$6 million mystery

Dear Editor,

Your July 5 headline is extremely misleading and should be retracted. It should read "$6,000,000 MYSTERY IN CITY BUDGET."

This year the Capital Outlay and Improvement portion of the city budget will drop $9,000,000 because of completed water and wastewater projects.

It took $26,796,937 to run the city 2005 and 2006. By deducting the non-recurring 9 million, all remaining things being equal, it should take only $17,800,000 to operate 2006-2007. (A couple of million more than needed prior to funding the water projects). The city wants $24,437,362! That is a real increase in spending of $6,000,000 or 37 percent! $6,000,000 more for what?

The City Council needs to look long and hard at funds requested by city staff.

In addition, the City Council has decided to punish McCookites for putting their feet to the fire on the city manager fiasco.

They are using that as an excuse not to fund the tennis court project. I'm a little old to be spanked fellas ... your decision harms mostly kids.

Way to go.

In reviewing bills paid by McCook for two months, there are a lot of questions.

Why do so many folks who work for the city get checks almost every month totalling hundreds above their salary?

Why is the city doing business with florists and gift shops? Why did the city need to hire a DJ, why are they paying almost $200 a month for a phone in Cambridge? I'll elaborate later.

During this budget process, the McCook Economic Development Corp. will be asking the City Council to increase their share of the MEDC expenses.

It's been about $50,000 a year since 1988. These folks have done more for McCook than any other, bringing hundreds of jobs and millions in payroll to the community.

I cannot recall a single instance where the council has made a decision that would improve our economy. They need to become pro-commerce or McCook will continue to lose businesses and population.

I believe the city can afford to support MEDC to the tune of $100,000 a year.

Sales tax receipts are higher than projections. They hopefully won't be buying a hemi SUV this year, etc.

Please attend City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. July 10th and support MEDC.

'Nuff said,

Bill Frasier,

McCook