Mayor John Harper vs The World — Part VII

Mayor John Harper vs The World — Part VII

I guess folks are wondering WHY I missed a day in the continuing saga of a Mayor under siege. Well, frankly, because he didn’t do or say anything worth reporting.

That has changed.

This morning I became the recipient of an email from several concerned sources that wanted to make sure that I knew that Hizzoner was at it again, attacking the City Manager, Ms. Lynda Humble, and portraying himself as The Victim of a Council and city that is out to get him.

Hizzoner sent this out as a PRESS RELEASE, and since some folks consider bloggers to be a part of the press, ie: Journalists, I was made privy to that release.

What follows is apparently considered by Hizzoner to be a PRESS RELEASE, some of us are of the opinion that it’s just another chapter in John Harper’s Manifesto.

Statement from Mayor Harper

Rowlett City Manager Lynda Humble today announced the agenda for the April 5 City Council Meeting. The agenda amounts to a “political lynching” of the Mayor! The Rowlett City Council wants to stop your Mayor from speaking out about their failures to keep their promises to control spending and not increase taxes or fees. They want me to resign instead. They are not hearing the voice of the people.

I very likely will step down from my post as Mayor. I am considering the most appropriate time to do that and still do my best for the citizens of Rowlett. I want to be sure that my message is heard by all the citizens and not drowned out by special interest groups who want to continue the status quo.

My message is simple. I have prepared a Fact Sheet which cites sufficient factual incidents (there are more) to show that this City Council is not listening to the citizens. Taken individually, each incident might not seem too concerning. However, taken together, it is very disconcerting. Where are the kept promises? Will this continue into the future?

It is time for change. It is time to elect new council members who will keep their promises. You have choices for the upcoming election. Choose change. We need different leaders.

Four years ago I promised you that I would lead the City of Rowlett forward and bring professionalism to our local government. You trusted me and I kept those promises. Now, Rowlett is on the move!

Today Rowlett has proper fund balances and even some modest excess reserves. The City bond rating has increased. There have been no city property tax rate increases during the past four years. Unfortunately, there have been fee increases imposed by the City Council. The City is in a very sound financial condition for today but that cannot be sustained without change. That change will require shared sacrifice of city employees and city taxpayers in order to assure our future.

Genuine accountability and transparency are now firmly in place in Rowlett, but challenged. Rowlett Citizens are at the center of every decision made by me, but not by all. All of us…city staff and City Council… need to be focused on genuine and continuing customer service! We must keep the taxpayers first and always! That direction…that value… is very much challenged now.

Four years ago I presented my vision that Rowlett would be transformed from a bedroom community for Dallas and instead achieve its own destiny of being a regional center for commerce in the northeastern Metroplex. We are on the cusp of achieving that vision! As your Mayor I have led the City to a good place. Now we have to continue to improve as the new opportunities in Rowlett are being realized.

The City must and will grow both in residents and in businesses. More and better jobs will be available right here in Rowlett. This growth will give us the increased tax base needed to provide more city services and amenities. I have voted consistently for no increase in taxes or discretionary fees. We should only spend what we have! No deficit spending! I have voted alone.

We need a lot of new investment and a lot of outside help to become a regional center. That is why I have been so active in groups and organizations that oversee the major spending in the Metroplex. I have promoted and protected Rowlett interests. This network provided me a strong influence on regional transportation issues and criminal justice issues. No one on the current City Council has shown any interest in these groups or organizations.

So, yes, Rowlett is being transformed. Just look at the projects now underway: Bush Turnpike, DART Rail, new highways, rehabilitated neighborhoods, improved parks. The City needed a transformational leader…someone with the credentials, the experience, and the network of friends and colleagues…to get things done. I have been that transformational leader. Now, I will step down and hopefully be replaced by another dedicated and proven leader.

Voter registration ends on April 14. Early voting at the Rowlett Public Library begins on May 2. Election Day is May 14 at your designated precinct poll.

