IS IT TRUE that the  plans for the “Call To Assemble” movement  is gaining support among the populous ? …people are getting sick and tired of broken political promises from our elected and appointed City and County officials?  …the date set for the “CALL TO ASSEMBLE” is September 23, 2015? …during the next couple of days we shall provide you with more details about this historial political event?

IS IT TRUE 3rd Ward City Councilwoman Stephanie Brinkerhoff- Riley requested that City Controller Russ Lloyd  Jr provide a detailed accounting of the $30,0000 for 2013, 2014 and 2015 Chamber of Commerce “Voices” program through “Leadership Evansville”?  … the last time Director Lynn Miller Pease appeared before City Council was November of 2013? …the program initiated by Mayor Winnecke to gain insight into the community’s desires has returned exactly zero initiatives?  …Brinkerhoff-Riley specifically requested “an accounting of our funds and any reports available related to the agenda taken on (stated purpose) and any accomplishments related to the stated purpose by this initiative and Leadership Evansville?” … that interacting with Neighborhood Associations, which are subsidized by the Mayor’s Office for more than $30,000 annually, could have actually accomplished something and save the taxpayers $90,000?  … we hope City Council will look into the $35,000 plus funding of the newly appointed Chambers of Commerce “Promoter Of Downtown” business activities?

IS IT TRUE the City Clerk manages the City’s Parking Meter Department?  …the  City Clerks office monitors 600 parking spots and writes tickets when a car is parked illegally or in the same spot too long?  …under Alberta Matlock, the office ran a deficit of $70,000 annually? …under present City Clerk Laura Windhorst, that gap has jumped to $140,000 annually? …taxpayers citywide must shell out $140,000 so that downtown businesses can limit parking in the area?  …that parking should be free and first-come-first-serve at this rate or downtown businesses should pay for the service?  …Laura Windorst put out campaign materials stating that she would keep parking in Evansville free while her opponent suggested meters in certain locations to balance the books?  …Windhorst won her primary election and the taxpayers of Evansville are paying for her mistake? …most Evansville residents don’t go downtown unless they have to go to the Courthouse, and that parking is not monitored?

IS IT TRUE the capital budget of Evansville grows smaller every year, as the Mayor pushes operating expenses out of the General Budget, which is primarily funded by property taxes, and into being paid by Riverboat funds and collected income taxes? …traditionally, about half of income taxes paid operating expenses and the other half went to capital projects such as fire trucks, police cars and repairs to equipment and buildings? …the 2016 budget has about 80% of collected income taxes paying operating expenses? …the annual operating deficits at the Ford Center ($600,000) and Victory Theater ($700,000) will not be covered by income taxes, as well as the deficiency in the Parking Meter Department? …shifts such as these will take about $4 million out of capital funds in 2016?

IS IT TRUE the Riverboat funds are also be driven into operating expenses and away from capital projects? …about $5 million of the anticipated $16 million in collections will go to pay debts in the downtown TIF, including a bit less than half of the annual bond payment on the arena, which will be $3.8 of the $8.2 million payment? …Riverboat funds will take over paying for sidewalk end caps to be made ADA compliant and also the City’s sidewalk replacement program, which requires residents to pay a portion of the sidewalk they request to be replaced?

IS IT TRUE the Zoo is the biggest loser in the budget for 2016?  …it has been more eight years since a major investment has been made at the Zoo, and while the cost of maintaining the zoo goes up, the Zoo staff are struggling to keep visitor numbers constant? …the Zoo Director spoke to Council yesterday and said the zoo “is behind the 8 ball?” ….Finance Chairman Conor O’Daniel noted that investment in the Zoo with the penguin and African exhibits has been kicked down the road for the last four years? …the zoo representatives responded that the administration was going to have to decide whether they wanted to invest in the Zoo?  …the gap between revenue and expenditures is estimated to be negative more than $3 million this year and will grow next year? …the Zoo has the ability to be an economic driver in the area if investment is strategic? …the zoo is approaching the shape it was in financially before the City invested in Amazonia?  …all investments wear off in time, and the zoo is desperately in need of another, but the African exhibit requested has a price tag of $25 million?

Please take time and vote in today’s “Readers Poll”. Don’t miss reading today’s Feature articles because they are always an interesting read. Todays video features Mayoral Candidate Gail Riecken talking about mismanagement of our taxpayers money by the Winnecke Administration. Also we inserted a video of PETER, PAUL and MARY singing “TIMES ARE A CHANGING”.

Please scroll at the bottom of our paper so you can enjoy our creative political cartoons.

Copyright 2015 City County Observer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.