Investigative Audit Report

This has been hidden from our community for at least 7 years. Without the cooperation of the Mayor, current city staff, current BOMA...this problem might well be ongoing.
The City of Spring Hill has now posted the audit report.

Spring Hill Audit Report

There are a few things VERY clear.

1. Ken York was allowed to stay at the helm far too long! If I have one major complaint with Mayor Leverette about this situation, this would have to top the list. Ken York and the prior administration were secretly setting this house of cards up, and I wish that City Hall would have been cleaned much sooner. Mr. York's opinion was considered gospel by far too many at City Hall (especially the majority on the previous BOMA) and this is the biggest reason that we now find ourselves in the hole we are in today.

2. This has been hidden from our community for at least 7 years. Without the cooperation of the Mayor, current city staff, current BOMA, and investigation by Mr. Duda and Mr. Underwood, this problem might well be ongoing.

3. Some in this city need to re-read the investigation report with open eyes because they obviously have no idea what is going on in the real world.

Take a look at the link above...

I have a clift notes version coming out very soon.

Enjoy!

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Worth coming out of hiding for...The return of Ceja Kingsley

Cindy Williams (CPA12345) says:
During the administration of Mayor Williams the city lived within its means [in deficits that nobody knew about].....Mr. Schoenbrodt, I congratulate you for having the courage to tell [your version of the] truth about Spring Hill....our city leaders could easily carry out the promise of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights by holding a city wide voting referendum in Nov [breaking state law, just like they did when they tried to change the Mayor term from 4 years to 2 years. Because under Mayor Williams, that's how we rolled.].
From the Tennessean 'Your Voices' segment on Readers share their ideas to trim government budgets:

CPA12345 wrote:
Simply put......government should provide for citizens only what they cannot provide for themselves(streets, water, sewer, police protection). Anything else provided today by governments is purely wants(not needs) of elected leaders over the years when city or county revenues exceeded expectations. Governments must live within their means and instead of spending hours and hours at meetings discussing the raising of our tax rates, elected officials must cut out "all" of the services that citizens can and should provide for themselves. Our continually "growing" of government is not only bad business for government, but also harms private sector businesses who provide the same services.

Cindy Williams
Spring Hill [Brentwood], Tn

Sounds pretty good. What else has Cindy Williams (aka CPA12345, aka Ceja Kingsley) said on the Tennessean website about Spring Hill??

See below to see her tee off on:
Mayor Leverette (of course), The current board, Citizens for Spring Hill Hospital, Jill Wiersma, Alderman Duda and...Vice Mayor Johnson

At the same time, she praises:
Mayor Williams, Charlie Schoenbrodt and Susan Zemek

I guess it is still pretty easy to keep tabs on Spring Hill politics from that Brentwood address. Some people in this city will just never run out of venom.

I have a question for Ms. Williams/Colette/Kingsley/CPA12345, or anybody else (feel free to chime in Charlie) who can answer:
Who's signature is that on the FORGED budget ORDINANCE and who doctored the agendas and meeting minutes to make it look like the board passed the FORGED budget ORDINANCE when the deficits REALLY began?


On 5/29/2008, she wrote:

CPA12345 wrote:

After reading the article written by Jill Wiersma I feel compelled to ask the sources of the monetary amounts listed. At one point Ms. Wiersma states according to Alderman Duda, however no certified reliable source is listed as a provider of the financial data. It is my understanding that yearly city audit financial data by local licensed CPAs, state audit financial data, Alderman Duda data and city manager Ken York financial data all contain substantially different general fund amounts. Which data is represented in this article (average of the above, data that favors present administration, toss of a coin to pick data, etc.?) and why isn't a data source listed?

On 6/11/2008, she wrote:

CPA12345 wrote:

Replying to Lucywhahappened:

What delusion is this guy living in? There was never a much of a surplus after the investigations into the accounting at city hall. Ray Williams made tax cuts that started the problems in the first place.

Lucy .......where have you been for the past ten years? Ray Williams put Spring Hill on the map by lowering city taxes a only couple of cents per year which strengthened and empowered the economics of Spring Hill. Everytime a government raises taxes, even by one cent, they hurt the economics of the area they govern.....do your research and you will be able to confirm. During the administration of Mayor Williams the city lived within its means.....you know.....what most of us folks have to do to in order to survive. Mr. Schoenbrodt, I congratulate you for having the courage to tell the truth about the Spring Hill.

