As the city of Neosho works through the financial issues before us, it is important that we all have a clearer understanding of what actually caused this problem in the first place. I’ve had a number of people ask me things like:
- Was it one thing that caused this?
- Were we spending too much money?
- Was the money stolen? (by the way, the answer is NO.)
- How could this happen?
- Where has the cash gone?
Over the next few days, I’ll be sharing with you some hard facts and specific “public” information that goes a long way to explain the why’s and how-comes of our financial situation. I can assure you the monies were not “stolen” or “embezzled”. I am confident of that. But the reasons behind the financial issues are complex. I’ll do my best to break them down and keep the explanations as simple and direct as possible.
this is highly unusual for a public official to release information on a personal blog when this information is of such high interest to the public.
ReplyDeleteHave these findings been released to the press? Is this a proper thing to do with public information?
The press has not done anything to look into any of this. They have the same access to public information that Richard does. They choose not to take this on. At least we can get it somewhere. You can't seem to get it from the city manager because as he has said many times, that is not his job. I am glad at least we can get it somewhere, I don't care where it comes from as long as it is the truth. Which I trust Richard will give. If you don't like it being on a blog then go to an ED meeting as they get more information than the council does.
ReplyDeleteDavid Holley
Anon:
ReplyDeleteLet me start at the bottom. Yes - the press has all of it. You have very likely read most of it in the paper already. But putting it together in one spot makes it easier to understand (at least I think so.)
Is it proper? Well, I'm not sure what you mean by proper. What has happened IS what happened. Explaining it to the public doesn't bother me at all. I'm not alleging anything, acusing anyone, or pointing fingers. The public knows the city is hurting - shouldn't they have an understanding of why vs. creating their own answers with limited information that may result in mis-truths or inaccurate beliefs?
As to being "highly unusual", personally, I wish there was more if this at all levels of governmemt. It is, after all, PUBLIC money that is being spent. If letting the people know how their money is being spent is "unusual", then we obviously don't share common views about the role and duties of being an elected official or a government in general.
To be clear, my comments are just that - mine. I don't speak for the council or the city of Neosho. But facts are facts. As long as they are presented accurately, why the concern? Politicians at all levels of government give opinions and state their views on issues everyday.
Richard, I am certain you are totally convinced that our City Employees are honest and would never take any of that money, however, we are talking an awfully lot of money being moved around and not all of us are as certain as you are that some of it did not stick to somebody's fingers.
ReplyDeleteThe most likely scenario of "lost" money would be in the form of kickbacks....no one, surely, is stupid enough to try and steal it outright...but with all the "consultants" we have hired that no one seems to know, the potential for kickbacks seems most obvious. "I pad my bill 20% and then I take care of you for getting me the job."
ReplyDeleteI have no way of knowing anything like that happened, but it would seem the most likely way to"lose' money.
Guess we don't get to get hear the "facts" after all.
ReplyDelete