{"id":529,"date":"2013-03-28T14:59:51","date_gmt":"2013-03-28T18:59:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cuttothechase.live-website.com\/?p=529"},"modified":"2014-10-24T14:10:55","modified_gmt":"2014-10-24T18:10:55","slug":"does-it-really-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cuttothe-chase.com\/?p=529","title":{"rendered":"Does It Really Matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GC\"<\/a>On March 20, 2013, Fox 5 news in Atlanta (and apparently, a number of FOX affiliates across the country) aired a story by investigative reporter Dale Russell dealing with repeated court actions by creditors who are attempting to collect payments on Kelly Kautz\u2019s long past-due debts. The latest activity involves a garnishment against her mayor\u2019s wages, which are paid by the City of Snellville.<\/p>\n

Personal finances are just that\u2014personal. Which has prompted questions about the relevance of personal debt to the city and its citizens. The most common question is, \u201cDoes it really matter?\u201d Russell\u2019s report addresses that question quite well; the over-riding concern is that an apparent pattern of personal financial irresponsibility could easily become a pattern of irresponsible city spending, and that has a direct\u2014and negative\u2014impact on taxpayers.<\/p>\n

A few recent examples of questionable proposed and actual expenditures include:<\/p>\n

*A last minute, \u201cslide it in under the rug\u201d proposal to add $50,000 to the budget to pay for four \u201cWelcome to Snellville\u201d signs<\/p>\n

*A strong suggestion that the City spend almost $100,000 to make repairs on private property<\/p>\n

*Payment (without Council knowledge) of over $30,000 in attorney fees that were identified as excessive and unjustified<\/p>\n

*Irresponsible budgeting that would have added $16,000 in expenses that had already been paid in an insurance settlement<\/p>\n

Fortunately, responsible fiscal decision-making prevailed, so Snellville\u2019s current financial situation is excellent. Prudent budgeting, tight control of expenditures, and the Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) settlement with Gwinnett County has enabled the City to build an impressive cash reserve. A portion of that will be returned to taxpayers in the form of continued low property taxes, some will be used for physical improvements within the city and the balance will be kept on hand for emergency situations.<\/p>\n

Had members of the City Council not rejected previous budgets, which contained what can best be described as irresponsible expenditures, Snellville\u2019s financial condition would have been far different. It might have been similar to that of Woodstock, GA, where the consequences of excessive municipal spending in the past are apparent in a recent city audit, as reported in Woodstock Patch.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Some of the city’s financial highlights include (by June 30, 2012):<\/i><\/p>\n