The city’s chief financial officer (some say chief fibbing officer) is scheduled to make a presentation at the February 11, 2014 city council meeting.
The topic? “1st Quarter Budget Report”.
Not good news
According to her presentation that was posted with the agenda, sales taxes for the year will fall short of budget by 3.39%. Fines collected will fall short by 5.38%. Property taxes look as though they will come in almost one-half percent above budget.
Residential building permits look as though they will fall short of budget by 14.95%.
Property taxes are a reflection of what has already been built and taxed. Building permits and sales taxes indicate current economic activity and they show that our local economy is not doing well when compared to what they budgeted.
Limited
She does indicate “Projections based on limited information”.
Limited particularly in truth. Her presentation does not say anything about the shortfall in hotel occupancy taxes. See More shortfalls for that dose of bad news.
The presentation indicates “Based on limited information, revenues will under perform by $3,635,006“.
Information may be limited but the six dollars is intended to convey accuracy I guess.
What to do
They plan to cut expenses. Actually they will do that right after adding one million dollars to the city attorney’s budget. Evidently suing the Texas attorney general and whoever else they don’t like is getting more expensive.
Fire and police will take the biggest hits at about half a million dollars each.
No growth
Her report tells us that total employment in our area was 300,176 in 2012 and is down to 296,226 in 2013. We evidently sold 466 new homes in 2012 and 386 in 2013.
Trust me
I suppose her presentation might end with “Trust me–this time I know what I am talking about”.
You can see the whole report here.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
She has her hands in two of the largest taxing entities in the city: EPISD and the City. Apparently Rick Perry thought enough of her to put her in the EPISD Board of Managers!
But who cares, she is also in the Charlotte’s Furniture commercials on KCOS and that makes everything ok!
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A city official appearing in a for-profit advertisement also raises questions. A more prudent person would not have done that. Her decision to do so is a clear signal that she is focused on building her personal brand awareness and name recognition in anticipation of entering politics.
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Consider that the furniture store in question is owned by our congressman’s mother.
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I just remember the stadium kool-aid presentation. You know, the one that said it would cost $50MM.
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Decimal points are in financial report to show that CPA’s/ CFO’s types have a sense of humor 🙂
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