The city is running out of moolah and must borrow to finance government operations in the last months of the budget year that ends June 30. The City Council Monday night authorized upwards of $110 million in borrowing, including $30 million to cover short-term operational expenses. Mary-Jane Foster, an exploratory candidate for mayor, says the Finch administration is playing a shell game with taxpayer money. From Foster:
Bridgeport businesswoman and social action advocate Mary-Jane Foster, who is exploring a run for office, issued the following statement on the City of Bridgeport’s need to obtain $30 million in tax anticipation notes:
“Bridgeport goes from one embarrassment to another. The latest is the Finch administration’s need for $30 million in interim financing until state education cost-sharing funds arrive. This shell game financing costs taxpayers at least $500,000 each year in interest and fees. Poor financial planning and management doesn’t begin to adequately describe how serious the problem truly is. The mayor’s reaction? “It’s money we throw out the window.” If the mayor knows that the state is late with its payments each year, wouldn’t it make sense to ensure that the City’s “Rainy Day Fund” has enough cash to cover the gap? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different response.
The need for gap financing proves once again the mayor has no coherent financial plan. His so-called strategy begins with a budget that has a built-in $8 million deficit, a depleted fund balance and requests to further delay payment on pension liabilities–to a non-election year, no doubt. He’s put City Hall and the City Hall Annex up for grabs in a sale/lease back scheme that, when examined, is just a mortgage. And he’s desperately trying to cut a deal to regionalize the sewer system. Both schemes would provide a one-time infusion of cash so the administration doesn’t have to do the tough work of actually managing a budget.
It is outrageous that this administration behaves so irresponsibly while the mayor tells anyone who will listen that he’s “the only mayor who hasn’t raised taxes.” Really? I’m still waiting for my $600 that he promised during the last election cycle then promptly reneged on.
Adding insult to injury is the addition to the City Council agenda after the deadline had passed. A request for $30 million in interim financing should not be presented to the City Council for immediate consideration. Planning. What planning?
He is running a $450 million government by the seat of his pants. Scary.
A game of 3 Card Monte is being played here. Show us where the money is and cut out the Full Monty.
If they are playing 3-card monte they are sorely in need of training. We are not supposed to see the “hole” card. I’d like to ask Mary-Jane if she’d stay away from quick-fix deals like the sewage plan? I do like her personally, but for that matter I like both Finch and Gomes “personally.” I was bought up to believe that in politics your “WORD” is your bond and right now only one has gone back on his of the three.
Hector A. Diaz // Mar 10, 2011 at 11:38 am
to your posting
Hector
I have a question for you, Hector. If I agree with you that your WORD is your bond, where do we go from there?
Are you talking about the City of Bridgeport when you think of people who keep their WORD?
Carolanne, in order to agree/disagree with me I would have to give you my word and then follow through or renege on said word. This hasn’t happened, yet. As a “CANDIDATE” my word would be to you and my constituents. As a “MAN” my word would be to you. What I expect from a candidate/man/woman would be pretty much the same.
My father taught me the most valuable thing a MAN owns is his word. It is a sacred trust not to be given lightly. My family & friends understand the magnitude of this oath. When this is betrayed your credibility is gone forever. Let this speak to the current administration and to all contenders. If you talk the talk be prepared to walk the walk.
The way Foster is nipping at his heels maybe his new name will be “Scaredy Pants!” Followed by his wooden soldiers Fraidy and Crazy Pants.
*** Enough with the statements, spring is around the corner & time is ticking; is MJF running or not? *** Let’s get this campaign party started right! ***
Great stuff MJF, you and John Gomes will bring back BPT!!!
It’s time to Spring Ahead with Mary-Jane Foster! We can’t afford to Fall Back on 9/13/2011 with Finch!!! Don’t forget to change your clocks and get your batteries charged this Sunday!
It’s time for us who are regulars to put our “time and money” where our mouths are. Within the next month Mayor Finch and his budget savants will deliver the 2011-12 message from on high. Then the Budget and Appropriations Sub-Committee gets into their major annual role.
At this moment the City Council Committee website indicates the following dates for B&A meetings before the end of the 2010-11 fiscal year: March 14, April 11, May 9 and June 13, 2011. Through separate notice I am informed the March 14 meeting has been canceled. Perhaps the Mayor and Council members will be traveling to Washington DC to advocate for local monies? I am not sure, but again it would be well for you to be aware of this activity, its purpose, and its expense, because if it is not being personally paid then it is coming from the $9,000 annual stipend for each of 20 Council persons that is financed by taxpayers.
Last year more than 20 budget review meetings were held. The minutes from those meetings create almost 150 pages of detail as the Council members present raised questions about budget details. It is a record worth reviewing and available at the City Clerk site, because the process will repeat itself this year, and the presence of interested taxpayers might in and of itself lead to a deeper probing of purposes for the coming year, actual results (or not) during the past year towards former goals, and actual expenses relative to budgeted may raise questions worth further exploration. It is not fun work but our reps have been doing it and the results are no longer palatable to a large number of voters. Change may actually begin to occur at this most basic level if you are there.
