I read in a local weekly paper recently that the City of Mukilteo now does not have a serious problem with the 2004-2005 budget, but a $1 million surplus that it didn’t have several weeks ago.
Before, the city was in serious money trouble with threats of total bankruptcy. Now there is money for everything. Mukilteo didn’t have to change the city budget at all last year. Gee, does it smell like the tide is out on our corrupted bay?
The City Council has now lowered the rate to 35 cents per $1,000 for the EMS levy, knowing full well it should be dropped to 25 cents or even lower now that the city has money because of Tony Tinsley’s investigation finding $1 million. Tony reported it to the Beacon newspaper and it sure looks like the council is or was trying to “cook” the city books until Tony brought the issue to the surface. Council member Cathy Reese takes offense to the charges and is trying to defend Rich Leahy, the city administrator, and Mayor Don Doran.
Reese now says she would rather be in the surplus money situation then in the bankrupt role of several weeks ago. How’s that for trying to get out of a coverup and not being truly honest with the books and the residents of Mukilteo? Gosh, maybe I’ll find $1 million I misplaced somewhere in my little TV room at home.
My hat is off to Tinsley for supporting the residents and for having the guts to tell it like it is. He is someone for all the other council members to emulate and to be mentored by.
In closing, the EMS levy should be voted down and rewritten for a 2005 spring revote.
Rick Halbert
Mukilteo
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