Okay Class, City Finances 101

Bridgeport financial watchdog John Marshall Lee has produced the first of a series of YouTube videos about city finances. Check it out. He also pens his latest to members of the Charter Revision Commission:

I am John Marshall Lee, a 25 year Bridgeport resident and property tax payer, a businessman as well as a Board volunteer to many organizations in the region over the years. In recent years I have paid increasing attention to fiscal governance in the Bridgeport. Let me share a few serious concerns:

• about Charter language that is not followed by the fiscal administrators;

• by ordinance language created by the City Council for which no reporting, auditing or public info has been available during the Fabrizi and Finch administrations;

• with the budget preparation, watchdog and oversight process of the City Council sub-committee, Budget and Appropriations. The group has the Charter power and an annual budget to secure training, advice, and to request greater detail for all financial reports that come to them. There are also balance sheets, the Comprehensive Annual Financial Review and Management Letter, grants and capital accounts to monitor. As our only fiscal ‘check and balance,’ these other budgets must fall under their oversight or the City may consider a specialized Finance Board to do the heavy lifting for the citizen and then let the City Council exercise its power.

I have attended meetings of the City Council and provided copies of my comments for their five minute time allocation. There is no dialogue or response although these comments do become part of the public record. I have attended Budget and Appropriation meetings at which the public has no standing to speak, question, or comment. I have still submitted written suggestions for change and reform. I write regularly as BEACON2 about such City fiscal matters on Only In Bridgeport.

Recently I have commissioned a graphic artist to help me connect the dots of financial concern here in Bridgeport, to tell the story as I see it of Bridgeport Finances 101 to the public at Library locations. Many in attendance have been alarmed by the picture I present. They have told me to reach out to the larger public through current technology. I hereby submit my first YouTube presentation. More are in design and preparation.

You have been called to revise our Charter. I have been in regular attendance at your meetings and have petitioned in word and writing to address you. That has been unavailable until today, Wednesday March 7, 2012 when you scheduled your first public meeting. It was not published on the City web site or listed as one of your Commission meetings unfortunately. I discussed broad concepts with two of your representatives but not as a matter of public record. No one else was present.

In the past few weeks I have:

• watched the Mayor present his ideas on educational powers (and talk about accountability);

• seen the Chief Administrative Officer report changes he deems ready (without addressing any fiscal watchdog functions in Chapter 8 and 9);

• listened to the City Council President request that you not diminish Council powers such as they are, (but again he made no comments about the functioning of fiscal checks and balance or strengthening accountability process.) His final comment to you, is not contained in the Minutes of the 3-1-12 Meeting, but related to the City administration not having an “internal auditor” for many years. Budgetary narrative accompanying documents of this year indicate such an “audit staff” as part of “internal controls.”

• on the past Tuesday evening heard three education experts provide advice to you regarding an increase of Mayoral authority over education. You heard them tell you that community “history and culture” are critical to your structural change. History and culture would include a near bankruptcy 20 years ago, one party political control, low election turnout, a declining City unrestricted and undesignated Fund Balance, increasing City debt and obligations, an annual budget padded with unfilled and vacant positions creating more than $4 Million of uncounted slush funding in the current year, and more.

• heard Superintendent Vallas who embraces open, accountable and transparent functions and process for public education. I support that statement fully and many who have shared concerns about past BOE activity would indicate that it was secrecy about money and jobs, lack of transparent process and failure to be open and accountable that brought about Board gridlock and frustration.

There are good lessons to be learned and teachable moments if you will compare and contrast the material I present today and in the near future across the entire Bridgeport governance structure. Limited public opportunities for respectful sharing of information, including both telling and listening, creates a ‘dialogue sickness’ that increasing those opportunities can cure. I hope that you will work on this most immediate and necessary governance healing for this City, which may not be “increased Mayoral power over education,” if Paul Vallas develops his intended momentum of success. OPEN, ACCOUNTABLE and TRANSPARENT are the watchwords! Time will tell.

John Marshall Lee
March 8, 2012