A consistent characteristic of the Walsenburg government is similar to one in D.C. When it comes to transparency, they say it exists, but I don't buy it. The accounting system is not one which can be easily accessed and checked for a current financial picture.
If you ask for an account balance, you are informed that it is not available. Why is this so? As near as I can tell, it is to allow for funds to be placed in a general account where they are available as needed. Never mind whether it is income for the water fund or gas fund or a utility deposit.
This is not accounting; it is spending whatever comes in. No wonder we are short of funds. When it was suggested that capital improvement funds should be put in separate accounts, you would have thought the roof was caving in. It would be too much extra trouble to do that according to city officials. At present, there is a financial administrator and a second accountant for payables and receivables. The financial administrator gets a substantial paycheck plus benefits. What is her function? That's a lot of manpower for a small city, and they think separate accounts are too much trouble?
The terms "mill levy increase" and "sales tax increase" are being used more often by city council lately. "Fix the infrastructure" and "improve Walsenburg" are not heard much. There seems to be a pattern here. "Let's fix Northlands" is heard a lot.
As citizens we are entitled to accountability for our taxes. Of course this can be forfeited and the folks at city hall can be given a blank check. It appears that has been done already.
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