On 6/12/2008, she wrote:

CPA12345 wrote:

Yes,, Lucy...... it is a shame that our city leaders decided to spend, spend and spend in the past three years. City employees have noted in the past few years that no elected officials ever looked or inquired into the city finances; yet continued to spend without any knowledge of city revenues available. Maybe each elected official should be required to take a course from Dave Ramsey (Financial Peace) to learn the basics of money management.

On 6/12/2008, she wrote:

CPA12345 wrote:

Susan Zemek is right! The signs/banners representing HCA reflect a private for-profit hospital....what is the difference in Ms. Zemek's signs/banners endorsing a private for-profit bi-annual consignment sale which donates profits to charities. When the city attorney states he will look into the matter.....it means lets stall for time until we can find some opinion somewhere that will get the city out of playing favorites. Continue your fight, Susan!!!

On 6/17/2008, she wrote:

CPA12345 wrote:

Spring Hill just threw away their claim to fame last night. The Taxpayer Bill of Rights made nationwide history, was a resolution that promised to the citizens of Spring Hill that taxes would not be raised without a public referendum. For the mayor to state it was illegal is irresponsible and incorrect. The resolution was unenforceable per law, however the resolution was much like a bible for governments to adhere to and live by. It is a sad day in Spring Hill!!!!

and also....

As a Spring Hill citizen I find it ironic that the Mayor has deemed two resolutions "illegal" that were approved by a prior board. First the two year mayoral term was declared "illegal" by the Mayor after city tax dollars were spent to get an "opinion" to state such and now another "opinion" declares the taxpayer bill of rights "illegal".....how convenient!!!
Does this mean that all the resolutions passed by our city board can be so easily tossed out just by getting an "opinion". The Taxpayer Bill of Rights was a promise to the citizens of Spring Hill that their taxes would not be raised unless approved by "citizens' approving a city-wide referendum. Can't help but wonder why our city leaders didn't do the right thing and put the city property rate increase up for vote in November? Were they afraid that the majority of Spring Hill citizens would vote "no"?
The citizens of Spring Hill need to demand that city leaders stick to their promise and hold a city-wide voting referendum to allow the citizens to determine if we need a property tax increase!!!!

On 6/19/2008, she wrote:

CPA12345 wrote:

Why aren't our city leaders doing the right thing and keeping their promise made when the Tax Payer Bill of Rights was approved by city officials Danny Leverette and Miles Johnson five years ago? Instead city leaders have opted to refer to an "opinion" by MTAS (club for city governments) stating the promise of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights is "illegal" or unenforceable. Simply put, our city leaders could easily carry out the promise of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights by holding a city wide voting referendum in Nov. (during the presidential election....no extra cost to citizens) and allow the citizens to determine if a tax increase is really needed or not. Citizens, demand that your city leaders do the right thing......YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!

Wow! I am glad I am not on her bad side. Oh wait, maybe I am. I have a feeling that her distain for me will only increase as the months move along.

I am by no means in favor of higher taxes...in fact, it appalls me that financial shortfalls have been hidden and covered up for the last 8 years. I am furious that "good 'ol boys" from the previous regime continue to throw mud at those trying to shed light on our city's past indescressions. I am furious that previous elected officials LIED and twisted facts in order to mislead the public. The very reason that we are now having to RE-ISTITUTE this property tax at an increased rate is to pay back the money that previous city officials were hiding.

Let's start talking politics again. There is more deception flying around right now than at any time since I have lived in this city. I am sick of it!

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At least it isn't Anonymous

All that I can say about this is...at least it is not anonymous. Some people just can't get over themselves. You would think a person with this much experience with attorneys (especially those in the family) would understand the legal system a little bit better than this. You would also think that Mr. Schoenbrodt and Mr. Dinwiddie, and all of the Shannon Glenn residents would understand the LEGAL implications to the actions taken by removing this item as a PUD and filing a lawsuit against the city. I would think that it is now VERY clear that the city CANNOT take a stand specifically against "The Shoppes at Belshire" even if they wanted to. You want to see lawsuits...then you would see lawsuits.

You have tied the city's hands on this one!

Do you want to see how hatred and dissension are fueled? Read through this email and then ask me how much credibility the Informer and it's main author have...

