Commentary submitted by Pinson City Councilman Shane Shelnutt
Currently, crime and economic development are the two most pressing issues facing Pinson. I predict if the Council fails to provide and adopt a written strategy for addressing crime and economic development for the City as it has for the past 8 years: 1) The City will get 100% control of the Alabama Butterbean Festival and it will go from a regional festival to a local cityfest type festival in the fall, 2) The City will experience a net gain of 2 businesses during the next 4 years within the existing boundaries of the city and, 3) McDonald’s, Texaco, & Taco Bell will still not be in the city limits in the end of this Council term.
Being a new city has its advantages but the current Council has failed to realize that the new revenues they have enjoyed during the first eight years of being a City are trending in a decline. The past four years has seen the current Council take on new long-term liabilities that are out pacing the trend of revenues coming into the City coffers. I predict that if the Council fails to start reconciling and amending the General Fund Budget on a monthly basis: 1) The Council will need to vote an increase in the current sales tax and/or create a new revenue source in order to maintain the current level of reserve funds and cover operating expenses. If they fail to increase the revenue, the excess in funds that we have now in our bank accounts will be reduced by 75%; 2) The City will exceed every Expense Budget for the next four years and in at least one year–operating expenses will exceed operating revenues; and, 3) if the Mayor and Council reveal a budget for the new city park, the budget will be exceeded by $50,000
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A few general predictions that I will make are: 1) The Transparency Resolution that was passed in June of 2012 will never be fully implemented, 2) The Palmerdale community will not receive its historical district designation, and 3) Regardless of the progress that occurs in Pinson these next four years, the current Mayor and Council will get re-elected if they choose to run again in 2016.
Prior to submitting this editorial to the Trussville Tribune, I had others review it and one question kept being asked – why write this? My answer is threefold. First, I honestly believe after working with this council for the last 8 years, this is the direction that they will lead the city. Secondly, I wanted to get this on record. Lastly, because of my relationship with the other council members, I hope that they will want to prove me wrong and do what’s right for the city. It has been a privilege serving the citizens of Pinson and my last piece of advice, before I leave the council November 5, is for each resident to get involved in the city. You can have an influence in the direction of your community.