No WhiteWash!

The city of Kingsport, Tennessee continues to promote how great things are going in Kingsport.  They talk about the increased revenues coming in due to new businesses opening up in Kingsport.  I have a question for the Mayor, how much are you ahead in revenues after you factor the loss of Sam’s Club?

Also, they seem to talk a lot about the spending they have done and the spending they intend to do in the future in an economy that is not doing very good in the area.  It almost seems that they are trying to justify to the public the decisions they made about spending and borrowing money.

I hate to inform the Kingsport BMA that the economy is not doing very well.  But, don’t take my word for it.  Take a look at the links below that were collected over the last few weeks from newspapers in East Tennessee.

What are you views on the economy in Kingsport?  Should the city continue on it’s Tax, Borrow, and Spend route?  What do you feel needs to be done in the city to help those citizens who are having problems with the economy?  What would you do to reduce the high unemployment rate in Kingsport which is currently at 7.2 percent (November)?  Would you spend taxpayers money on pet projects such as MeadowView Convention Center expansion that currently loses money?  Any other thoughts?

Feel free to comment.

Bankruptcy Filings Jump

The Eastern District has seen the number of bankruptcy petitions jump by almost 28 percent since the 2007 total of 12,261. The bankruptcy court covers 35 counties in east Tennessee, and operates out of federal courthouses in Chattanooga, Greeneville and Knoxville.

Domtar, Cooper Standard to shut down over Christmas

KINGSPORT — Domtar Paper Co. LLC is temporarily ceasing paper production at its Kingsport mill starting Tuesday, with production to resume Monday, Dec. 29.

And Cooper Standard Automotive in the Phipps Bend Industrial Park near Surgoinsville is temporarily closing Christmas Eve and not reopening until Monday, Jan. 5.

Mazer Corporation Closes Unexpectedly

A printing company in Johnson City closed its doors Tuesday, December 30, leaving 130 people without jobs.

Eastman Takes Additional Cost Reduction Actions in Response to Global Recession

The company said that it will reduce costs in 2009 in excess of $100 million, of which approximately $80 million is expected to come from labor-related costs.
Eastman announced the following actions will be taken by early 2009:

• Elimination of planned 2009 wage and salary increases
• Permanent change in the company’s U.S. vacation policy by reducing the maximum vacation carry-over amount
• Elimination of overtime wherever possible
• Reduction in use of contractors and part-time labor
• Reduction in management staff

Kingsway Shutters Local Charities

BRISTOL, Va. – The region’s largest charitable giving organization is shuttering three of its local operations and narrowing its focus to international medical relief, citing a shrinking endowment affected by the plunge in financial markets.

Brunswick closing Riverview plant

Boat manufacturer cutting more than 300 jobs in area

New Kingsport Salvation Army Thrift Store Opens To Crowds Of Shoppers

The new Salvation Army thrift store in Kingsport opened its doors Friday.

The Salvation Army closed their other locations in the model city and have combined it into one store located at 1409 E. Stone Drive.  Because they have combined the locations they are saving on overhead, and have passed that savings down to shoppers, cutting prices by nearly 50-percent on some of their items.

According to workers at the thrift store, they have seen tons of shoppers in the three days they have been open.  The Salvation Army reports they have seen an increase in shoppers over the last year because of the slowing economy.

The store has also seen an increase in donations from people.  They want to remind everyone to donate to their local Salvation Army thrift stores. It is tax deductible, and money earned from the thrift stores goes back into their community projects.

Bush Hog Workers Temporarily Laid Off

Some Tri-Cities workers found themselves out of work Monday, at least temporarily.

Your Tri-Cities news source confirmed Bush Hog in Telford, Tennessee is closing the plant for two weeks.

The company will only say they’ll evaluate everything in two weeks.  In the meantime, only a handful remain on the job.  All production has stopped and only products already completed will be shipped.

Despite Layoffs, Change In Benefits, Mapes Piano String Company Not Closing

During the last two months, Mapes Piano String Company in Elizabethton has temporarily laid off many of its employees, but the company insists there are no plans to shut its doors permanently.

Pawn Shops Seeing More Affluent Customers

“Middle class people are coming in.  Customers we haven’t seen before,“ said Nelson.

