Walsenburg Style Accounting

Some of us keep asking the same questions in the city council and committee meetings.  This is an indication that we are not getting answers.  The obscurities revolve around the city's accounting system. When a question about the balance of the water department infrastructure fund is raised, the stock answer is to say that it is too complex to answer.

Accounting is not designed to hide facts.  It is to reveal expenditures and revenues so that we can see where our money is and how it is being spent.  A separate account should be established for money held for water line replacement.  Another account would be for sewer line replacement.  This would make it a simple thing just to look at these accounts to see what we have.

Another area that keeps being obscured is money spent on the Northlands projects. To be transparent each transaction involving this project should be included in the budget.  This would include all deposits, fees, and revenues involving the Northlands.  More than one request for expenditure amounts on this project has resulted in different numbers being given. The story that keeps being repeated by proponents of the sewer project  is that everything is free and it won't cost the city anything. This project is being sponsored by Walsenburg. We should be able to track money associated with it.

One of the confusing things about the water and sewer funds is that two items for infrastructure replacement are associated with each fund.  There are two separate items on customer water bills for infrastructure replacement. Another account known as capital improvements contains money for water and sewer replacement.  This is an account which receives money from sales tax.  There is not a clear way to access balances for these accounts.  I was hoping the city treasurer would bring clarity to this problem, but the best solution is probably to set up separate accounts which are easy to access and track.

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