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Could we be the next Jefferson County?
Published Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The news for the last several weeks has been filled with nothing but budget crises.
Here and there, everyone from the banking and automotive industries to county governments are talking of how they plan to meet payroll and keep up services.
Rumors of layoffs, shutdowns and furloughs have dominated the news, and with each news brief, one thought crosses my mind — how close is Covington County to making those same news wires, especially when taking into consideration the situation in Jefferson County?
Jefferson County has been described as “cash strapped” and facing an “economic crisis” – two very similar words to those used repeatedly in headlines and in news stories describing Covington County’s current economic situation.
How each of the counties arrived at its present situation is a complete opposite of one another. Jefferson’s came through a loss of revenue due to the repealing of an occupational tax and Covington’s came through an apparently decade-long trend of mismanagement and overspending of county funds.
However, the end result was still the same. Each was left scrambling for ways to generate revenue.
Jefferson County turned to the legislature.
Covington County turned to FEMA, so I guess FEMA could be described as Covington’s own special legislative session.
Last I heard, those FEMA checks were trickling in too slow to make much of an impact on the county’s bottom line.
And let’s not forget … you got it — BINGO!
While our own county commissioners proclaim the issue dead and buried, the bingo issues in Jefferson County should stand as a glaring example of what could happen here — especially if the commission doesn’t follow through with establishing rules and regulations governing bingo.
Let me simplify it — and this is in really simple and hypothetical terms: My daughter wants to wear shorts to school. Let’s say there’s no policy in place stating how short those shorts can be, and she shows up with some really short shorts on. School officials say, “Hey. You can’t wear those. They’re too short,” but there’s nothing in the handbook that defines how long shorts must be worn while at school.
She’s already worn the shorts. The damage is done, and school officials are now scrambling to put something in place to prevent all the other little girls from showing up in the shorty shorts.
Get my point? What if — and I mean what if — the Andalusia VFW folks woke up one morning and said, “Hey, let’s install 500 bingo machines down at the lodge.”
The county commission has nothing — and I mean nothing — on the books to regulate electronic bingo.
And those are just the two issues I can think of off the top of my head.
I’m afraid before too much longer the county is going to be in over its head, and there’s not going to be anyone there to bail us out.
Comments
Posted by lo1an2go (anonymous) on August 19, 2009 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I personally don't care if bingo is legalized in the county or not. If I want to go play games of chance, I have the option to go out of town. If it is legalized it will just give someone else the opportunity to mishandle funds and line their own pockets.
Posted by realist (anonymous) on August 19, 2009 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
About a week ago I saw the sheriff of Jefferson County on TV. They had him on the air because he'd asked for the National Guard to step in and help patrol the streets since he didn't have enough money to continue to pay his deputies. Jefferson County bonds are at junk status now according to the S&P and the county has over 3.9 billion in debt because of a new sewer system.
And Stephanie, to say the way the counties arrived at their current situations are complete opposites is not correct in my opinion, or in the opinion of the state Representative for Jefferson, Paul Demarco, who said "I think there have been years of mismanagement and inefficiencies at the county level."
And check out this story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/sns-...
I'm sure there is more to come on this issue. Very scary, and very similar to some of the things that have happened lately in Covington County.
Posted by WAtidefan (anonymous) on August 19, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
realist: thanks for the link. Upon the first reading of Stephanie's article, I thought I remembered something about fraud and corruption in regards to the construction of a sewer system. I think that some of those involved may have already been prosecuted and convicted. Are my memories correct?
Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on August 19, 2009 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Realist: I certainly agree. I wrote about this very possibility for our city and county when the article was featured praising the city for spending money instead of conserving. That is exactly what happened when the new County Commission and new Engineer took over the helm of C.C.. They are still in denial - but the PIPER is waiting!
Posted by WAtidefan (anonymous) on August 19, 2009 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I just popped over here to get a little relief from the fray on the DA firings thread. A few are still posting on Lauren's letter to the editor, too.
Shamrock: I absolutely remember your posts re: the county spending money. It seems to be a frightening trend in government doesn't it? Spending money at all levels of government...money we don't have.
Posted by ToldYouSo (anonymous) on August 19, 2009 at 9:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Electronic" Bingo is illegal in Alabama. In no way does it compare with traditional "Bingo" which is legal. So why are we calling for "regulations" on something that is clearly illegal???? I thought Judge Stokes did a good job of educating our Commision and their lawyer. Maybe he could teach another class.
Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on August 20, 2009 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WAtide: Yes, It's like the last man standing gets the prize - something or other. And it's like someone from another time warp, sent these Leaders (hate to overuse 'politician') INNER MESSAGES, that are exactly the WORST things to do in critical economic and dangerous times!
The mayor, for instance, believes we shall have anxious visitors driving to our fair city to enjoy the new look on River Falls Street, the Mural, Museum and Civic Center for BIG TIME shows and concerts - like Pensacola, maybe? Who knows how far-out his VISIONS go, without a hint that he is aware of life outside the C.C. Bubble.
