Council lacks money management skills

Isn't it interesting that the city held input meetings for the Jones Golf Course configuration but none (of similar kind) for the hotel purchase, PCI/Second Avenue closing, or tax credits/abatements? Did the city really want input or rather need a panacea for taxpayers just before the general and local-option sales tax vote?

The council overruled staff recommendations and decided to keep Jones as an 18-hole course rather than 9 holes with a golf academy. This decision lacks financial sense to me when there is repeated flooding, repairing, and lost revenue from course closure. This is not good financial responsibility of my tax dollars.

Does this give us confidence in the council to make good financial decisions, regarding the approaching local-option tax election in November? Streets need repair, but I ask where the budgeted moneys for repair went, and what the future plans to budget for street repair are. Answers come before more tax dollars.

As Chuck Swore said, “throw us out” if you don't trust the current council members. Exactly! Not only council, but, I'm also going to vote no for the local option tax (although needed) as a protest to council money management. I will encourage others to do the same.

I guess overriding staff recommendation in view of public input is all based on timing. Timing to the general election and the local option vote; the council did not want to ruffle any voter's feathers. Well, my feathers are ruffled, what about yours?

Sue Humphrey

Cedar Rapids