The Turner Report received the following message Monday from Brian Evans, a local political activist who recently launched a petition drive seeking a state audit of Joplin city government.
Our Joplin citizen audit team has done massive research on many Joplin City Government budget issues and discrepancies now totaling in the tens of millions of dollars and have received a great deal of pushback from our city government.
The City Manager offered me a position on a finance committee, but that would have essentially silenced me publicly in the public square.
Also, we have had several meetings with Council members and the City Manager, but in the end, most city leaders have been unable or unwilling to justify massive financial discrepencies in recent budgets and financial reports that we uncovered.
Sadly, most Council members have not even taken the time to address a single issue we raised!
Meanwhile, over the past few years, the Joplin City Government has repeatedly attempted to increase the tax burden placed upon our Joplin businesses and citizens through the implementation of new online use taxes, attempting to pass one of the largest property and personal property tax increases in the state, and even tried to increase our already maxed out sales taxes a few short months ago! Sales taxes that are already some of the highest in the state of Missouri!
Sadly, the Joplin City Government refuses to justify multimillion dollar budget and financial report discrepancies we highlighted on our "Joplin Citizens for a Transparent and Honest Government Public Facebook page," as well as other financial issues we have found!
Now, after presenting Joplin budget documents to the Missouri State Auditor’s office a few months ago, their lead investigator noted a number of red flags and recommended that we proceed with a citizen petition, which essentially forces an audit and will provide transparency and accountability to 'We the People'!
Meanwhile, over the past few years, the Joplin City Government has repeatedly attempted to increase the tax burden placed upon our Joplin businesses and citizens through the implementation of new online use taxes, attempting to pass one of the largest property and personal property tax increases in the state, and even tried to increase our already maxed out sales taxes a few short months ago! Sales taxes that are already some of the highest in the state of Missouri!
Sadly, the Joplin City Government refuses to justify multimillion dollar budget and financial report discrepancies we highlighted on our "Joplin Citizens for a Transparent and Honest Government Public Facebook page," as well as other financial issues we have found!
Now, after presenting Joplin budget documents to the Missouri State Auditor’s office a few months ago, their lead investigator noted a number of red flags and recommended that we proceed with a citizen petition, which essentially forces an audit and will provide transparency and accountability to 'We the People'!
Therefore, and for these reasons we now have a team of citizens actively canvassing Joplin neighborhoods collecting petition signatures. However, if citizens have not already had the opportunity to sign our audit petition, we encourage them to stop by 512 S. Joplin Avenue next to Blackthorn Pizza, any Monday or Wednesday in July or August from 8am to 11am to sign our citizens' petition!
Spread the word and help our effort to hold our government accountable, ensure they clean up their books, and ensure their finances are transparent to those whom they are supposed to represent, before working to increase taxes on already cash strapped citizens, thereby pricing too many residents out of their homes and businesses, and citizens out of our community! Let's make sure ‘Joplin Strong’ means that our government is looking out for the best interests of the citizens they represent!
The petition should also be available online, I think it would be a lot more successful.
ReplyDeletePhysical signatures are required for an audit petition. They could start by removing the finance director.
DeleteKSNF/Four States Home Page has an article showing sales tax look up for cities in Missouri. Take a look see. Mr. Evans might be on the right track.
ReplyDeletePeople of Joplin please sign this, Expose the crooks
ReplyDeleteI will definitely sign this! City of Joplin is as crooked as some bigger cities. Last time there was the audit after the Tornado we saw how they mismanaged funds giving millions to essentially scam artist Wallace bajalli and how council member/ realtor essentially took properties and then flipped them and made a profit at taxpayer expense. While I feel for the police and fire workers who they refuse to pay better and keep taking it to voters to increase taxes. But we don’t trust the city to use the funds wisely. Another audit is long past due
ReplyDeleteWallace Bajjali… Joplin is being run by idiots. Don’t forget what they let happen
ReplyDeleteI have signed it.
ReplyDeleteEvans is a right-wing lunatic.
ReplyDeleteSign the petition while enjoying Blackthorn Pizza
ReplyDeleteOK, when the finish this audit and find nothing criminal, as a lot of you suspect, then what? They will find some issues, they always do, but nothing will be criminal. The cost to city on this audit? I suspect, $150,000-$200,000.
ReplyDeleteYou seem awfully confident, no reason to rush in and be a fool
DeleteResearch up to this point by citizens has turned up significant financial irregularities.
ReplyDeleteNow the Council has acted to suppress citizen speech by limiting the subjects that can be brought up.