Government inefficiency crippling Port Gibson

Published 1:02 am Sunday, September 11, 2011

We are facing critical times within the City of Port Gibson. We are like a runaway train headed into bankruptcy, and there is no plan in place to stop the train.

We cannot afford another four years of this type of ill-management of our financial affairs. For the next 20 years, we will be paying back $15,000 a month for a $2 million bond. What did they do with this money?

We have a $400,000 water meter system that is incomplete, a $60,000 accounting system that is incomplete and not being used, a $3,500 fuel bill, our city employee’s medical insurance and workman’s compensation insurance has been delinquent, and IRS fees and other bills are behind. Our city is dirty. We have potholes and water-leaks all over the city and our sewage system is breaking down. Our city employees do not have sufficient equipment to do their jobs.

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What is the problem?

The Board of Aldermen have already borrowed $2 million over a four-year period, and are about to borrow another $425,000. Where has the money gone? What are they doing to aid in fixing these problems?

We cannot continue to sit back and allow these types of ill-decisions to be made. Something must be done now.

Clarence Scutter

Port Gibson