The League of Women Voters of the Claremont Area says discrepancies in city budget figures and positions
At Saturday's budget workshop meeting, Barbara Musselman, president of the League of Women Voters of the Claremont Area, alleged in a letter the city had discrepancies of more than $1.4 million and $1.3 million in their figures besides having different totals for authorized city positions.
According to Musselman's letter on the budget numbers: "First, the City distributed a document at the Budget Meeting on March 27, 2010, General Fund Budget History, "Adopted Revenues" for FY 2008-2009 that dos (sic) not match the "Adopted Revenue" for that year on page thirty-eight (38) of the official budget.
"In addition, the figure for FY 2009-2010 "Adopted Revenues" does not equate with that on page thirty-nine (39) of the official budget," according to the letter.
The 2008-2010 budget report (pages 38/39) shows a 2008-2009 figure of $20,726,260 and the 2009-2010 budget shows a figure of $21,490,970.
The March 27, 2010 handout shows a 2008-2009 figure of $22,133,260 and the 2009-2010 budget shows a figure of $22,862,121."
There was also discrepancies in the number of authorized positions in the letter.
"Next, the 2007-2008 budget showed one hundred and eighty-nine (189) authorized positions, the 2008-2010 adopted budget on page eleven shows a total of one hundred and eighty-four authorized positions," according to the letter. "At the March 27, 2010 meeting, a current total of one hundred and fifty-nine positions was announced."
Musselman's letter asked: "Why does the City not provide a standardized format that include sa chart summarizing departmental expenditures beginning with 2007 to the present and show the cumulative percent reduction in each department since that fiscal year?"
"It's basic numbers," Musselman told the council during her presentation.
Mayor Linda Elderkin afterward agreed with Musselman, and said the different number amounts undermined credibility.
"I'm unhappy with having an organization saying our numbers don't match," Elderkin said, addressing her comments to staff and subcommittee members.
Later in the meeting, city manager Jeff Parker said moving numbers around to solve budget problems, he mentioned the police department's not expanding its police facility, can cause the different numbers.
According to Musselman's letter on the budget numbers: "First, the City distributed a document at the Budget Meeting on March 27, 2010, General Fund Budget History, "Adopted Revenues" for FY 2008-2009 that dos (sic) not match the "Adopted Revenue" for that year on page thirty-eight (38) of the official budget.
"In addition, the figure for FY 2009-2010 "Adopted Revenues" does not equate with that on page thirty-nine (39) of the official budget," according to the letter.
The 2008-2010 budget report (pages 38/39) shows a 2008-2009 figure of $20,726,260 and the 2009-2010 budget shows a figure of $21,490,970.
The March 27, 2010 handout shows a 2008-2009 figure of $22,133,260 and the 2009-2010 budget shows a figure of $22,862,121."
There was also discrepancies in the number of authorized positions in the letter.
"Next, the 2007-2008 budget showed one hundred and eighty-nine (189) authorized positions, the 2008-2010 adopted budget on page eleven shows a total of one hundred and eighty-four authorized positions," according to the letter. "At the March 27, 2010 meeting, a current total of one hundred and fifty-nine positions was announced."
Musselman's letter asked: "Why does the City not provide a standardized format that include sa chart summarizing departmental expenditures beginning with 2007 to the present and show the cumulative percent reduction in each department since that fiscal year?"
"It's basic numbers," Musselman told the council during her presentation.
Mayor Linda Elderkin afterward agreed with Musselman, and said the different number amounts undermined credibility.
"I'm unhappy with having an organization saying our numbers don't match," Elderkin said, addressing her comments to staff and subcommittee members.
Later in the meeting, city manager Jeff Parker said moving numbers around to solve budget problems, he mentioned the police department's not expanding its police facility, can cause the different numbers.
Although I don’t particularly care for the League of Women Voters or Barbara Musselman, I have to admit they stick their noses into city business and ruffle feathers. Linda Elderkin is always unhappy about something or other, so do something instead of being a blowhard!