"Mesa residents who have gotten used to annual increases in their water, sewer and trash-collection bills are in for a nice surprise this year." ??????????????????????????????????????
The city council on Jan. 27 , is expected to approve a package of utility fees and includes no change in what residential customers will pay for city water, sewer and trash service. . . "
THAT'S RIGHT >
NO CHANGE
What is "Tribune Contributor" Gary Nelson trying to pull-off in this piece of fluff one day after yesterday's City Council Public Hearing??????????????????
The actions taken 'to hold the line" as he puts it, are more the result of increasing public scrutiny and oversight of how city officials try to juggle the books.
...the only responsible member of the Mesa City Council asking the tough questions is Jeremy Whittaker.
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Let's get real for a change to realize that unless there is more citizen and resident scrutiny over what City Manager Chris Brady and the city's Office of Management & Budget are continuing to try to do ... they won't stop.
Jeremy Whittaker has rightly drawn attention to THE ENTERPRISE FUND and questionable 'internal transfers'.
Gary Nelson adds one observation:
Scott Butler, an official with Mesa’s budget department, told the city council in October the city spent more than $400 million on utility infrastructure over the past five years.
Critical needs over the next three years – including continued work on water-treatment plants and replacement of aging underground utilities – are estimated a $264 million."
BLOGGER NOTE: iT'S WAY MORE THAN THAT!
So-called 'critical needs' are critical for what?
> Job Creation?
> Quality of Life?