tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677108722778516534.post7499529414894492530..comments2023-09-27T03:58:56.646-06:00Comments on Bessemer Opinions: Pay Up, BessemerJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10842576168520693461noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1677108722778516534.post-43674914981971644592007-11-19T20:31:00.000-06:002007-11-19T20:31:00.000-06:00The School Board should have received approximatel...The School Board should have received approximately $2.1 million from the City last February. That is the time of year when the city's tax revenues are at their highest level and the city is able to afford making such a large payment. The year before that, the payment was made as promised to the School Board. It wasn't easy, but then again, there were people in place willing to keep their promises and do what's right, even if it wasn't easy. Unfortunaely, those people no longer work for the City.<BR/><BR/>Now, the May Administration has reverted to the old, familiar ways of the Mitchell Administration, probably because they have the same people (or types of people) advising them, can you say William Bell??? <BR/><BR/>Seems that along the way May figured out ther old adage you scratch mine and I'll scratch yours. Sadly,while he and his buddies haver been busy scratching each other, they've forgotten to meet the city's obligations. No money for the School Board, no money for water line extensions to Alabaster, but plenty of money to buy everybody a new car, pay fees to high priced Attorneys & consultants, create boondoggle paving departments, etc. It is pure insanity and, worst of all, those who should know better sit back silently and let it happen.<BR/><BR/>The Council controls the Finances of the City, not the Mayor. The Council sets policy for the City, not the Mayor. But the Council doesn't seem to know what it's doing, so May and his high paid mouthpieces just keep on doing whatever they want.<BR/><BR/>Frankly, it may well be too late for this administration to recover. As everyone may recall, May loved to bring out in the campaign how he was saddled with a $1.8 million deficit when he took over from Mitch. A year ago, that deficit was paid down. But now, it seems like May is setting the next Mayor and Council up for an even bigger surprise.<BR/><BR/>Of course, he could always sell the Water System. After all, his attorneys are also the attorneys for the Birmingham Water Board and they've had their eyers on our water system for many years now. Yeah, that would solve everything, at least for the Mayor and everyone else benefiting from the proceeds of the sale. But Bessemer, we will have lost once again, and may, at that point, be lost forever.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com