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DISCRETIONARY FUNDS EXPENDITURES
This is taxpayer money spent at the discretion of the councilmen without accountability. Once the money goes into the accounts of the councilmen, there is no annual budget, no annual report or annual audit. Unspent funds are rolled over and allowed to accumulate into the millions of dollars. Money given to municipalities, charities and organizations is done so without accountability. Guidelines do exist but they are ambiguous and largely ignored.
Discretionary Funds Spent July 19, 2007:
1.???
Funds were allocated from Council District #3 and Council District #7; however these expenditure details were not included on the written agenda. Alphonso Bradley made the motion but due to audio difficulties, it was impossible to understand the details of Mr. Bradley's request. The motion passed unanimously without discussion. Immediately after the meeting, FCCIA Chairman Licia Stone asked for the specifics of Mr. Bradley's request and she was refused this information. Mrs. Stone handwrote an FOI request to receive the information that was inaudible. As of today July 25, County Council is still withholding this information and will probably not release it until the 14-day requirement has elapsed. Clearly this is a breach of open government.
2. ???
Johnnie Rodgers made a motion to spend over sixty-four thousand dollars from District 1 (Rusty Smith) funds. The expenditure details were not include on the written agenda and Mr. Rodgers' request was inaudible. The motion passed unanimously without discussion. Once again Mrs. Stone requested this information and again the information was denied. As of today there has been no reply to her FOI request. When the information is received regarding this and the above request, it will be posted on the website. This is also clearly a breach of open government.
3. Horace Matthews Road
Mitchell Kirby (District #4) gave $135,128 of the taxpayers’ money for MBC stone and crushed asphalt for this road. The motion passed unanimously without discussion.
4. Howe Springs Volunteer Fire Department
Mitchell Kirby (District #4) gave $2,700.00 in taxpayers’ money to assist the Howe springs Fire District with the purchase of piercing nozzles for fire engines. The motion passed unanimously without discussion.
5. Hall Road
Mitchell Kirby gave $38,499 in taxpayers’ money from his separate Utility System fund for a proposed water main along Hall Road. The motion passed unanimously without discussion.
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