Now we are learning that the city is so loose with our money that they have failed to collect over $21 million from the state. The state wants to pay us but the city has to do some paperwork.
According to this article in the Times:
The city of El Paso is in danger of losing millions of dollars in transportation project reimbursements after failing to submit the required paperwork to receive payment, according to Texas Department of Transportation officials.
TxDOT says the city has $21.3 million in pending reimbursements, but city officials disagreed, saying it’s closer to $9 million.
Difference
Based upon the city’s recent financial errors I know who I would tend to believe in this situation.
Even if the city is right why haven’t they moved immediately to collect the $9 million? Do they have so much of our money that they don’t care?
More debt is an option
I have been impressed with the way our new city manager and chief financial officer have been trying to fix the mess that their predecessors left us with.
This quote from the Times really makes me wonder though:
In the worst-case scenario, Sutter said, city staff could go before the City Council to request additional certificates of obligations, which are backed by property taxes but don’t require voter approval.
We can only hope that the quote was taken out of context and that our chief financial officer was talking about something other than collecting our $21.3 million.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
The city government has gone from draconian taxing to comedy. The elected are focused on political futures instead of sound policy.
It doesn’t take brains to spend money, it takes brains to balance a budget. They haven’t learned that. Look at the policies and look at reappointment of the problem to city controlled boards.
For one thing, we have to stop the idea that state and federal grants are “free”money. There is no such thing and all of us accept that fact, we will see a better government. Because then we learn to live within our means and taxes come from your hard work.
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Since the root causes of these problems clearly pre-date the current city manager, why does the El Paso Times refuse to lay part of the blame on the former city manager and CFO? Why is the Times unwilling to name names? At what point does the Times stop worshipping and protecting the previous administration?
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The real Danger is not loosing goverment money but the Governing not controlling the spending…MOM from Air is correct!
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“I have been impressed with the way our new city manager and chief financial officer have been trying to fix the mess that their predecessors left us with.” Please explain what they have done that is impressive???
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Helen, I didn’t mean to get myself into the position of defending failure. My point is that the previous regime left us with a mess, overestimated revenues, underestimated expenses, unpaid debt. The new guys have been remarkably candid about what they have found. Whether they change the outcome remains to be seen.
Brutus
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El Paso, It’s All Bull Sh..
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