.So, we are stuck with the scoundrel till we get a Mayor with a majority of aldermen who have the backbone to take such action.

---
Subject: Re: Monday Night Government

Kathy,

Although I am not a blood member of the Irish Clan, I feel like I am an adopted child. I am going to pitch my opinion as an answer to your questions.

Megan, Susan, Patrick and Jerrold did an excellent job of stirring the pot tonight (last night now) at the two meetings at City Hall. Rob kept his mouth shut, well not really. It was obvious from the expression on his face several times, what he was thinking. As for what you can do to let people know about the lack of representation by our elected officials, talk to anyone you know from another subdivision.

Talk to people in Franklin, Columbia, Brentwood, Nashville and anywhere else, about what is going on in Spring Hill. The word will filter back. You can also write letters to the editor of the Williamson AM, Columbia Daily Herald, The Advertiser, The Williamson Herald, and the INFORMER. Get other residents of Spring Hill to sign them with you. There is power in numbers. Even if just the INFORMER publishes them (I am sure that Melissa will), it will get out. My articles are responded to often, but some people probably believe that you can't trust what it in the newspaper. They are more likely to believe what a resident takes the time to write and send in. The pen IS mightier than the sword. When you write, use the names of the Mayor and Aldermen. Elected officials can not sue anyone for what they say about them. My son is an attorney and said that is one of the first things they teach in Law School. Besides, what you say will be the truth anyway.

One of the sad things about our City's Charter, is that there is no provision for recall. Ray Williams and I talked about that on several occasions and, had I been elected mayor in 2005, would have pressed for a change to the charter to include such a procedure. So, we are stuck with the scoundrel till we get a Mayor with a majority of aldermen who have the backbone to take such action. This group would never enact such legislation. They know what would happen. Megan told them tonight what is going to happen. In 2009 we have to have honest, devoted, conscientious candidates from all four wards and someone to start to overcome the destruction of our current mayor. We can't wait till 2009 to start preparing for that. Within the next few weeks, there will be a new website in Spring Hill that does not allow postings by that powerful creature, "anonymous" or people who use cutesy names like "lovespringhill" or "gorillaintheicebox."; sp; They will have to take responsibility for what they say. It will have information about how to register to vote, when and where to vote, voting records of the mayor and aldermen, names and addresses of elected officials from the President to our aldermen. We are going to need a lot of help with this project, but will be careful about who we let get any control of it.

The most important thing is to NOT GIVE UP. Stay angry about this and keep looking for and finding ways to fight back. Complacency is our worst enemy. When Danny and the other incompitents went into office, there was about $6 million in the Spring Hill coffers. Now we are not sure how much is left, but it is certainly no more than about $2.5 million. There is only $1,049.890 left in CDs. Last month's financial report did not disclose how
much was left in the checking accounts and savings accounts. The end of December, it was only $1,994,750. Income was down in January and February and I do not think expenses was down any. We still had to pay the staff, pay the electric bill, and put gasoline in the police cars and other City vehicles.

Tonight, the new City Administrator, Mr. Ken Weaver said that the State Comptroller's audit will be completed in about two weeks. Spring Hill may start being managed by the State after that.

I know I sound like Chicken Little screaming "The sky is falling, the sky is falling." But just remember paranoia is not really paranoia unless what you believe is NOT true.

Keep it stirred,

Charlie Schoenbrodt

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Special Meeting Called for Budget Issues

Notice
Of
Special Call Meeting

There will be a Special Call Meeting of the Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Tuesday, September 25, 2007, at 7:00 P.M. in the Courtroom at City Hall. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss Ordinance 07-37, the amended budget, actual revenues and expenditures for fiscal year 2006-2007. Ordinance 07-23, Fiscal Year 2007-2008 will also be discussed. The public is invited to attend.

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Issues - City Finances

Issues relating to The City of Spring Hill City Finances.

City Finances
This page contains issues directly related to the City of Spring Hill Budget and City Finances.

Posts related to City Finances:

06/27/2008 06:11 PM - Investigative Audit Report

06/27/2008 06:11 PM - Worth Coming Out For...The Return of Ceja Kingsley

03/11/2008 11:59 AM - At Least It Isn't Anonymous

09/19/2007 09:32 PM - Special Meeting Called for Budget

Click to Return to Spring Hill Alternate Issues

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