I applaud the backbone Councilmember Dawson displayed when she voted against League City Proud’s “offer they can’t refuse” The offer was pay us or there will be no Christmas parade. The majority of council decided to pay up with our tax dollar to fund this parade for the citizens.
Going unanswered are the details. League City Proud has thus far been unable to show the city their books and has not shown where all the “non profit” organizations money is spent. In other words they prefer to keep the people who are paying for the parade (the citizens of League City) in the dark. No transparency there. (Where have we seen this before?) They refuse to sign a contract to obligate them to reimburse the city for security expenses relating to their production. Why?
I think it’s time the city take control of city functions like this parade or at least get bids on it. There is no village fair parade and now the people who put on the Christmas Parade are putting the proverbial gun to the head of the citizens and saying Pay up or there will be no Christmas parade ! Now that is what I call exhibiting the Christmas spirit. Doesn’t that make you League City Proud ???
8 comments:
I used to be treasurer in a couple of non-profits. By law, non-profits must maintain records to show compliance or risk having their 501(c)3 status revoked. If they are unable to show records to city council, then how would they ever be able to show records to the IRS?
LC Proud needs to get it's act together and fast. Otherwise someone should call the IRS. I do think there is a need for such organizations and I would hate to see that need go unmet due to a bad experience. (Remember how the United Way scandal back in the 80s affected charitable organizations?).
I applaud the concept of the city taking this particular event over and getting sponsorship to defray expenditures.
I too applaud the "accountability" efforts of Council person Dawson.
-League City Proud has operated for over 13 years but never have and continue to refuse to have their books audited .
- Pat Hallisey, Janice Hallisey, Tommy Cones (board members and Executive Board members) fail to produce receipts to match their expenditures; fail to provide names of scholoarship recipients; etc.
- League City Proud, the non-profit organization sells corporate and resident memberships, but still refuses to have their records audited.
Taxpayers will spend over $14,000 to put on a parade for this non profit organization that receives thousands of dollars thru donations, memberships, parade entry fees, and $150/ space with electricity in the park. The vendors are charged for the use of the electricity, which is paid for by the taxpayers. To date this organization has never reimbursed the city for the city's electricity. Is this legal, is this co-mingling of monies?
Board members cry poor, and accuse councilmembers of "stealing Christmas from the children of League City if fees are not waived or forgiven.
Taxpayers should question their over head: they do not rent office space, they do not have utlities to pay, they do not pay office staff. But their records last year indicated $10,000 for stationary; Pat Hallisey was paid $1000.00 for clean up in the park (even though Park employees were paid over time to do the same job).
Councilwomen Dawson signed a pledge to the taxpayers of League City to be accoutable and spend tax dollars as if each dollar were hers. Thank you for continuing to be true to your pledge and to the taxpayers of League City. Elected officials promise fiscal responsilibilty to win election, but quickly forget as they vote to spend tax dollars like water,to please special interest groups.
Voters of League City review voting records at election time. Ask the former council members.
I too applaud the idea of the city taking over this event. Why would League City Proud refuse, stall,or deny full cooperation with city staff reviewing their records before and after the event ?
This is a joke, the only reason this is in question is because of the people who run LC Proud and you know it. If your mad about this maybe you should look further into how money is being spent here. For instance how about the training money spent for a few of the higher ups to vacation in California? Is that ok?
Hey Joe, Are you saying that you know for a fact that there are absolutely no problems with the financial records of LC Proud?
Myself, I'm saying that if they are unable to make the records availble to the city, then something's amiss.
It could be something as simple as shoddy recordkeeping even though expenditures were legit. (I had to clean up a big mess of records when I took over the treasury of one 501(c)3.) Or it could be something not so legit, ala Hall Elementary PTA.
We can't know the what without the records. Can we?
Arlo,
In all fairness;
when someone suggested illegal dumping was going on at the gun range, I said they should call the EPA.
If the specifics you are mentioning are true, then you should call the IRS.
Good, now no one can rightfully accuse me of playing favorites.
BHL- thank you, no favorites. I am not sure which specifics you are questioning, but everything I posted is correct and accurate. I personally discussed these issues with members of city staff, administration, and 5 council members over 1 year ago, 10 months ago, and 2 months ago. All are aware that the IRS has been contacted and forwarded documents. Knowing all that were made aware, I applaud Councilwoman Dawson, for being the sole elected official willing to vote for accountability today, and not waiting to see what may or may not happen next year.
Transparent and Accountable !!
That's cool Arlo. The fact that the IRS has been contacted is evidence that this is not normal LC politics (contrary to someone's suggestion)
Thanks for the important story and your views on it, Chris.
And thanks for the ONLY responsible vote on council, Joanna. The rest should take notice. The taxpayers do remember these things. Like Arlo said, just ask some FORMER council people.
And thanks to the rest of y'all for the comments.
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