Theron Sanders Sr.: We thought Atwater would get better; we were wrong
Three years ago, when Atwater teetered on bankruptcy, the hope was that things could only get better. After all, seven employees were terminated, along with other needed cuts. Officials really tightened the fiscal belt.
Since that time, Atwater has become complacent, hiring new police officers, buying new police cars, restoring some employees pay; all seem prudent and reasonable under most circumstances, minus one! City Hall doesn’t have the money to pay for it, even with Measure H funds.
Despite million-dollar-plus tax increases, the city abandoned its responsibility and bought an unneeded million-dollar fire truck with the approval of a rubber-stamping overnight committee. Then the city approved $80,000 worth of equipment purchases, for which the city declines to disclose to whom the check was paid.
Yes, that’s right! Taxpayers’ money went to an anonymous vendor. Today, the city is on course to blast through its annual budget by over $1.5 million. Before it’s too late, Atwater absolutely needs to bring in new and competent leadership to keep the city ship from sinking or they will need to check the Yellow Pages under bankruptcy attorneys.
Theron Sanders Sr., Atwater
This story was originally published March 30, 2015 at 2:03 PM with the headline "Theron Sanders Sr.: We thought Atwater would get better; we were wrong."