SURPRISING STUFF
The financing of the Lake Geneva community comes under focused attention.
The City of Lake Geneva has a total of $7,073,806. That’s right, over seven million dollars. Why? Why is that kind of money not being discussed almost anywhere, as the city scrambles to cover a shortage in its budget caused by the increase of wages for many city personnel? What about the purchase of Hillmoor, and why was the money borrowed to do that instead of being paid out of this seven-million-dollar surplus? The city has a seventy-million-dollar line of credit, that’s true, so what is the reason for holding back such a large nest egg?
What’s going on with city finances since only gibberish seems to percolate out of the communications corridors these days. When the public hearing on the proposed budget for 2013 was held back in November of 2022, that seven million was listed right down in the center of the first page. When the new budget, after lots of discussion, came out, however, that area of consideration and concern disappeared entirely. The ‘revenues’ part of the previous report is renamed and now called the ‘general fund.’ Expenditures are listed by department first and then by each area of the city that draws from that budget.
The whole new mess bears no resemblance to the report that was filed, and made some sense, back in November of last year. What is wrong with these people that have been installed to make this all easy to understand so the people they represent or work for can figure out what they are doing with the city’s money? Or is this obfuscation being foisted upon the public on purpose? The city’s comptroller, from her lofty tower, like Rapunzel, indicated at the city council meeting that the money held in reserve is already designated for certain things, like a new cell phone tower for the police department. She did reveal that the money (around seven million dollars) would be let down, like Rapunzel’s hair, but only to certain designated people and for certain (as yet to be determined) projects.
Geneva Lake Museum offers so many interesting events, all related in different ways to the city, the lake and the people in the city and surrounding communities.
One of the great events the museum offers is very interesting, insightful, and extremely informative. It’s called Tuesday @ 2. Each Tuesday at 2 p.m., the Museum hosts interesting stories of the city past and present. This Tuesday @ 2, March 7th, 2023, is entitled: “The noted Chicago and North Western Railroad Vacation Destination.” The presentation is all about the railroad and how it was so deeply tied into Lake Geneva’s beginnings and how its importance is so overlooked to this day. The film industry started in and around Geneva Lake because of the railroad (eventually moving to a more favorable weather venue in a place called Hollywood). With this special program’s growing popularity reservations are now required for the Tuesday @ 2 presentations. Anyone can reserve a spot by emailing staff@genevalakemuseum.org or by calling 262-248-6060. This program is especially popular so make a reservation quickly in advance.
Place of the Week
Matt, Abigale and Sunny now running Niche coffee, wine and whiskey bar wonderfully well
