Letter to the Editor from Gene Schweizer

Contrary to what was reported from Autumn’s minutes in last week’s paper, my comments were about actual fund performance based on the city’s revenue and expense reports as of Aug. 31, 2005, not the electric, water and sewer ‘budgets.’

From the reports you find the General Fund has spent more than $150,000 over real income. The electric fund is over $88,000 in the red. The combined waterworks and sewer fund has made over $63,000, yet not a penny deposited to show for it. And $151,248.85 was spent illegally on gas, as there was absolutely no budget authorization. Zero. The result of this illegal expenditure is charged against the other utilities.

Then you notice trash and utility sales tax payments are missing. Kathy worked with Autumn to get these two items accounted for in the reports, as they should be. So why has the clerk reverted to ‘off the books’ accounting again? Every penny of revenue and every penny of expense should be accounted for in the reports.

It should be noted that state law prohibits any spending over the amount of a fund balance, as is the case with the electric fund. The oversight to enforce this fiscal discipline is the duty of the treasurer as required by 79.300 and 95.365 RSMo. Why would any mayor disregard the law requiring the appointment of a city treasurer? The lack of oversight performed by the treasurer has cost the people of Gallatin millions over the years.

Thank you.

Gene Schweizer