One would sanely think - prudence, frugality, conservation, holding back. But no, the sheeple are in la-la-la land, thanks to our media, mayor and ministers.
WA: As you wrote - important people in the community insanely blogging each other hateful sarcasms, while every one of us is facing A HUGE CHANGE that will strike us down to our knees.
These important people have turned into sniveling, little pests that love to see others suffer. People of repute in our community!!!! After reading that obscene thread, my eyes look like dogpee holes in the snow! (Few here will get that.) So what's new!
Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Has anyone in political leadership heard about the mortgages - prime mortgages - people who can up to now make their monthly payments, a percentage JUMP for July was reported for those people who are 30 days late in paying their mortgages - foreclosures have doubled also because of loss of employment.
Mayor, et al, please catch the national news.
Posted by winkie (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How did you like the way the Mayor and or City Council kept Bobby Brights visit to Andalusia quite? "By Invitation Only" until The Patriot and WAAO got involved. Thank you John & Blain, WAAO 103.7
Posted by winkie (anonymous) on August 21, 2009 at 10:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
People are listening and watching elected offical's. 2010 elections are comming. We want HONEST men/women serving our Country,State,County,City!! Are there any out there? Start your campain now. Dont just tell us , SHOW us
Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on August 22, 2009 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't believe Bobby Bright will get our vote, if the starnews reported his statements correctly.
Posted by winkie (anonymous) on August 22, 2009 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
He was ALSO in the Carolina community and only a select few knew he was there. Unbelieveable, and not unlike Obama pledge's, that Mr. Bright would say,"he will not vote for the Obama H.C. Plan", but as not to jump to conclusions,we will be listening and watching our elected Offical's. Slipping and slideing in and out of Andalusia was NOT A GOOD THING for Offical's as a whole.
Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on August 24, 2009 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Winkie: Notice Bobby will vote on healthcare bill if it is presented in "increments".
Obama has PROMISED Mexico and Canada he would pass the Cap and Trade Bill, in Guadalajara, last week. Could this Healthcare thing be a distraction for 'The Big One'- Cap & Trade?
"Obama, Mexico's Pres. Calderon and Canada's Stephen Harper met to discuss the Cap & Trade,... as well as the North American Union or 'Amero' which is modeled after the European Union, with OPEN BORDERS and a COMMON CURRENCY."
We won't hear Amero anymore - it will be called "economic integration" and "labor mobility".
"The Guadalajara joint statement reaffirmed the purpose of "integrated economies", and that still means allowing unlimited access for cheap labor from Mexico to take U.S. jobs."
"When the Cap & Trade is passed, Obama will be hailed as a hero when he goes to the U.N. climate-change conference in Copenhagen." (Schlafly report)
Posted by ALARON (anonymous) on August 24, 2009 at 3:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just how many projects have been built in Covington County during last couple years for real estate developers. Using county equipment, employees and their associated funding?
I can name a three projects of this type in the Gannt area, alone.
Now these developers have paved roads, fire proection and utilities all paid for from the county funds that you and I pay for in taxes. Prime lakeshore real estate that can't be sold in today's depressed market.
Meanwhile, the county cannot find the means to grade the county's existing roads nor provide public water to all areas of the county.
I always assumed it was the developer's reponsiblty to develope these projects, using their own funds.
My question is how long are the citizens of this county going to put up this mis-management of our public funds?
Posted by winkie (anonymous) on August 24, 2009 at 10:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ALARON: As long as we have ,"The Good old Boy" system.
Posted by winkie (anonymous) on August 24, 2009 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shamrock: You are sooo right. Thanks for your 1:34pm post, hopefully other's will read it and start paying more attention to the real problems evolving underneath. We cannot have Cap and Trade. I agree with you about the changeing of the names to fit their endeavor's. Obama would use the words Co Op to sell the Health Care Plan, as well. He certainly is a smooth talker. I hope all his plans fail because if he succeeds America as we know it will be no more.God help us all. As far as Mr. Bright I'm sure most people saw the real man after his visit last week as well as our elected offical's attitude.
Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on August 25, 2009 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Winkie: 'most people saw the real man after his visit...as well as our elected official's attitude.'
Winkie, I truly believe these politicians think they are elitists that can manipulate, hide, and lie to us, the 'stupid sheeple'.
Is there a school for this mindset somewhere? Obama was their star student. But, like we said earlier, all this has done is to wake up the sleeping Americans who still love their country and freedoms.
GET US OUT OF THE UNITED NATIONS quickly.
Posted by winkie (anonymous) on August 28, 2009 at 8:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shamrock: Your right about the United Nations. They are nothing but ROUGES who we finance. LOL, there may come a day we cant afford to keep paying their saleries. Wont that be a 'HOOT'? I had rather give our Social Security their 'Cost of Liveing Raise' !! Chariety begains at home. America is soooo broke and no one actually believes it.
Posted by Shamrock (anonymous) on August 29, 2009 at 8:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Winkie: WAtidefan wants us to report the Sessions meeting to him because he is of course unable to attend. Don't forget your pen and paper. I'll be there too.
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