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Transparency in government is the ideal mode to conduct government operations. In fact, state law mandates that all government information can be accessed by individuals. The law is called the Data Practices Act. Sadly, Scandia government struggles with the concept in its attempt to avoid taxpayer opposition to its spending activities.Â
Specifically, the Mayor and Council have committed to substantial spending to subsidize Midco, a private, for-profit company, to provide internet service that competes with other high-speed options such as satellite and soon-to-come 5G home internet. Contrary, to Scandia’s representations, the costly Midco fiber service does not expand internet access in Scandia – it already existed with other internet provider options.  Cost to Scandia taxpayers is over $1 million spent and committed through 2023 with many hundreds of thousands more to come likely reaching $2 million. In 2023 Scandia had projected to spend $332,000 for its so-called internet expansion and plans to increase that commitment to $442,000. The potential beneficiaries of this subsidy is about one-half of the residents.Â
Another costly project is a sewer upgrade that requires all Scandia taxpayers to subsidize less than 120 residents to repair the sewer system they use that has been underfunded by users of the sewer system for many years. Scandia has already diverted federal ARPA funds of $440,000 to upgrade the small sewer system and is likely to spend another $1 million for upgrades and force all Scandia taxpayers to subsidize it.
Sewer operations are not normal government operations and the cost of operations are supposed to be paid for by users, not all city taxpayers as Scandia has done and intends to do.
Scandia government has not solicited taxpayer input on its multi-million spending plans for what are not normal city operations. For good reason. If the Mayor and Council solicited taxpayer input via referendum or public hearing on its wildcat spending it would probably be rejected. Better to not solicit input. This falls under the category of taxation without representation; an issue that started the American Revolution.
For context, Scandia tax revenues in 2022 are approximately $2.5 million. Now Scandia is looking for ways to kick the can down the road to cover its wrongful spending with borrowings to finance normal city operations.
Scandia likes to report Happy Meal events and hide disclosure of its financial failures.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.