A message from Councilwoman Lori Boyer

[Metro Jacksonville]

A message from Councilwoman Lori Boyer



Councilwoman Lori Boyer shares her thoughts on the state of downtown and several other issues currently facing the city council.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-apr-a-message-from-councilwoman-lori-boyer

[sheclown]

Thank you for this! 

[Tacachale]

Nice piece. Thank you Lori.

[fsujax]

Thanks for sharing. Wish we had more leaders like you.

[Cheshire Cat]

Lori, you are truly a breath of fresh air on our council.  You ask the needed questions and look for facts and documentation that others may not bother with.  Clearly you read the legislation which some do not.  This is precisely what so many of us want in our leadership.  You have a willingness to speak to the citizens who put you in office and readily engage their questions and concerns.  That more than anything else tells me at least that you are confident in your personal processes and have nothing to hide.  Thank you.  I hope you will reach out to police and firefighters regarding the way the pension issue has been handled to date.  There is a great deal of chagrin and hurt over this issue and some basic misunderstandings with regard to this subject.  It is never good for our first responders to feel as if they may have been thrown under a sizable bus and I can tell you from first hand conversations from the top down through the ranks of both organizations that this is precisely how many of them feel. 

[urbaknight]

Please please please run again for council! And if you have firends that think like you, encourage them to run as well. If everyone on council were like you, we'd already be the city we want to be. Keep up the great work!

[fsujax]

Run for Mayor if Audrey doesnt!

[John P]

Now youre on to something

[sheclown]

Dear Friends,

Happy October! As I have been walking in the neighborhoods, I have seen so many beautiful fall wreaths and countless scary Halloween decorations. You all are certainly welcoming the change of seasons in style.

Thank goodness we have this year's budget adoption behind us, too. You will recall that the Finance Committee had recommended against the use of reserves (emergency savings) for operating expenses. At that point we were about 11 million short and Finance adopted a 2.4 % across the board cut. In the end, there were a number of amendments with the Council Auditor's blessing that recognized several million of additional revenue and the gap was reduced to about 5 million when the Council as a whole voted to dip into reserves rather than impose a cut to balance the budget. While I did not support that decision because we start out next year with less revenue than expense and lower reserves, I am happy that the use of reserves (5 million) was so much less than originally proposed by the Mayor (37 million plus).

As I mentioned briefly in September, the capital budget for projects like roads and drainage is another can of worms. Bond issues and the "banking fund" (which is also borrowing) are the primary sources of funding for these projects. If the debt outstanding increases that generally means an increase in payments of principal and interest which in turn impacts the annual operating budget. Before we could make any good decision about new projects and new debt, we had to understand where we stand today. Council President Yarborough appointed me to chair a Special Committee on the Capital Improvement Program and we have been continuing to investigate.

Two unfortunate answers have come to light. First, we have at least $130 million that has yet to be borrowed on already authorized projects . Second and I believe far more importantly, we are learning the extent of cash management practices that have used cash from funds dedicated for other purposes to pay for work on countless projects without having borrowed the funds needed for that project. This practice grossly distorts annual debt service and the Mayor's Finance Department has been unable to quantify the aggregate I O U from these projects to the general fund and various accounts. We have learned that we spent in excess of $16 million cash on Better Jacksonville Projects above the revenue that came in from bonds and sales tax. And there is at least $15 million more in outstanding obligations for work already done. That is $30 million for which was there was no authorized source of funds and that we will have to pay back from somewhere. And the good news keeps coming...

Meanwhile, I have introduced two bills that are intended to increase safety in residential neighborhoods and for pedestrians throughout the City. The first would allow residents of a neighborhood to petition to lower the speed limit on their street to 20 or 25 mph. The second addresses criteria for new crosswalks. I am bringing together a working group on the crosswalk initiative on the 23rd and my goal is to start by identifying locations where pedestrian accidents have occurred, where there are bus stops, concentrations of senior citizens or middle schools. The rising number of fatalities is unacceptable and we have to provide safe ways for citizens to cross a street. Education will certainly be part of the process, for pedestrians as well as drivers. Look for a more comprehensive program to be announced by the Mayor later this month.

Last but certainly not least I have begun my door to door campaign and have completed precinct 513- an area that was not previously part of District 5. I really enjoy getting to learn about our neighborhoods on the ground and meet residents (not to mention catch up with my friends who walk with me!) I have been filing reports on broken drainage ditch fences, vacant houses and other issues and have gained a whole new list of research projects. If you want to get some exercise (and have the opportunity to bend my ear for a couple hours) sign up to walk with me. We have a nice time and it is even cooling down a little. Thank you to my friends who have already helped out- you guys are awesome!

Warm Regards,

Lori

P.S. For updates on many other issues and upcoming events check the website   www.loriboyer.org.  Please forward this newsletter to your friends and neighbors and encourage them to subscribe.


Political advertisement paid for and approved by Lori N. Boyer, Republican, for Jacksonville City Council District 5. 

[spuwho]

Two unfortunate answers have come to light. First, we have at least $130 million that has yet to be borrowed on already authorized projects . Second and I believe far more importantly, we are learning the extent of cash management practices that have used cash from funds dedicated for other purposes to pay for work on countless projects without having borrowed the funds needed for that project. This practice grossly distorts annual debt service and the Mayor's Finance Department has been unable to quantify the aggregate I O U from these projects to the general fund and various accounts. We have learned that we spent in excess of $16 million cash on Better Jacksonville Projects above the revenue that came in from bonds and sales tax. And there is at least $15 million more in outstanding obligations for work already done. That is $30 million for which was there was no authorized source of funds and that we will have to pay back from somewhere.

This is the stuff that drives people absolutely nuts. Who in city finance approves of this nonsense? Where are the project audits? Where are the financial controls for capital projects? It's no wonder we are closing libraries. It is clear that the cost of some of the BJP projects came in above estimates but no one wanted to say no, so they did some "internal borrowing" to make them happen instead of doing the right thing by reducing the scope of the work.

Definitely need more transparency in JTA and COJ project spending. No wonder they were so hogtied to extend the sales tax, geez, they overspent the original bonds!

[coredumped]

Lori needs a twitter account so we can keep up with her.

[sheclown]

If she truly loved us, she'd run for mayor.