Will the firings of 25 PTC employees save the budget? The answer is a resounding NO!

Few are aware that this budget deficit that has been discussed to death was a direct cause of the overspending and mismanagement of funds by our elected officials and the city manager. The budgets were out of balance for the last two years, but were not reflected that way.

Upon performing a closer look, we were able to locate where, in FY 2007, $852,536 was taken from the city’s reserves to make the budget “appear” balanced. This happened again in 2008 to the tune of $1,146,962, again, making the budget “appear” to be balanced.

This allowed the council to go on spending money that we never really had and now to call the FY 2010 budget $3.5 million out of balance.

From where I sit, $1,999,498 of that figure is a direct result of incompetence.

Last council meeting we asked the hard questions: Why terminate 25 employees to save only $840,000, when the council and mayor will be doubling their income on Jan. 1, 2010. We are buying 5 new police cars; the ones we have are over-mileage due to the practice of them being taken home nightly at an extra cost for gas and insurance. They could have been parked at the public works building, which is locked and secured.

How will the police department having SUVs make us safer? What renovations does City Hall require that will cost $47,500?

Why fire people, cut services, and raise taxes when $60,000 is spent on fireworks for the 4th of July and even more will be spent for the city’s 50th anniversary party?

And most of all, why can we not make our budget work when nearby cities are not only making theirs work but also have not had to furlough or lay off any employee?

Keep in mind this was asked Feb. 5, and I have been told in an email from the mayor that he has staff working on the answers and hopes to have the answers to me by Tuesday, Feb. 17.

It only took two women a few days to read the budget and come up with the questions. Why then does it take a staff the better part of two weeks to answer them?

I think that the answers should be easy ones, if there is nothing to hide.

I am asking anyone that also wants to know the answer to these questions and any others to be at the council meeting on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, and to also email your council members and mayor and even the city manager.

It is your right to know. Ask the hard questions.

Jeanie Etheridge

Peachtree City, Ga.