I happened to click on the City Clerk section to get last year’s schedule and minutes above. There is a title called “Committees of the City Council” that I clicked on. Its title refers to the 2009-10 Council which is incorrect but as I scanned it I noticed the creation of a “Special Committee on Redistricting appointed March 7, 2011.” I had not yet seen or heard that anywhere, but I am sure it will become important to some of the OIB readers.
Those of us who spend evenings in April 2011 attending the B&A meetings may wish to share impressions, notes, ideas, etc. It’s what citizen-taxpayers need to do to raise government accountability. It is one more part of the checks and balances that are critical to maintaining democratic governance and increasing transparency.
BEACON2 // Mar 10, 2011 at 7:52 am
to your posting
B2,
brilliant …
Don’t let us beg for your help in getting rid of this current Mayor, come on board … let’s paper this city with the kind of message that wakes up the 144,229 residents of this City.
We can put Bridgeport on the right track … using our talk and our walk …
Right?
Sorry MJ, Gomes CT Post editorial blows this away.
Pg. 15 today’s Post.
Great editorial by John Gomes.
2011 // Mar 10, 2011 at 11:00 am
to your posting
2011,
You don’t get it do you? This election campaign is not about “blowing away” …
2011,
I beg you to internalize one fact. John M. Gomes wants Bill Finch removed from office by the voters of this City.
He hopes his colleagues in this campaign want the same. John would really like to see the undeclared and/or the undecided Mayoral hopefuls to step up quickly and begin to deliver their message to the voters of this City.
It is imperative that the greatest number of people who vote in Bridgeport make their statement. There cannot be a 10% turnout on September 13, 2011. That’s what the DTC Chairperson wants.
Enough said.
Carolanne: The same can be said about Mr. Gomes. He has a few editorials in the paper and the rest has been put out there by you. I don’t mean that to be offensive. But we need to hear from the mayoral candidate, not his press secretary. If Mr. Gomes does become mayor it’s him I would want to hear from, not his press secretary.
The fire chief doesn’t grab a hose and put out every fire because he delegates that job to his men.
Bridgeport’s mayoral candidate does the same thing for the same reasons.
Delegating authority is a trait and characteristic of an effective leader.
town committee // Mar 10, 2011 at 12:20 pm
to your posting
TC
You’ve gotten more insight into a Gomes administration than you’ve had with previous candidates. This OIB arena has permitted me, as first his campaign manager and then as his spokesperson to reflect his thinking. Then he can do even more constructive things like make in-person visits and daily walking.
You know TC, you could talk to John anytime you want. You know this is a small City. You’re only 5 minutes away. I hope you aren’t standing on ceremony because you are welcome to come talk to John.
And I know you are smart enough to know right now that when John is elected Mayor, you will hear from him. So relax, TC. Haven’t you got a nice event coming up soon?
Carolanne: It’s all well and good he is walking and talking to people but I still have to wonder where your thinking ends and his begins. I am not of the opinion that John isn’t going to join the debates. I have in fact spoken to John on more than one occasion. I will say this, getting to read your opinions every day is fine but are you and John so close you actually speak about everything he stands for?
From carolanne’s post: “I beg you to internalize one fact. John M. Gomes wants Bill Finch removed from office.”
Remember that … he is running this campaign out of spite for losing his job.
Lake Forest Guy confuses spite with motivation.
Remember that.
It’s not motivation, it’s vengeance. Everyone here says if he gets in he’s gonna “clean house.” To me that sounds like an act of revenge. A little bit of cooperation goes a long way.
Spoken like the true political crony I know you are. Feeling the heat, are you? Don’t worry–no matter who wins of Gomes or Foster the broom cleaning will reach you.
If you do your job, there will be nothing to worry about. Gomes and his people are like Santa Claus. They know who has been naughty and who has been nice.
That is the advantage of Gomes’ CitiStat experience. He knows the players.
His ever growing by the minute team has knowledge of every city and Boe dept.
Lake Forest Guy // Mar 10, 2011 at 12:50 pm
To your posting
Lake Guy,
And your point is … the justified anger John harnessed to do something to change the way this City administration treats honest, intelligent employees is wrong.
Then you would be prone to criticize Mary-Jane Foster for harnessing the justified anger she feels from the treatment she received from this Mayor! Pure and simple betrayal. And you question whether these two people aren’t showing they are not to be cowed by the actions of an abusive person.
Lake Guy,
Over a dozen people have lost their jobs because of Bill Finch … not because they were incompetent, but because they were honest with their answers and competent in their work.
I had more respect for your thinking. This surprises me from you …
Carolanne: I agree with you 100%.
Local Eyes thinks Bangalore India, where they’re always anxious to speak English, is far more important to Bridgeport’s future than China, where they frequently insist you speak Chinese.
And that’s why I didn’t attend last night’s session at UB, organized by SCORE and MJF.
(wink)
Local Eyes, just once a post that makes sense. Please tighten up the screws on your aluminum foil helmet. BTE delegate this.
Eureka!
Am I the only one who’s thought of this?
MJF is to John Gomes what Hillary was to Barack Obama.
Let the discussion begin.
Maybe MJF should just fold her tent and go home.
Would that make our current mayor … Bush?
Clever observation, Hector.
I did not include Hizzoner in my calculation.
Nope. Bush held office for two terms. Finch is OTB!
The best thing of all is you can’t vote for either candidate.