And what follows is a *Fact Sheet* from Hizzoner. I will let my readers make up their own minds, but as I have said on numerous occasions, and will say once again, it’s not the figures that Hizzoner presents that give me a problem, it’s the way he goes about it.

Transactions approved by the Rowlett City Council:

Purchase of non-critical goods and services during the extended economic downturn – some examples:

Out-of-town retreat for City executives

Office furniture for City Manager and Assistant, others

100 new high-end desktop computers for City staff

$4,500 dishwasher for the Animal Shelter

Hiring external consultant to do executive searches

Hiring of external consultant to do City Engineer duties

Use of needed contingency/emergency funds to pay operating expenses

Supplemental payment for the City Employee Retirement Plan

Lease payments and interest payments for new equipment

Landscaping and mowing of city property

Reallocation of Employee Vacancy funds without Mayor/Council review

Current budget is for $375,000 in savings

Actual savings in prior years:

$975,273 - 2009

$749,545 - 2010

What was/is being purchased with the significantly extra savings?

Adoption of self-insurance for City Employees health program

Estimated cost in 2011 - $2,650,842 – an annual increase of 10%

(Others recently abandoned self-insurance due to high risk)

Reduction in the Texas Municipal Retirement System benefits

Estimated cost in 2011 - $2,900,653

Estimated cost in 2016 - $$4,569,978…an increase of 57.5%

Reductions to be effective in 2012 - $129,736

Purchase of Public Works equipment using funds designated for neighborhood streets, alleys, and screening walls - $700,000

Increased fees paid by Rowlett residents

Water - 3.9% in addition to 10% pass-thru increase

Emergency 911 – 13.6% residential, 70.4% commercial

Approved a tax rate increase for debt service – 3%

Reduced City workforce by an additional five positions

19 positions are already vacant, budgeted but long unfilled

No formal legal review of process for determining reductions

Alternative actions such as furloughs, across-the-board pay reductions of 1-2%, or reduced allowances were not considered

Promoted Director of Human Resources during RIF decision

What is needed now:

Buy time until the economy rebounds/grows in Rowlett

Accept that there is a “new normal” now in Rowlett for likely next five years

Reduce non-critical spending, not core municipal services

Limit spending to no more than what is received in revenue each year

Escrow any surplus and savings and invest them to stimulate growth in Rowlett’s commercial property tax base

Pay down the most expensive debt as soon as possible

Do not refinance debt for longer period of time than original contract

Defer any new borrowing or Bond Referendum for capital purchases

Encourage savings in tax-sheltered plans for City employees

Stop the heated rhetoric and personal attacks that are factually erroneous and politically motivated! The election period ends on May 15.

Desired outcome

Reschedule the cancelled March 19 comprehensive budget review

Complete a comprehensive budget review prior to City Manager’s proposed budget submission on August 2

Appoint a Citizen Panel to participate in comprehensive budget reviews to assure focus on taxpayer as decisions are made

Connect past isolated budget reviews to the larger context

Proposed operating budgets for the next 5 years must clearly and aggressively address the need for long-term sustainability

Repeat this comprehensive budget review process annually

Suspend the survey of proposed cuts to municipal services until August

City employees and taxpayers must agree to an equitable “shared sacrifice”, requiring givebacks from both groups

Continue the positive and aggressive marketing of the City of Rowlett to commercial developers and brokers

Restored mutual respect and trust among Rowlett elected officials

Many here in Rowlett see the PRESS RELEASE as a sign that Harper will resign. Most that I am hearing from are hoping it’s sooner rather than later. I am not so sure that Harper WILL resign, this may simply be another cry for attention.

If Hizzoner is going to resign, is this FACT SHEET just his attempt to justify his actions? Or his inability to communicate his wishes to the Council and Manger is a calm and professional way?

Mayor Harper, I know you’re reading this blog, so please, don’t misrepresent my words when you tell people that I, and MY FOLLOWERS are attacking you over THE NUMBERS. That Sir, is a LIE, and the list is already long, you don’t need to add to it.

The City Council meeting on Tuesday night, April 5th would be a dandy time to make your leaving official I am thinking!