t wait to get their hands on the BOE dollars …
Watch out for this dog and pony show folks … it should be a Barnum classic!
Hey CC, is Finchnocchio at it again?
www .youtube.com/watch?v=hJ3lxzuI_sc
And now for my next trick … it’s the disappearing multi-million dollar debt in Bridgeport!!!
PRESTO!!! All gone.
Oh by the way … time to give raises here at City Hall.
No, it is not the debt that disappears on Monday evening. It is the Mayor who disappears magically by announcement today, only to reschedule for Wednesday April 11 at Black Rock Library. Two more days to prepare the questions that need asking … and expect full answers. How about the “ghost positions” that have flowered in the past two years’ budgets and have been passed by our Council persons without comment??? Where do the dollars appropriated for the many vacant slots get spent???
Lots more to question, but why prep the Mayor for this “open-book test.” The Mayor’s Office is only too aware of comments on Only In Bridgeport because they have fallen in line this year with monthly reports of revenues, expenses and variances instead of sending them when they wish, and calling them “quarterly” reports, like they did for eleven months in 2011. And they eliminated specific language from this year’s budget narrative about having an internal audit staff, which we reported as been untrue for four years or more.
Lots of untruths to come home to roost. Perhaps we can ask and discover how the Mayor defines “accountable.” It sure doesn’t seem to be green. Time will tell.
*** This budget increase was forthcoming after the Mayoral election, no? Cost to run the city, city’s legal debts, less incoming revenue along with the Mayor wanting more control of the BOE with claims Supt. Vallas is turning things around means he must play the political hype game of giving up more benjamin$. His past deals with the unions and workers’ salaries also needs more funding along with catching up with the city’s pension contributions. And let’s not forget all the election year PD and BFD overtime that’s way over budget! And last but not least, the power to give political jobs and salary increases without the full council’s approval. *** FORGETABOUTIT ***
After flatly declaring “Democracy doesn’t work … in all cases” and then dissolving the school board, now Finch is on record saying Bridgeport’s school system is the worst in New England. Gee Mr. Mayor, you only realized that recently?
*** Time to get out of Dodge, no? Taxes, crime and cost of living in general keep rising in Zombieland and all city government can say is, “no need to complain, it could be worse!” *** FORGETABOUTIT ***