These are people whose 401-K’s have diminished, who have lost their jobs, or who are having trouble getting a small loan from banks.

Goody’s liquidation confirmed

Goody’s Family Clothing will begin going-out-of-business sales on Friday according to a published report.

A Sign Of The Times?

BRISTOL, Va. – A long-time Bristol Mall business is closed and two more are about to draw the curtains for the final time.

Friedman’s Jewelers shut its mall store just after Christmas, while shoppers Friday were picking through reduced-priced items at B. Dalton Booksellers and Kay-Bee Toys.

Ruby Tuesday to close 70 stores, quarterly losses up

Ruby Tuesday said today it would close 40 restaurants in the current quarter and close another 30 restaurants over the next few years in a continuing effort to deal with declining sales.

The Maryville, Tenn.-based company reported Wednesday net loss of $37.4 million, or a diluted loss of 73 cents per share, for in the second fiscal quarter ended Dec. 2, 2008.

Dollywood trims schedule due to economy

Dollywood’s operating schedule will be shorter this year, and the economy is partly to blame.

ImagePoint to sell business units, cut 450 jobs

The shutdown is immediate and “will include termination of the company’s 450 employees,” according to a press release.

Kingsport, it’s seems likes to talk about all the success that it is experiencing, but one needs to ask the question, if Kingsport is doing all that well, then why don’t they use some of that money from that success and pay for projects instead of borrowing money.

It appears that this ramped up spinning started the day that Eastman Chemical announced the $100 million cost reduction.  Part of this cost reduction was that no Eastman Chemical employee would get wage/salary increases in 2009.

There has been many newspaper articles about this success lately and the Kingsport Times-News has announced that there will be many more to come.  Some of the newspaper articles are poorly researched and it is very clear to this blogger, that the author of the newspaper is not doing investigative reporting.  It appears that the newspaper is taking the City of Kingsport word as the gospel.

An example of spinning data was reported by Jeff Fleming, Kingsport Assistant City Manager, that the Kingsport area (Sullivan County) had the 3rd best unemployment rate in Tennessee.  What Jeff Fleming conveniently failed to do is mention that the City of Kingsport rate was 7.2 percent.  You can check it out yourself by going to the link: Kingsport Area = 3rd Lowest Unemployment in Tennessee.  The first part of the post that Jeff Fleming is the press release from the State of Tennessee.  The percentages posted at the bottom are from Jeff Fleming’s selected extraction of data from the Tennessee numbers.  Also, see previous post on a citizen reaction to City of Kingsport claims and Tennessee – November 2008 Unemployment rate for Tri-Cities area.

There may be a concern in the City of Kingsport about the public perception of the Tax, Borrow, and Spend label that has been given to city leaders.  It is quite possible that the “spin” the city has been doing lately is to justify all the spending.

Also, it is an election year where four Board of Mayor and Alderman positions are up for grabs.

The Kingsport Times-News is a willing participant in the spin on how great things are going.  But, one needs to look at the role of the top two management positions at the newspaper.  Keith Wilson who is the publisher and Ted Como as editor are not exactly innocent and unbiased bystanders.

These two newspaper people are deeply involved with the City of Kingsport and economic development in the region.  You could do a goggle search on Keith Wilson and Ted Como to see for yourself their involvement in local government affairs.

It is difficult if not impossible to find a politician, whether early in their career or a political office veteran, who has not given in to political pressure, special interest groups, lobbyists, or the good-old-boy-network practice of you-help-my-cause-and-I’ll-help-yours

There is nothing wrong about talking about success, but please cut out the spinning of data.

In a post on East TN Conservative blog, it states that people are starting to realize what is going on and are starting to be vocal about local issues

There is a national trend among Conservatives with a revolt. Tennessee is leading the charge, turning into a completely red state for the first time in many years. East TN is leading the state on its new path. Will the people of Kingsport do their part and get rid of the spenders? Will we step up and take our local governments back? Realize that the money they spend is our money and our kids future? I think we will.  Read more on The Awakening

Tennessee is asking for large cuts in it’s budget, Sullivan County is dimming the lights to save money, schools are being ask to cut back and now Tennessee hospitals are cutting staff and services.

But, it is business as usual in the City of Kingsport, Tennessee with the out of control spending.

