Friday's Ledger article Polk City Manager Will Propose $2.68 Mil. Loan is a real bombshell! Can you believe that Kevin Buoffard, the author of this article, was briefed on the details of the city's financial plans before they were even "unveiled" to the citizens, who's bank accounts are being robbed? The reason the citizens are the last to know is not because they didn't attend the council meetings! The reason is that the city has been evasive, underhanded and plain out dishonest in their communications with the public. This article was strategically released on the Friday before Monday's Council meeting, when this will all be revealed to the general public. Acting City Manager, Trudy Block, will surely present this as a "considerable savings" to the City, even though it will increase the city's existing debt by at least $1.35 Million dollars to almost $12 Million dollars. At the last Council meeting, Mayor LaCascia had the audacity to preach to the general public that his goals were the same as ours, to lower the city debt. This will add approximately $1,124.00 to the existing $8,666.00, totaling $9,791.66 that every Polk City resident will owe over the next 20-30 years.
BB&T is specifically stating that this proposed loan is not to be used to pay off the County's overdue impact fees of $531,199. Is the city already planning to skirt around the stipulations of the loan by shifting money around, so they can still pay off the impact fees due to the County? The statements in the Ledger article sure make it appear so.
If the land that the Temporary Cardinal Hill WWTF sits on is purchased, additional property will be needed for a sprayfield to more than double the existing treatment capacity. Where is the money for expansion and rerouting from the Mt. Olive WWTF going to come from? There is no end in sight to the extra expense the City is planning. As the County and Councilman Don Kimsey already stated, this small town does not have the tax base to support such a large sewer operation. The current city debt was created and is out of control due to the steps the previous administration has taken to get into the sewer business. Mrs. Block keeps promising to lower utility fees, while she's creating more debt. That doesn't add up. The city's millage rate is just about maxed out by state limits. The people in this city and surrounding areas within Polk City's utility service area are already burdened with bills that are 200% - 400% higher than surrounding communities.
For the residents who are paying the majority in Real Estate taxes in this city, this is a real blow! Their investments in their homes have plummeted, and there is no way out. These homes are not marketable unless they are priced considerably lower than the surrounding towns. They feel trapped in this lose-lose situation. Many people have had no choice but to walk away, giving their homes back to the bank and watching their life savings go down the drain. With the city choosing this debt-ridden path, this will happen to more and more families. The city officials seem to have no compassion for these people. If the utility rates and taxes will go any higher, Polk City will be a ghost town. Then who will be left to pay the debt??
I will guarantee if BB&T gives this loan I will pull my accounts from that bank. It will not break the bank but the bank will know how I feel. Maybe others will do the same.
ReplyDeleteThe council needs to demand a revote on this permission to get a loan. I'll bet they didn't know it was going to be for almost 3 million dollars!!
ReplyDeleteThe County Commissioners are looking out for us by taking back the Mt. Olive sewer plant. They know we can't afford it. The city could care less about burdening us with more debt. If they are able to take the power away from the County to interfere, than we will all be at their mercy! The city council doesn't seem to hear us either, except for Rep. Kimsey.
ReplyDeleteTime for a complete boycott of all city businesses by Mt Olive residents. It is time the City of Polk City learn respect for us. Take our money elsewhere and put them out of business for good. For the last 40 years I have lived here Polk City has been a joke and this "Chicago thug" Trudy and this "Mass. garbage" Joe need to go.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to hold back on paying your taxes until March 31st. We've got to starve the city budget!
ReplyDeleteHow about bombarding BB&T with calls and e-mails to stop this loan from going forward. The city can't afford it, and the people don't have the money!!!
ReplyDeleteDoes any one know which BB&T bank the city is applying for the loan. I want to contact them and raise my concerns. thanks
ReplyDeleteBombarding with e-mails, phone calls and USPS mail is what we need to do. But most of all we need to bombard the Polk City Council members. We need to make sure that when they vote they understand what they are voting for. We need to demand for an e-mail address for each council member from the city not personal e-mails. The city e-mails are public record and all e-mails from the people to the council members should be public record. The last administration had e-mails in the City web-site. This administration removed all e-mails. Why? The city has to stop borrowing money and start paying their bills. STOP THE INSANITY
ReplyDeleteThe BB&T Governmental Finance Dept. main telephone number is 1-704-954-1700. We are working on getting addition contact information.
ReplyDeletealready closed my account at bbt and stopped shopping in town 3 weeks ago,we've had enough of these communist fools ! is obama running polk city? just thinking out loud, where are the investigations into this insanity? polk city I love you but I'm through its over,maybe untill major changes are made in town hall,or forever, who knows,the big city keeps getting closer everyday, and if we need something its on our way home,..does joking joe get a special tax assement from the co.for his 500.000.00 dollar home?or trudy ?
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