Concerned with city’s fiscal leadership

As everyone in the city should be aware, ex-CFO Milton Rawle was arrested for embezzlement from the city of Columbus. They are saying they can prove he stole $290,000 from the city but there may be more. Where is the rest of the money? We are plagued with a city council that does not look at where the money goes, nor do they seem to care. One of the councilmen told a friend of mine that they don’t get the docket of the bills until Thursday before the next council meeting. He said it was a lot to go through and sometimes he just didn’t have time. That is what we pay them for. Try telling your boss you just didn’t have time to do your job.

August 2013, COO David Armstrong told The Dispatch he was pleased with how Rawle was able to adjust the projected budget to keep the city from operating at a deficit without a millage increase. “For a guy to come in certainly who has a strong financial background coming from the casino industry, but honest to goodness, Milton has picked this up. He hit the ground running. He got a hold of this. I’m really impressed with what he’s done,” Armstrong said. I wonder if Mr. Armstrong is still impressed.

Mayor Robert Smith stated the checks now have to be approved by him and cosigned by Pat Mitchell. Why was this not done years ago? There is so much questionable activity with this Mayor and a few of his very close friends. Why did the Mayor buy a new Corvette out of town which made us lose the sales tax and then title it in the county? Probably saved him around $700 per year of money that supports the city. Why does the Mayor and so many of his associates feel as though they don’t have to pay their taxes?

Next year it will be time to replace our Mayor and city council. We have had enough. $42 million of debt and climbing. This city is in horrible shape.

God Bless America!

Lee Roy Lollar

Columbus

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.