An independent audit of the financial statements of the Town of Gates showed that the Town ended fiscal 2007 with a surplus of approximately $700,000.00. You may recall that three years ago, the Town was facing a deficit of $2.2 million. That nearly $3,000,000.00 improvement was accomplished while maintaining vital services and keeping taxes low.
So, has this remarkable and positive turnaround led to many laudatory news stories and editorials? Not yet, anyway.
Funny, I seem to recall quite a few snide and critical editorials, angry letters to the editor and pointed blog posts when the deficit loomed large. The State Comptroller, Alan Hevesi, (you remember him, the guy who resigned in disgrace after pleading guilty to personal use of State funds), piled on with a politically motivated audit which accused the Supervisor and Town Board of fiscal mismanagement. That "unbiased" audit erroneously predicted that our fiscal policies would lead to a $4,000,000.00 deficit by the end of 2006. Let's not forget that Sue "Cassandra" Swanton encouraged and echoed Hevesi's error-laden hit job.
It might be nice if even one of these critics had a congratulatory word for Mr. Esposito and the Town Board. Since this good news doesn't jibe with the fantasy the critics like to spin, I won't hold my breath.
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3 comments:
Not to be picky - well, okay, to be picky because, as you know, I am a stickler for accuracy - when the news article was posted on the D & C site, I commented on it, starting off with -
"Okay, I was a critic for a long time over the financial mess in Gates - but I'll give credit to Town officials for climbing out of the hole. Fiscal restraint, openness and public scrutiny turned things around"
Sorry I missed that. I just don't look at the story chats often enough. Don't you find some of the regular commentors there rather rude?
Anyway, I wasn't trying to single out your commentary when I mentioned "pointed blog posts". Meanwhile, as long as we are being picky, I get the fiscal restraint angle but just how did openness and public scrutiny factor into the reduction of the deficit?
you do have to love it though when someone can't just say "good job" and they have to take a parting shot. ahhhhh sincerety.
the "atta boy" is just a cya. a hollow compliment.
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