The Domino Effect.

Well the recall has gotten under my skin. Regardless of my being on a Committee can I allow my rights as a citizen to stop my right to free speech.

So let’s start here.

First off the E.M.S. fund has been has been employing one of the worst financial management practices any business could do. It is called carry forward balance calculation. Where the expenditures of this department where allowed to rise above the revenue being generated and it was just carried over to the next budget year with no end in sight.

                So if you forget the 2011 budget year as that “Net of Rev/ Exp” total is not known but will be around $60,000.00 depending on whose figures you go by. The four known year’s total of $289,222.00 average out to $72,305.50 a year. Money taken from other services to support this department, which leads to a decrease in services as it raises the cost of doing that business/s.

                Not to mention $345,075.00 which seems to have vanished?

                Now I believe that over $60,000.00 of this missing 2008 fund money was found in this budget when it was learned that this fund was billed twice for extending the sewer, water, cable and electric for Hood River County. So that will change this $345,075.00 total.

                So where the rest of it? As there is your paid Fire Chief along with some gas money.

               

                The way I look at it is in 2007 management and Council, should have began studying Return on Investment, Return On Equity, Return On Sales, Return on Common Equity, Return on Capital, Weighted Average Cost Of Capital, Return on Capital Employed, Earnings Before Interest & Tax, Return on Invested Capital, Return on Net Assets, Return on net worth and many other performance measure tools business use to determine the health of their businesses.

                But that is not what happened here is it?

                So instead of taking corrective actions, management and Councils have let this spiral totally out of control. Look at the 2009 and 2010 budget years and that makes me sick.

                To have allowed this to roll over and over all the while telling we the people that there were no problems and this department was never over budget was unconscionable in my eyes.

                So do not fool yourselves or be fooled by others.

                What happened in budget, by this Council and what has happened recently you only have to look to the past and you will understand why it has all happened.

                It is called the domino effect!!!

                None of us like what has happened here, but it is the reality of the past actions and inactions that put us where we are. This Budget Committee and Council had no other choice.

                So now everyone wants to place the blame on this Budget and Council. Blame them for something other Councils apparently looking at this could not fix?

                Well all I can say now is you may have your signatures, but let’s see you get the votes as I have lot’s more to come. Because now you have to deal with the facts unlike your accusations without proof of any facts to base them on and those facts I have many of, so I wish you all the luck!

                   Do not be used by people who want your vote to keep the books closed!!!

                Cody