$172,730.29 loss by Gas Utility went unnoticed by current Alpine City Council and Mayor. After demanding and fighting for an evaluation of Alpine’s gas utility last summer, the Alpine City Council finally received that evaluation during a council meeting in August of 2013.
That rosy and glowing report now contradicts what recent numbers illustrate through Alpine’s new accounting software by consultant Hill Country Software. This new accounting software has enabled Alpine management to release this loss in a December 30, 2013 quarterly financial statement.
This information was made available to the council on January 6, 2014 and it verifies in the months of October/November/Decemebr the gas utility lost $172,730.29. Outside of transfers, it is clearly evident that the once highly-profitable enterprise as Southwest Municipal Gas Corporation has turned into a financial drain under Alpine’s current supervision. When salaries of city administration are allocated and charged back as is planned, that amount will escalate higher.
Neither the mayor nor any council member has brought this to the attention of the current city manager for action or called for a review during the Tuesday evening’s council meeting. That loss of city dollars was brought to light during the Alpine Council’s special meeting Wednesday, January 22, and resulted in a “deer in the headlights” response on the part of attendees.
With May elections for representatives of Wards 2 and 4 and the mayor, it will be a good time to ask the question, “Who is watching your money?”
At this point we can’t afford this business as usual attitude. What have we learned the past twelve months?
The next time a councilperson boasts about their financial expertise it would be wise to ask them to justify just what enables them to offer that “expertise.” We deserve better.
Michael Castelli
Alpine City Council, Ward Five
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