PB: SDM’s first guest post – David Singer asks some good questions
by SDM
SDM took a little liberty with the blog today to post a comment from David Singer. SDM has never met Mr. Singer nor have the two of us ever spoken. His words are powerful, though SDM cautions that whenever a resident attempts to discuss a public entity’s budget there is a risk that he or she may misunderstand the document.
In Mr. Singer’s case, SDM has confidence in his comments because he focused on the fund balances, which in lay terms is the amount of cash the village will have on hand at the end of next year’s budget cycle. It’s a pretty tough number to fudge. If Mr. Singer is correct, there is big trouble in River City.
This email and documentation went to the Mayor and Council this morning.
To all,
I have not been able to meet, after repeated attempts, with the Palmetto Bay’s Director of Finance [Desmond Chin]. This meeting was imperative to either confirm or refute my calculations below. Thus since no meeting occurred, this will be the story I will be submitting to the Miami Herald. Of course it will be more detailed.
In accordance with the attached Summary of Funds that I downloaded from the Village website, the beginning Fund balance on October 1, 2012 is $15,061,167. The ending Fund balance budgeted for September 30, 2013 is $8,298,573. Therefore the use of funds during the upcoming year, based on the current budget is going to be $6,762,594. You are spending almost seven million dollars of reserve. That’s not what you said on the record.
If you look further into the numbers of the attached document, you will see that the use of reserve funds over the past three-year period has been $10,014,568. That is really horrendous for a Village that ran in the Black for the first eight years of operation. Where did the 10 million dollars go?
Looking further down on the attached document, you will see that the Unassigned Fund balance ending as of September 30, 2013 is $5,440,180. This Unassigned fund balance, or ‘reserve,’ if you will, is lower than any other local municipality I have investigated, which includes Pinecrest, Miami Lakes, Coral Gables, and others. There were references made at the budget meeting that the Village had more money in reserves than other many municipalities in Miami-Dade – a total misrepresentation on the part of the Mayor.
At no point in the final budget meeting, and I’ve watched it repeatedly, was a $6,762,594 use of reserves mentioned. $6,762,954 is the number budgeted to be spent in FY 2012-2013 regardless of what was represented verbally at a public hearing. In fact, everyone who spoke about the numbers is on record as saying that only $2.3 million would be used. And that was only after they finally admitted that the $900,000 which they originally floated was deemed to be a misrepresentation during my simple questioning. If you need reminding, the budget hearing is on video, unless of course there is a Nixonesque deletion of the hearing in the near future.
At no point in the final budget meeting was there disclosure that there is only $5.4 million in unassigned reserves rather than $8.3 million. $8.3 million turns to $5.4 million because $2.8 million has been earmarked as “committed” and can’t be used for a contingency (unless you have your own accounting definition of what “committed” means.) In fact, when Vice Mayor Pariser asked for current reserves Manager Willams noted they were $9.8 million – another incorrect remark. If the Manager has not been able to review his copy of the Budget, he could always check it on the Village Website – that where all this information comes from.
At the last budget meeting, the Mayor accused me of disseminating misinformation, but it’s the Mayor and Village Manager that continue to mislead the public. But what is of further concern is that no other Council member corrected the financial information that was being disseminated. Somebody needs to be looking at the numbers. At least one Council Member, though, had the good sense to vote against the budget. It seems to me that there is enough to go the State Attorney’s office involved.
And as a personal aside, Eve [Boutsis, village attorney], I’m not being superfluous and inflammatory as you have accused me of previously – but you can only cover up the current administration’s incompetency for so long. I’m planning on making an appointment at the State Attorney’s office sometime this week if you would like to join me.
It is far from palatable what is occurring at Village Hall. Budgeting and correct financial records are a bedrock of any democracy. I guess the only transparency in the Village of Palmetto Bay resides in Meighan Alexander’s office where information is provided on a timely basis.
There used to be a saying when I was working in public accounting “NUMBERS DON’T LIE, PEOPLE DO.”
I look forward to seeing everyone at the Wednesday event [the State of the Village speech by Mayor Stanczyk].
David Singer
THERE WILL BE MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW.
SDM Wonders: Why wouldn’t Finance Director meet with a resident who has a question about the budget? If he was told not to meet with Mr. Singer, who gave the order and why? Inquiring minds want to know.
Just to let you know this information is available for everyone to see on the Village of Palmetto Bay website. It was revised slightly, after the budget meeting and I took that in account when I wrote this letter. If anyone would like to verify my numbers, especially since the Director of Finance would not meet with me, look at the speadsheet called General Fund Summary in the 2012-2013 budget.
This situation is another example of lack of transparency and lack of customer service in the Village. Whether I am a crabby, old resident with a chip on my shoulder, or a resident who doesn’t have the facts, or a resident with an agenda (which I am sure Mr. Singer has been accused of all three…don’t worry Mr.S., not throwing darts at you…I have been called the same too!), our Village staff should be answering our questions, should be treating us with professionalism (kindness would be nice too), and should be giving us appointments/information when requested. Somehow this “community” has lost its sense of community.
The current elected officials cannot stand the trusth getting out. Mayor Stanczyk is spreading more lies.
