Taxpayer dollars squandered

[abbd]

I wonder just how much tax money has been spent by the LCG, The administration, the airport commission, government bodies and "authorities" etc. for meals and parties in the last few years. Is anyone else amazed at the arrogance of our city fathers and their friends in how they spend tax payer dollars? Maybe it's just me but I think it's high time for these expenditures to stop and we the taxpayers be reimbursed for these questionable charges. Why is joey and a CPA being wined and dined using tax payer dollars at a restaurant in New Orleans? Aren't these people rich enough to buy their own meals. I think most of them are fairly wealthy and drive fine cars and live in fine houses, so why am I being forced to pay for their parties? How many pigs are WE feeding at the trough?

[zoe10850]

Please note that the Tax Assessor, Conrad T Comeaux was one of the guests as well, as listed in article. Now what do you suppose his involvement was ? And yes, make certain you feed the auditor. Is that not a conflict or ethical violation ?

[abbd]

Oh, is that the same Conrad Comeaux the hehehehehe elected Republican who wants to raise my property taxes and who also openly supported the election of Kathleen Blanco? Well as my lawyer son tells me, dad just because it isn't quite fair or ethical, doesn't mean it isn't legal. Sad huh? Let's see, an appointed committe member uses tax money to pay for an elected politician, his wife and his friends meals? Wow now that is interesting isn't it?

[Taureau]

Anyone going to the Air Port Commission Meeting? Public
is invited and there is no charge.
Where: Lafayette Air Port, 2nd. floor
When : Friday, Nov. 2, 2006
Time : 5:30pm

[abbd]

I see where joey has commented on the spending habits of the airport comm. Does anyone else see the irony of joey (a receipient of these expenditures) being asked his opinion of them. I mean is that a joke or what?...hey mr. durel, were those meals good? or are they giving you a bad case of delayed indegestion? I guess we should ask all the other pigs at the trough(wives, CPAs etc.) if they like eating meals paid for my taxpayers.

[Guest]

According to an article in the advocate this morning, Joey has moved up from "cold sandwiches" at CAC meetings to hot meals before the council meetings!

[ronnief]

There seems to be a general lack of good ethics in government, at all levels. There is no ethical person out there to enforce the existing laws. There was a Legislative Auditor, Dan Kyle, who was not afraid to call a politician to task, but he was encouraged to move on. There has to be a club, or no one will follow the rules.

For example, when the Legislative Auditor comes in and scolds the Airport Commission, he should remove the auditor who has not done his job. An audit should be independent. An auditor cannot work for an agency, then audit that agency. Remember when George Lewis would sit in on the Council meetings and make comments. If it turned out that his advice was in error, and he was the auditor, what do you suppose happened ? He could hardly criticize himself. Does the auditor make campaign contributions to those same politicians ? Is he then objective ?

How do we know if our audits are what they say when the commissions or councils wine and dine them ? Remember the DA's auditor prepared his campaign reports ? Makes you wonder.

[sb]

Auditors are not wined and dined, but they are paid for by the agency that requires the audit. I used to be in charge of about a quarter of million dollar budget. Small change when you consider government budgets. I got audited twice a year by the Supreme Court of Louisiana & once a year by an outside agency as required by law. The Supreme Court person wouldn't even allow me to buy him/her a water b/c it might seem improper. The outside agency person was good (still no water), but how can you get an accurate audit when the person you're auditing is paying the bill? You have a vested interest in keeping the damage to a miniumim to ensure that your agency gets the contract for the next year. Not exactly unbiased.

I have NEVER understood this practice, until someone not so honest explained to me that they do it that way for exactly that reason. Unless someone is willing to alert the LA Auditor's office, no one knows what is going on. All annual audits are available online now. Hopefully, this misuse of public funds by local governments will begin to stop.

[zoe10850]

Now SB, you hit the nail on the head on this one. If you want a thorough audit, let the opposition hire them. CPA's have the Legislative clout to set this system in place. The current info re: the city exoenses and Airport expenses only scratches the surface. What else don't we know ? Why doesn't the Lagislative Auditor audit these agancies once every 4 years, perhaps the year before election year ? The missuse of public funds will not stop if there is no report of it, whether reports are on line or not.

[sb]

My husband always tells me "I wish you were as tight with our personal money as you were with the government's!"

My response: "You can't put me in jail and on the front page of the paper!" ;D ;D ;D

He doesn't audit my receipts either!!!

[fubar]

I thought that this area - squandering taxpayers $$ was appropriate.
Be sure to check out the Daily Advertising page 2 for today. Looks like our city fathers have spent a load of money to buy Segways for our cops. These ain't cheap (base model is over $5,000 bucks)- best part is the photo showiing a cop (officer Gomer) who looks in sore need of exercise - Hmmm! give em Segways, then Red's membership to work off the flab from riding an expensive scooters instead of walking???

[Guest]

I believe the article also stated that a local business was going to donate the funds for them.

[zoe10850]

I thought the city police had purchased horses for details like Mardi Gras and Jefferson street...like New Orleans

Anybody out there still think Craft was a good choice for chief ?

[fubar]

Does the donor of the $$ for the Segway expect anything in return - one wonders?

[zoe10850]

Well Fubar, my guess is they expect a little law enforcement since there apparently is little now. I wonder, Chief Craft, have you never heard of undercover officers ? Plant a few, let them roam around and wait to get mugged by some opportunistic thugs. Then shoot the thugs. It will work, I promise. Ditto in the areas around the campus bars. Is no longer safe for college kids to just have a good time.

I hope some good comes from this.