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Health & Fitness

Roswell's Cash Cow

Roswell property owners are Roswell's cash cows.

Dear Roswell Property Owners,

Be very proud of yourselves because you are Roswell’s cash cow.

Now I won't bore you with all the details, but as a property owner myself, I want you to know that this bond is a “BAD” deal. 

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Before next Tuesday’s vote I will leave you with three facts and a link that I am convinced is very informative and will give you the facts that the city really doesn’t want you to know.

Fact 1:

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This bond referendum question is “Not project specific” so stated Roswell’s legal counsel David Davidson just prior to Roswell Council’s voting to place it on the November ballot. The city website confirms that reality with the statement:

“The City is considering projects related to transportation and infrastructure improvements, public safety and parks, which include but are not limited to”………….  

All one has to do is read the question when you are at the polling booth to understand just how vague this bond question really is.

Fact 2:

Roswell is sitting on $25 million in cash “above” reserves. Yes, excess, totally unallocated monies, as noted in this Fiscal Year Budget (Page 36 & 37). All the proposed projects can be paid for with existing funds and revenue.

Just because you can get money with little interest doesn't mean you should (that is if you consider $1.6 million little interest). I think it is pretty brazen of the city to ask us to tax ourselves when they have already overtaxed us and are sitting on plenty of money to fund their project list.

Fact 3:

Since 2008, the Roswell city government has spent around $32 million more than they have taken in. To continue this level of spending the city is looking to raise taxes next summer because they can't control spending. I've tried a few times to get them to go on record one way or the other but they won't take a position, but mark my words, next June (and again in June 2014), they will quietly try to raise our taxes.

Unfortunately, I've spent way more time than I would like analyzing the city's financials over the past 10 years, challenging city officials about the misuse of taxpayer’s money, and if you can believe it, even correcting the Roswell Finance Director on the actual terms of this bond. 

If you want all the gory details go to:

http://www.rffr.org

Trust me, as Roswell’s budget hawk, everything presented on this site can be confirmed on the city’s own website.

I am certain that once you read the facts, you will

                 Vote NO on the Roswell Bond on Nov 6th.

And finally, for those of you who get your water from the city this is only the first shoe to fall. There’s another $16 million bond coming for y’all !

Lee Fleck

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