Hold on to your wallets, Glencoe taxpayers

To the Editor:
Just a few lines to let you know that I am still alive. Read my opinion and write your own. Your article can be long or short, high praise or scorching criticism. There are many people out there who would like to hear your voice and opinions. I know I would!
There are things that are going quite well. High school children are doing excellent. Lutheran school children delivering a long-overdue letter, snowblowers getting a rest, and the squirrels still triumphing over Rich Glennie.
Unfortunately, taxpayers of Glencoe, better hold onto your wallets. The spend crew of the city council and administration are in marathon sessions again. A few examples are as follows:
• Raise wastewater rates to pay for $23 million expansion. Then transfer $45,000 out of wastewater to the general fund for management services instead of using the money for repairs.
• Raise storm sewer rates, then transfer $95,000 or more to the general fund for management services and additional hires.
• Transfer $11,000 a year out of sanitation fund to make payments on new equipment that is already taxed for.
The previous items mentioned are just a few of the items to keep the deficit spending of city hall. There are many more, enough to write a book on.
When the City Council raises rates for items, they need to keep those monies in that utility or for that need. We can’t keep borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. Holding us all up as hostages by not using funds for what they were intended for is poor accountability. We are already paying for general fund items out of the tax levy, which I might add is going up again.
We need to curb these items by cutting budgets that affect bloated City Hall and not always the people paying the bills.
Last, but not least, taxpayers on the central storm sewer project beware! The “evil” Minnesota State Statute 429 assessment roll is coming your way.
Allen Robeck
Glencoe City Council member