$140,000,000 - Where did it go? Can we really afford four more years?

BY THE NUMBERS - ADDING UP WHAT THE CURRENT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COULD HAVE COST THE CITIZENS OF TUNICA COUNTY IN FOUR YEARS: 

$4,000,000                         Estimated cost to refund the illegally collected 2014 property taxes.

$4,000,000                         Estimated amount of budgeted property taxes for 2015 that well could be ruled illegal.

$3,000,000                         Estimated amount the County could have to refund based on pending casino property valuation challenges.

$5,000,000                         Estimated amounts illegal withheld from the School and Town

$10,000,000                      Difference in the amount of assets in the general fund as shown by an AUDIT for 9/30/11 versus the beginning cash balance for the current year’s budget.

$5,000,000                         Difference in the amount of cash in the road fund as show by an AUDIT for 9/30/11 versus the beginning cash balance for the current year’s budget.

$???????                             Cost of litigation to fight over such issues as why the Board didn’t just advertise as required by law – publish twice and wait 7 days – it’s that easy!  81 other counties follow the law.  Tunica County followed the law until 2014.  Why the change?  Why not do it right the first time?  Since January, 2014, it appears well over $300,000 has been spent on legal fees – not counting the $50,000 cost to have an attorney at all of the meetings and available to provide legal guidance to avoid litigation.

$31,000,000                      THE TOTAL.  There is tax money that needs to be paid back to taxpayers.  There is money that should never have been collected.  Laws have been broken.  There is money where the citizens have no audit to review in order to know its elected officials have not broken other laws. 

$140,000,000                    Estimated amount of the four budgets approved by the current Board of Supervisors.  4 times the FY2016 total budget of over $35,000,000.  Where did the current Board of Supervisors spend this money? 

 

Can Tunica County really afford four more years?  While a select few are doing great – ask yourself – Can YOU really afford four more years of illegal taxes, reduced services and no audits to show where the money is going?

The final thought:

$1,000,000              The cost to the taxpayers for 5 supervisors for 4 more years.  This does not include the thousands of dollars they vote on to send themselves on “county” trips to learn what the law is and how to follow it.

 

Is “Not Guilty” really the standard we have set for our elected and appointed officials?  Tunica County can do better.  Tunica County deserves better.