The city of Columbus continues to be plagued by accounting problems. In the last administration, significant embezzlement was only finally discovered with the help of an outside CPA. Now we have to deal with a “clerical error” amounting to one and a half million dollars, a discovery by the COO prompted by questions from a Commercial Dispatch reporter, not the mayor, council or the CFO who was quickly outta here before her error was discovered. The mayor took responsibility but then went on the defensive and criticized The Commercial Dispatch for putting the problem in front page headlines. If this isn’t front page news, what is? If Mayor Gaskin can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen. I heard the mayor on WCBI news say a budget is not just a financial statement but a plan. Well, the current problem was accounting which ruined a plan and the previous embezzlement certainly was an accounting problem, also. The mayor wants to appoint a committee to help with the problem. Often a committee involves a lot of talk and not much action. The city needs to employ a qualified CFO, or maybe in addition to or instead of, hire an outside CPA. I understand that Mayor Gaskin also wants someone in his administration to have a CPA background, and I’m glad to hear it.
Regarding “plans,” there has been waste and maybe more to come. The city had to pay close to $300,000 for its share of the roundabout at the base of Main. This money could have bought the new police radios and gone toward the fire equipment. A few months ago it was announced that some “free money” was coming from our highway district. Our city engineer drew up a wish list which included narrowing Highway 45 and installing bike lanes where it enters Fifth Street and putting more money in the continually flooding amphitheater. Wasteful! Instead, pave the streets, improve drainage and pick up the trash.
And Mayor, please ask the council members to wear their masks properly.
William (“Bill”) Ford M.D.
Columbus
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