She just put out an e-mail where she claims that Palmetto Bay’s reserves are “over $8 million, far in excess of what best practices calls for.”
She is lying when she states that the current council has contributed to our reserves yearly, that if the legal expenses compromised our Village at all our reserves would not have increased.
She is clearly misstating the truth. The reserves have dropped from $11.4 million to the $8 million. This is not addition. This is known as subtraction.
Palmetto Bay has become the village of misinformation from elected officials.
Actually she is lying with her email (By the way I’d like to get a copy of it, if you can send it to me). The reserves maybe $8 million but only $5.4 million can be utilized because the balance of $3.0 million has been specifically earmaked.
Tomorrow everyone will find out what else she’s lied about. There is much, much more.
Please send her email to info@recallpalmettobay.com
Here is the text:
Good afternoon;
The election is a very hot topic at this time. The national news is right up there along with our local and county election as a discussion topic. The Palmetto Bay election ballot as well as the County and State have a multitude of Ballot questions. Palmetto Bay Charter Amendments are up for approval on the ballot. I have found a website that has pages dedicated to the Ballot items that has been very helpful. I do not know who has organized it as it was sent to me in an email from some residents. I will provide the Link and the information is on different pages. Check for the pages of interest and click on them. I hope it is of help. Palmetto Bay Checks the Record.
On a more serious note about the current elections and other political issues ongoing in our community. This election season has certainly become more divisive than any ever before. Groups have formed that have created an atmosphere that in my mind is beyond belief. Truth is not their friend. Many have joined their ranks or are competing with equally bad or untruthful behavior. Some of these people were in positions of trust in our Village. I have corresponded with you all in the past about my support for our current Vice-Mayor. He is a fine man of integrity and ethics who uses his skills to the betterment of this community. He has done so since long before incorporation. But my point is really a collective comment about the very destructive behavior going on.
I personally have been harassed at my home and business in an attempt to hurt me politically and financially to distract me from my job as Mayor. So have others on our Council. As a public figure I know that I have fewer protections than afforded our residents. Responding to their lies and misinformation or manufactured facts is difficult and lacks a forum.
I just received an email from a supporter of a candidate for Vice Mayor saying that the Vice Mayor could have settled the Palmer Trinity issue and how. His statement was a bold faced lie and of course he knows it. He was once in a position of trust in our village. (While the issue is being resolved many attempts were made in the past by this Council. Remember, they are suing us and they continue the process. Not the Village.) Anonymous letters with copies of blogs full of lies from a misdirected candidate for Vice Mayor does not define our Village or relay the truth in any manner. It is just another unethical and ugly attempt to turn votes away from her opponent and create fear in our residents.
The recall group is clearly an election agenda sparked by those candidates from the last election. Their vile behavior, lies and manufactured evidence are games meant to tear this village apart, undermine your confidence in your government. That is clearly misdirection. This group has documents from hundreds of public records requests and manipulates them to their own end. The truth does not need manipulation or “interpretation” to be told.
Palmetto Bay’s financial picture is strong, AA Bond rating and perfect budget audits. Our Village is well maintained, the Parks are in use and vibrant. Our streets are clean and show the beautiful tree canopy that has grown so well since incorporation. Our Police are on the job and the department is growing to provide even more security. Our legal expenses do not approach the dollar amount they list nor does the use of our reserves. Our reserves are at over $8 million, far in excess of what best practices calls for. We have contributed to our reserves yearly. If our legal expenses compromised our Village at all our reserves would not have increased. The amount spent on the litigation has in no way changed or compromised the way our village has developed. The truth about our Village has been told at every public meeting (view the tapes on the website) and is available by public records request or already available on our website. The transparency of our government sets the standard and exceeds surrounding municipalities.
Now that I have had a small say, I would like to apologize to you all for having to suffer this. While I share your pain in this, I know that I cannot control these groups. The hope is that the end of the election will also bring this to an end. Thank you all for your patience.
Mr. Singer failed to mention that the Mayor’s rant appeared in the middle of a eblast put out by her as Mayor today under the guise of public information. If this isn’t illegal, it is at least unethical to use what appears to be an official Village Communique to attack your opponents and endorse those candidates you support. Just when you think she can’t sink any lower…
SSDD….Same SH-T Different day, what the MAYOR says the nasty residents are doing is the same song from two years ago, what she and THEY say are what she is doing, bringing down this village with the nasties, defacing signs and stealing them and ranting the untruths etc. etc. THEY ARE THE ONES NOT THE normal citizens that are taking this village down one candidate at a time…this is their standard operating procedure and it won’t stop until they are out of office and unfortunately the village will be out of funds…..bad people, lies lies and more lies…..
What a sick and crazy mayor. She accuses others of employing the same campaign tactics that her sick group employ. The three Amigo slate is the only group distributing lies, stealing campaign signs and harassing opponents.
I want to know what does David Singer do? There are so many people with the same name, I have a feeling he is tied up with groups that want to own Palmetto Bay!!!
Mr. Singer has said many times that he is an accountant for a company called Berkowitz Development, which as SDM understands it, builds, owns and operates shopping centers.
Now I know, why he is against our Mayor and Vice-Mayor!! He wants someone to be elected who will be in cahoots with him and the “others” in their group who started this blog.