Be Very Careful What You Ask For


The Tolstoy version of the March 6th Regular Commission Meeting has been published on the City's website. Today we'll look at one of the Second Readings under Public Hearings - Ordinance No. 2012-13, amending the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget.

Among other things, this is the budget amendment that "funds" the infamous third leg of the Beach  Re-development Project, the Casino Re-Something Project and the Beach Infrastructure Project.

This budget amendment was passed unanimously on First Reading when it appeared before the Commission on February 21st with 31 pages of back-up material including a fund by fund breakdown of what's being transferred in and transferred out. For the Second Reading, there is no back-up other than the ordinance itself and a repeat of the same staff memo.

Keep in mind, and I know you will, the Commission just met on February 28th and voted unanimously to approve spending $1,712,591 more for the Beach Re-development Project. That's over and above the $5,000,000 in County bond money. That unanimous approval did not come without a lot of chatter about how in the hell the water, sewer and electric upgrades absolutely essential to constructing these projects, escaped anyone's attention when the Beach and Casino projects were designed. 


Anyone would think that a City with it's very own Water and Electric Companies would sorta have those things on their radar! So chatter they did, but that was all and now the $1,712,591 has to come from somewhere to give to Morganti and here we are.


I suppose the Commission MIGHT be forgiven for overlooking the missing costs of the necessary beach infrastructure because after all, it was included in what the County said the County bond money would pay for. And I suppose the Utility muckity mucks and the Beach and Casino Staff Project Manager MIGHT be forgiven for not bringing these costs front and center to the Commission's attention - but what am I saying? They were absolutely forgiven. 


"Nos absolve vos. - Publicus persolvo!"

or - "Don't worry about it Staff, the Public will pay!" And pay we will; for the deception, the incompetence and the double talk run around. We will pay with reductions in capital improvement projects throughout the rest of the City and mark my words - we will pay with new and improved rates for water, electricity and sewer service when the new and improved rate study for next year rolls around on a Commission agenda coming soon to a meeting near you.

And we will so so so pay when NONE of the recommended studies and work to prepare for the new and improved power supply have been implemented before that drop-deadline.

But worry not, you worthy Citizens in the land of Lake - Campaign season is right around the corner and you will be regaled with tales of how the incumbents have all single-handedly "Saved the Beach", "Preserved the Historic 1921 Casino building",  and "Brought our fair City to the forefront of environmental consciousness on Planet Earth". 

No one and I mean NO ONE on the Commission will need to be reminded to turn up for the Lake Worth Beach and Casino Grand Opening photo op nor will they need Staff to provide reams of back-up to find just the right phrase to plaster on re-election campaign litter. 

The Public asked for accountability. They promised accountability. We got what we asked for and what they promised. We, the Public, are being held accountable.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Pocket God Episode 44 walkthrough

Torchlight 2 Armor Tier Pictures for All Classes

Torchlight 2 Engineer Summoner Build Guide