City has a spending problem

Dear editor:

Director Karen Garcia suggested in the Nov. 11 The Sentinel-Record article, “Fire, police account for most of ‘18 budget,” a ballot measure extending the 2.6 mills (each mill produces approximately $615,000 annually) to go to the Police Fund (60 percent) and Fire (40 percent) Fund. The total raised would be approximately $2.6 million and the fixed transfers currently required from the city General Fund total $8.4 million. The city of Hot Springs knew when the sales taxes were implemented annual transfers to the police and fire funds would be necessary. It was on this basis citizens voted to approve the sales taxes for the General fund and Police and Fire funds.

I adamantly disagree with her statements: “We are not properly funding our police and fire departments when we have to transfer out of our General Fund” and “We don’t have adequate funds to operate the other General Fund departments.” Funding for the General Fund and Police and Fire funds was the reason the sales taxes were approved by the citizens. Citizens had full knowledge transfers would be made each year from the General Fund to supplement Police and Fire funds revenue from the Public Safety Tax. The city has operated many years while making the transfers to the Police and Fire funds.

It is with sadness and amusement I look back at the efforts by Hot Springs to “forcibly annex various enclaves,” succeeding with Enclave A and still awaiting a court decision on Enclave B (others were dropped after strong citizen opposition). Hot Springs acted to “forcibly annex” these areas, plus others, without regard for the cost to extend public safety services, although there would be many more square miles to protect.

City elected officials and bureaucrats have ignored the fact forced annexation of Enclave B will substantially reduce revenue to Lake Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department ( LHVFS). LHVFS is the only department providing fire protection and water rescue services to Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine.

I reiterate, the forced annexation of Enclave B will likely diminish, for lack of funding, fire fighting and water rescue services on Lake Catherine and Lake Hamilton. Hot Springs’ fire chief has stated the city doesn’t have any responsibility for the lakes. Is the “greed” the city has for the minimal property and sales tax revenue they will derive from Enclave B more important to the city of Hot Springs than the safety of our citizens and tourists that use the lakes?

Hot Springs’ population has changed nominally in 50 years. Revenue has increased substantially; however, expenditures have increased more rapidly than revenue. The city of Hot Springs doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has an “out of control” spending problem.

The city of Hot Springs has a poverty rating of nearly 30 percent, the Hot Springs School District a poverty rating of approximately 80 percent. The citizens of Hot Springs cannot afford higher taxes and fees. George Pritchett Hot Springs