There was a recent “letter to the editor” in the Kingsport Times-News, that addressed the City of Kingsport, Tennessee spending.  This letter to the editor is one of the best I have seen in a long time.  I strongly urge you to read it and comment if you desire.  The link is Kingsport spending like there’s no tomorrow

Apparently, the announcement by Eastman Chemical’s $100 million cost reduction has gotten the attention of Mayor Phillips and City Manager John Campbell.

There was an article in the Kingsport Times-News on December 17, 2008, that was a press release (below) issued by the City of Kingsport, Tennessee and on the same day of Eastman Chemical’s announcement in the Times-News.

It has been my view that the Kingsport officials have been in denial that the region is in a recession because of the way they like to talk about how great things are going in Kingsport and their out of control spending.

I feel the Eastman announcement shocked them that things aren’t as well off in Kingsport. The big issue is that there will be less money coming to the city government because of the economy.

The press release below is the City of Kingsport‘s attempt to put their “spin” on how great things are going in Kingsport.  It appears that they are defending their out of control spending such as the MeadowView Convention Center expansion and the aquatic center.

No where in the press release do they mention that they are cutting back and it appears that it is business as usual.  Citizens have been cutting back for some time and there was a recent directive by the State of Tennessee to reduce spending by as much as 20 percent.

University of Tennessee executive staff will take a voluntary 5 percent pay cut and relinquish their UT-provided cars.  UT staff take pay cut

Recent announcements by Domtar and Cooper Standard to shut down over Christmas because of lack of orders also shows that the recession is affecting local firms.  Domtar, Cooper Standard to shut down over Christmas

City Manager, John Campbell stated “Investments in quality of life, hospitality and tourism, including the aquatic center and MeadowView, will help Kingsport begin to take on qualities of a true destination city,”

Wow, this is news that Kingsport is going to be a tourist attraction.  Could John Campbell provide a list of attractions so the locals can visit them.  Will the citizens aquatic center be shared with the tourists?

The City of Kingsport recently contracted with a Michigan firm to do a study on directional signs to help direct motorists and pedestrians to various city destinations.  This study will cost $81,410 and does not include the signs.  Save the money on the study.  Here are some suggestions for the signs;  Dollywood 95 miles, Nashville 281 miles, Asheville 83 miles, etc

Campbell stated . “But we know that Greater Kingsport has one of the higher personal saving rates in the country, and that helps position the region to weather the storm.”  How does he know about the personal saving rates of citizens?

Anyway, it really smarts that Campbell expects citizens to use personal savings to weather the storm while the city’s spending is out of control.  The city would not even stop or give back to the citizens the regional sales tax after the tax had paid off the current convention center.

It is apparent to me that the City of Kingsport is not going to stop it’s spending on such projects as Meadowview expansion, aquatic center, V.O. Dobbins center, etc.  The press release below is their attempt to justify the spending.

If money gets tight for the city, what I would like to see is for Mayor Phillips to propose cutting city services like garbage collection to every two weeks, reduce police and fire protection coverage in order to continue the spending pattern that the city has shown to the taxpayers in the past.  Go ahead Mayor Phillips, make good on your threat’s about cutting services.

It could get very interesting in an election year, if the mayor did push for cutting services.  Fasten your seatbelts if he does.

Kingsport, what are you doing to reduce spending?

Kingsport officials say region, city positioned to succeed despite national downturn

KINGSPORT – While regretting the impact of the national recession on a major regional employer, city officials said Wednesday that Kingsport and the region remain positioned for success through economic diversification and a strong focus on education and workforce training.

“As difficult as today’s announcement by Eastman Chemical is, it dispels a number of rumors about what we can expect going forward,” Mayor Dennis Phillips said Wednesday. “It also serves as a positive indicator of how well positioned that company is today as compared to a decade ago.

“At a time when many companies like Toyota are talking of leaving a brand new plant shuttered, or, in the case of Dow Chemical, laying off thousands, Eastman is positioned to meet current economic realities with far more limited measures. And that is really a success story for Kingsport and the region.”

Meanwhile, other indicators of continuing buoyancy in Kingsport and the regional economy are made clear with AGC Industries, formerly AFG Industries, recently announced the $34.6 million reconstruction of a glass manufacturing plant in Church Hill, creating 120 new jobs by 2010.

