I just read that the former executive director of the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau- pressured to resign earlier this year after discussing with reporters a possible location for the Sports Complex at Wesselman Park- has filed lawsuit, which has been transferred to U.S. District Court. She says Mayor Weinzapfel was upset with her interview and had not wanted that info released to the public. WOW!
In my opinion, this is the perfect opportunity to report on an event Jim and I attended on June 21, 2010 at the University Of Evansville Schroeder School Of Business Administration. The general public was invited as well as elected officials to attend the first in a series co-sponsored by the JFK CLUB EDUCATIONAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE. (THANK YOU FOR INVITING THESE REPUBLICANS!! We learned a lot.)
Mr. RELMOND VAN DANIKER, CPA discussed Government accountability and TRANSPARENCY!! He stated that:
“THE PUBLIC BELIEVES OVERWHELMINGLY THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CITIZENS ABOUT FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND SHOULD PROVIDE TRANSPARENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION. THE PUBLIC IS DISSATISFIED WITH ALL 3 LEVELS OF FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT!!”
The Federal site — www.recovery.gov — allows the public access to financial data related to the American Recover and Reinvestment Act, 76% of visitors said they would like to see a similar website for State and Local Government financial management information. CITIZENS POLLED STATED –THEY WOULD LIKE A FOUR (4) PAGE REPORT![NO MORE THAN 4 PAGES].
PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY [AGA], is committed to fulfilling in the public interest what the government express in complex financial details, in an understandable form, delivered in a timely manner. At present, the distrust of government’s complex financial details using language not understood by moms is a major problem!! Van Daniker suggests using the MOM test; if mom can understand the report, then it is a good report!!
AGA believes the city should prepare to LEVEL WITH THE PUBLIC. The public has a RIGHT to understand, so make it simple:
1] USE CLEAR AND UNDERSTANDABLE WORDS. NO ACCOUNTING WORDS OTHER THAN ‘REVENUE’ AND ‘EXPENDITURES’.
2] UPDATE REGULARY AND OFTEN. Citizens deserve ACCURATE AND ACCESSABLE information on where the government finances STAND AT ANY GIVEN TIME!!!!!
3] REPORTS SHOULD BE DELIVERED TO LOCATIONS WHICH ARE EASY FOR THE PUBLIC TO LOCATE, AND ACCSAAABLE TO ALL– internet and media and direct communications. A 4 page DOCUMENT!! GIVE THE PUBLIC SOMETHING THEY CAN READ. Not all people use the internet.
4] AN HONEST REPORT.
All this information is already available on the internet. But someone must be the leader and compile this info so average citizens can make good decisions!!
SO, HOW DO WE DEVELOPE SUCH A REPORT OF FINANCES FOR EVANSVILLE???
1] GO TO BUDJET MEETINGS AND ASK THEM TO PROVIDE SUCH A REPORT!
2] START A FOCUS GROUP
3] ASK WHERE THE CITY’S $$$$$ COMES FROM, AND WHERE IT IS GOING!!!!
4] ASK FOR A WRITTEN 4 PAGE ACCOUNT OF ‘WHERE $ IS GOING AND WHERE $ COMES FROM’. (EX. roads, education, fire and police, health care, airport, etc.)
Stimulus reports need only be 2{two} pages.
1] were the $$$$ comes from.
2} what did we do with the $$?
3]CITIZENS DESERVE TO KNOW
So, putting something on the website is the FIRST STEP.
A report to the citizens of the State of Nevada on the Recovery Act is an example;
~10 lines were used to report on jobs FOUND
~8 lines were used to report any increases in State revenue due to stimulus $$ by the STATE CONTROLLER.
~2 lines on GOALS of the Recovery Act.
~3 lines on how to achieve these goals.
~8 lines on where $ was spent with a pie graft.
~22 lines on ‘ongoing’ projects.
The STATE OF ALASKA”S ‘REPORT TO OUR CITIZENS’ in 2008;
~ 1 page; VISION STATEMENT
~ 2 PAGE; ‘HOW ARE WE DOING?’
~ 3 page; REVENUES AND EXPENSES.
~ 4 page; WHAT NEXT?
Each page is ASSIGNED TO A SEPERATE PERSON AND SHOULD TAKE NO MORE THAN ONE WEEK TO COMPILE!
So, how do we distribute this report?
1]When elected officials have a speaking engagement- pass out this report to citizens [4 pages only]
2]have report available at library.
3]have report available at grocery stores.
4]Talk about report on radio talk shows.
5]New Papers need report.
6]Bulk mailings. One city mailed the 4 page report as a insert to each citizen, once a year in the local newspaper!
7]post report on website.
PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR SOMETHING—Even a 2 page report is better than nothing. WE WANT TO KNOW…WHERE DID EVANSVILLE’S $$$$ COME FROM? HOW IS EVANSVILLE’S $$$ BEING SPENT? PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!
If you are interested in more information, contact Susan Fritzlen by email at sfritzlene@agacgfm.org.
