Theron Sanders Sr.: How is possible Atwater might be in danger of going under?

As a disabled veteran, I am acutely aware of the importance of living on a budget. Out of necessity, I am focused like a laser on every dollar I spend. So when city manager Frank Pietro claimed to be pleased to submit Atwater’s annual fiscal report, I was pleased as well. Until I read it.

That independent report for the period ending June 30, 2015, is difficult to understand for a novice. It looks like a blizzard of numbers that might as well be written in Greek. However, I do understand English, and there is one accompanying statement with the report that is alarming. There is substantial doubt that the city of Atwater will continue as a going concern.

It further states that city funds continue to suffer recurring deficits. Atwater seems to struggle, year after year, with no fiscal recovery in sight. When the Great Recession hit five years ago, residents here suffered equally, as did many across the rest of the state. Today, bad management, poor decisions and reckless spending by Atwater officials have brought us to a point so low it comes down to whether a question of our city continuing as a going concern.

This story was originally published March 17, 2016 at 12:21 PM with the headline "Theron Sanders Sr.: How is possible Atwater might be in danger of going under?."