“Just this afternoon, we expect an important positive announcement from Domtar,” Phillips said. “And through the continued work of NETWORKS, KEDB and city staff, we are working to diversify our economy, recruit new jobs and encourage existing employers to expand.”

City Manager John Campbell indicated that continued economic diversification remains vital to the long-term success of Kingsport.

“Investments in quality of life, hospitality and tourism, including the aquatic center and MeadowView, will help Kingsport begin to take on qualities of a true destination city,” Campbell said. “At the same time, by offering more opportunities in higher education, we help create the workforce necessary to attract new employers and expand existing Kingsport businesses. There are both short term job gains, and longer term strength, to be expected from the investments the board is making or considering today.”

Working within the city staff structure, Campbell said the creation of a new economic researcher position will boost the internal and external capacity for recruiting retail, home builders, medical, and other services.

“We are also strengthened by the fact that Kingsport and the region continue to do well in terms of the appreciation of home values, with depreciation being a major cause of much economic difficulty nationally,” Campbell said. “Kingsport has ranked 14^th in the country for much of the year in terms of appreciation. The key investment that most people own, their home, remains a sound investment in Kingsport.”

While making strategic investments in key areas of return – education, workforce retraining and economic diversification through hospitality and tourism – Campbell indicated that continued softening in the regional economy is to be expected given national conditions.

“Nationally, October was the month everything shut down, particularly in the retail sector, and we expect to see some softening in that area,” Campbell said. “But we know that Greater Kingsport has one of the higher personal saving rates in the country, and that helps position the region to weather the storm.”

A report by East Tennessee State University shows that Tri-Cities’ retail sales outperformed those of Knoxville, Chattanooga and Tennessee overall.

“If you look back since 2006, we’ve had $370 million in new construction, much of that in the retail and commercial office sectors,” Campbell said. “That is definitely helping Kingsport recapture lost market share.”

Looking forward, with ongoing work on projects like the reuse of Quebecor, the pending mall renovation, and expansion of Meadowview Convention Center, 2009 could still be a good economic year in Kingsport.

“No community is immune to the economic circumstances of the rest of the country,” Campbell said. “But we’re doing all we can to retain and recruit the jobs of tomorrow.”

The City of Kingsport, Tennessee, with its spending of taxpayers money, fails to see what is  happening to the struggling families who are trying to keep their heads above water in the economic crisis we are in.

Unemployment in Kingsport is the highest in the Tri-Cities area.

People are having to rely on food stamps to feed their families in record numbers.  See the quote from the Bristol Herald Courier article below.

More than 13 percent of Sullivan County residents received help from the U.S. government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in October, a month that broke program participation records across the state of Tennessee.  Click for more Record Numbers Seek Aid To Buy Groceries

Because of what is happening in the economy, retirees that are drawing on a percentage basis from their 401k’s have less to live on now.  Also, retirees that draw a fixed amount from their 401k’s have had to readjust the amount withdrawn downward for fear of running out of money in their 401k.  I am sure there are people thinking about retirement, but have postponed it because of the economy.

Tennessee state revenues continue to slide and are down 7 percent for the recent month.  Tennessee may face a $1 billion shortfall.  The Tennessean newspaper reports the following in the article below.

State’s decline among worst in U.S.

Bill Fox, director of the Center for Business & Economic Research at the University of Tennessee, said Tennessee has one of the nation’s largest declines in revenue, topped only by Florida and Arizona, a finding that surprised him. While Tennessee has not fared poorly with sales taxes, its slowdown in corporate tax collection is among the country’s worst, he said.

“Tennessee is feeling the brunt of the economic downturn from the tax revenue perspective much worse than is the norm around the U.S., at least through this part of the fiscal year,” he said.

States, Counties, and Cities around the country are being forced to cut spending, laying off workers and reducing pay for workers.  But, in Kingsport, it is business as usual with a bigger government with a bigger budget for this fiscal year and more city employees.  Kingsport debt is over $191 million and still growing to which Kingsport can be better known as the “TAX, BORROW, and SPEND” city.

Eastman Chemical has announced that their 4th quarter earning will widely miss its projection.  What next for Eastman?   Will there be another layoff or will employees cut back on spending because of unknowns in their future?

