Dear Editor,
It was indeed quite disappointing to learn that the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown blocked the media on December 7, 2016, from covering discussions regarding preparation of the .7 billion budget to be presented by City Hall for 2017.
In fact it was surprising that these municipal officials who actively and constantly seek the attention of the media for all sorts of frivolous things seem to have some things to hide from the citizenry to whom they are presenting this budget.
Could it be the fact that they propose to get just a little over 0 million for the year a paltry sum from the notorious parking meter contract whilst the company deploying the system is proposed to get somewhere in the vicinity of a whopping 0 million from the poor citizens of Georgetown?
Could it be that they do not wish the public to see the enormous wages and salaries bill for 2017, which is due to the payroll being stuffed with about a thousand workers, many of whom are friends and family of senior officials?
Could it be that they wish to hide the gargantuan amounts they pay to contractors, particularly to one individual, a friend of a senior functionary at City Hall?
Or could it be that they are just mortified by the fact that they are increasing rates and taxes and increasing their revenue from every angle whilst reducing services such as road works?
All in all I would like to know why they are suddenly press shy.
Regards,
Riley Matthews
