Financial Update - The 2022-2023 Audit

I have been sounding an alarm about Lathrup Village’s financial health for the last few years.  As our rainy day fund balance has steadily decreased, in my attempts to address the reckless spending, I have been gaveled, shut down, disrespected, accused of bullying, libeled and slandered.  Click the link to watch the way I was treated by Garrett at the September 25, 2023 City Council meeting when I tried to explain that we have a balanced budget but our fund balance (rainy day fund) has been steadily decreasing.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1222839271562253/permalink/1726566511189524/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Besides her dismissive behavior, it is obvious she doesn’t understand the budget or the fund balance.  She states “and the fund balance has a surplus.”  She refers to the audit coming out in November.

Well, it’s November and the audit is out and the audit shows that the City spent $658,915 from the rainy day fund to pay day-to-day expenses!  This is why I have repeatedly expressed concerns about automatic raises; increased training budgets; credit card use; management fees; etc.; etc.; etc.  We are in trouble and no one is concerned or doing anything about it!!  Just like Garrett and Kantor sat back and did nothing while almost $2,000,000 of water literally went down the drain and just like Garrett and Kantor didn’t address the lack of water pressure in LV that puts resident lives at risk, they have continued to ignore the financial issues we are facing, spending way beyond our means.  I tried to hold Garrett and Kantor accountable with no success.  Hopefully it isn’t too late to save our community without raising our taxes or water bills as they have done multiple times to clean up their messes!!

                2022-2023

                                Beginning Fund Balance = $1,242,202

                                Ending Fund Balance = $583,287      

Besides the proof of reckless spending, the audit highlights many other issues that I tried to address in my 2 years on Council.  But as usual, the excuse is that Pam is overworked and we are short staffed.  This is unacceptable!!!  People need to do the jobs they are hired to do.  A person making over $100,000/year shouldn’t be whining about putting in over 40 hours.  A person making over $100,000/year should do their job no matter how long it takes.  When did our community lower our standards making this mess acceptable?  Click here for the 2022-2023 Audit. 

Claims that I unnecessarily cost the city $100K are ridiculous!

Regarding money spent on an election attorney:

Going into the 2021 LV City Council election, one of the Council candidates didn’t file the required paperwork to allow him to be put on the ballot. Instead of disqualifying him and allowing him to file as a write-in candidate, City Attorney Baker created an Affidavit of Intent to skirt the rules and put the candidate on the ballot. Barb Kenez and I contested this with City Attorney Baker, citing Michigan Election Law violations. Not only were we ignored, instead we were told that there were “questions about every candidate’s paperwork” (which seemed like an attempt to deflect our concerns) and that Garrett had supposedly received “lots of calls, e-mails and texts from people with concerns.”  As a result, City Attorney Baker recommended hiring Butzel Long, who he referred to as “election experts.”  $28,000 later, Butzel Long came to the same conclusion as Kenez and I had – that the candidate should have been disqualified and allowed to file as a write-in candidate. City Attorney Baker and Council hired Butzel Long to cover their own actions, not because of anything Kenez or I did, other than call them out and force visibility on the issue. Click here for the 2021 Lathrup Village City Council Election Timeline.  

In reference to issues raised on the propaganda website regarding former City Administrator Sheryl Mitchell:

In January of 2020, Mitchell let it be known that she thought my questions regarding the almost $19,000 spent on the Caribbean Fest were racially motivated, which was totally baseless slander. Click here for e-mail re racially motivated questions. In March of 2020, Mitchell publicly claimed I was “against everything Black.” I reached out to City Attorney Baker (see e-mail) and said I was putting the problem in his hands and that if the slander against me didn’t stop, I would bring charges. He did nothing. Unfortunately Mitchell continued to spread these stories as things shut down during the pandemic. I wanted to address my concerns about Mitchell’s behavior, as well as the irresponsible spending on the Caribbean Fest and related conflicts of interest I found to be extremely disturbing for the long-term well-being of the City, directly with Council in person, but their meetings continued to be held via Zoom. On December 30, 2020, I sent the attached letter to the homes of all of the Council members. Though Garrett states very often that she always gets back with residents, I never heard a word, even though Council minutes show that my letter was discussed among Council members.  

Mitchell, along with Garrett, caused strife and division in our beloved Lathrup Village. Her resignation gave me hope that we could again unite as a community.

The bottom line? As I did during my time on Council, I will continue to thoroughly review budget reports and disbursements (line by line as necessary when I notice discrepancies or unexplained expenditures), study audit reports and ask questions regarding how your tax dollars are being spent. I remain committed to our community.

2022-2023 Audit Report

2021 Lathrup Village Election Timeline

January 2021 E-Mail re “Racially Motivated” Questions & F.O.I.A. Request

March 2020 E-Mail to Attorney Baker re Mitchell

December 30, 2020 Letter to City Council

Butzel Long Invoice