What can the citizens of Kingsport do about the situation with the current administration in Kingsport’s City government?

You must become more vocal with the Board of Mayor and Alderman.  Write letters to the editor and spread the word to others about what is happening with city government.  Submit comments online at the end of articles in the local newspapers.  If the Kingsport Times-News won’t publish your response, then go to other newspapers in the area.  Make your friends aware of what is happing on the BMA.  Be active in the local elections for the four BMA members whose terms expire.  Help get new BMA members get elected that resemble your views and vote current BMA members out if they should decide to run again for office if their views do not match yours.

As for me personally, I will be doing the following;

I will not vote for Mayor Phillips, Vice Mayor Mallicote, and Alderman Joh in the upcoming election if they decide to run for office again.  Reason:  Big spenders of taxpayers money.

Nothing seems to get the attention of certain BMA members (Phillips, Mallicote, Joh, Munsey, and Shupe) when citizens express concerns over spending or other issues.  Hence, I will be doing the following below.

If I decide to sell my property, I will not do business with Blue Ridge Properties since that is Alderman Joh’s business.  I have used Blue Ridge Properties in the past and in my opinion, they did not do anything for me that other real estate firms couldn’t offer.

If I need legal work done, I will not use Vice Mayor Mallicote’s law firm.

If I die, I will not use the Oak Hill Memorial Park, Funerals and Cremations owned by Stewart Enterprises because of Alderman Shupe’s employment there as manager.  I will not buy products from Shupe Securtiy since it is an Alderman Shupe firm.

I will not do business with any firm associated with Mayor Phillips or Alderman Munsey.  This means also that if Mayor Phillips opens up another Pizza joint, I will not buy his product.

Since gas prices are lower, I will shop elsewhere in Johnson City or Virginia and use the internet.

But, I will use Alderman Pat Shull’s business (Mary’s Kitchen) or any business Alderman Marsh has.

Maybe, in my small part, I can begin to get their attention when it affects their wallets.

Now, if everyone did the above, it might get Mayor Phillips’ attention.  But I’m sure he and other big spender BMA members will use some of the same threats below that has been used in the past.  Mr. Mayor, you do not need to reduce the services, instead reduce your obsession with the pet project spending you have done during your almost two terms.

Famous Quotes from the Kingsport Board of Mayor and Alderman

Mayor Dennis Phillips – ‘We need MeadowView to keep from reduceng fire, police protection, and reducing trash pick-up to every two weeks.” October 21, 2008

Mayor Dennis Phillips –“We need to annex so we don’t have to raise taxes”  February 5, 2008

Alderman Munsey – “We need to do the MeadowView expansion to keep from raising taxes” September 15, 2008

Alderman Munsey – Debt is neither good or bad,”   June 3, 2008

Vice Mayor Mallicote – “I do not believe all of the doom and gloom about the economy”.  June 3, 2008

Mayor Dennis Phillips – “If the taxpayers wanted the city to cut the spending, then we could collect garbage every other week”  June 3, 2008

Mayor Dennis Phillips – “If there were no money to spend, then you would not need politicians”  October, 2007

Mayor Dennis Phillips refuses to give back the regional sales tax to the citizens after it has served it’s purpose.  The Federal government has help out all kinds of firms and has given money back to the taxpayers.  It is time for Kingsport to step up to the plate and help the citizens out.  How about it Mayor Phillips?

Wake up Kingsport!!

The Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted on November 18, 2008 to spend $15.3 million for the MeadowView Convention Center Expansion, which will benefit special interest groups. As hard as Alderman Marsh and Alderman Shull have tried, the balance of the BMA refuses to give back the 1/4 percent Regional Sales Tax back to the citizens of Kingsport. It is a SAD day for Kingsport. Also, the BMA voted to spend $7.1 million for V.O. Dobbins renovation and expansion and $12.3 million for capital projects such as roads and parking garage. Total approved at the meeting was $34,753,000.

I had reported earlier that this was the first reading and the second reading was to be held on December 2, 2008.   However, I have learned that there will be no second reading and  this was an “Initial” resolution, which means the city staff is authorized to go into the bond market to make a deal subject to BMA final approval.

If you have a concern about this debt or the items below, then voice your concern to the BMA members. You can express your concerns by going to the meetings, write letters to the editor, talk to them on the telephone, leave a comment on this blog

The City of Kingsport, Tennessee continues to lose it’s Aaa insured bond credit rating with Moody’s Investors Service.  There are seven recent changes to Kingsport’s insured bond ratings and they are in RED in the table below.  Moody’s Investors Service is among the world’s most respected and widely utilized sources for credit ratings, research and risk analysis.

The reason for the downgrade for the insured bonds below is the credit rating given to MBIA and Ambac, who insure a good part of the City of Kingsport bonds.  Moody’s has given a negative outlook rating for these two firms.  Having a high insured rating on the bond makes it more attractive to investors.

Moody’s assigns an underlying rating for bonds, which is an assessment of a bond issue’s credit risk, without considering external credit enhancements.  For an insured bond issue, the underlying rating is the rating the issue would receive if it had no insurance.

The City of Kingsport, Tennessee municipal bonds are insured against default by a Municipal Bond Insurance company. The company pledges to make all interest and principal payments when due if the issuer of the bonds defaults on its obligations. In return, the bond’s issuer pays a premium to the insurance company. Insured bonds usually trade based on the credit rating of the insurer rather than the rating of the underlying issuer, since the insurance company is ultimately at risk for the repayment of principal and interest. Insured bonds will pay slightly lower yields, because of the cost of the insurance protection, than comparable noninsured bonds. Some of the major municipal bond insurance firms include MBIA and AMBAC Indemnity Corporation.

Moody’s ratings

Aaa - Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.

Aa1, Aa2, Aa3 – Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A1, A2, A3 – Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa1, Baa2, Baa3 – Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium-grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Caa1, Caa2, Caa3 - Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk, and have “extremely poor credit quality. Such banks may be in default.

Ca – Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are “usually in default on their deposit obligations”

C – Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, and “potential recovery values are low”

In the table below for Kingsport’s current bonds, the ratings are in bold.  The City of Kingsport pay insurance premiums to get a good rating, but looking at the chart below makes one wonder whether Kingsport is getting their money’s worth,  For example, the Insured A1, Underlying A1 rating for a bond below are the same for which the city pays to get a higher insured rating.  Also, in the table below, the Sale Amt. is in millions

Kingsport, Tennessee Current Bonds

Also see July 27, 2008 post East Tennessee city loses it’s bond rating

There were three bonds that were voted on at the November 18, 2008 Kingsport, Tennessee Board of Mayor and Alderman. A total of $34,753,000 was voted on and passed.

This was an “Initial” resolution, which means the city staff is authorized to go into the bond market to make a deal subject to BMA final approval.

The three bonds are as follows.

The items in green in the table below gives the details for the General Improvement Bond ($12,305,000) and it would have been nice if the items in the General Improvement Bond were listed separately. Politics, I am sure has something to do with it, because of the way it is listed. For example, if a BMA member had a strong desire against one of the items below in green, but was for the balance of the items, then it may force the BMA member to vote for something he/she was against to get the good items.

I have written many posts concerning the MeadowView Convention Center Expansion. This expansion of the convention center in my view, caters to the special interests. The current convention center has not made money and the taxpayers are keeping it afloat. Johnson City, Tennessee Millennium Centre has not made money since it was built in 1999. I do believe that the City Manager of Johnson City was John Campbell when it was planned and built. Now, John Campbell, who is now the City Manager for Kingsport wants to do it here.

On the V.O. Dobbins Center, Alderman Marsh and Shull voted against this project, because it had grown into something bigger than in the earlier discussions. Both, Marsh and Shull expressed concerns that the city was getting into the business of competing with the private sector.

Alderman Marsh stated that the City of Kingsport is attacking its own taxpayers by competing with businesses that has rental property that rent to nonprofits. The city is looking to have as renters, non-profits that are renting elsewhere in the city. For example, if the city is successful, United Way would leave the downtown area to relocate to the V.O.Dobbins Center and thus steal customers away from the private sector.

With the final approval of the three bonds below, the total debt would be $190.7 million and this does not include the aquatic center. Alderman Marsh has stated that the debt could go as high as $250 million in the next few years.

If you have a concern about this debt or the items below, then voice your concern to the BMA members. You can express your concerns by going to the meetings, write letters to the editor, talk to them on the telephone, leave a comment on this blog