RFP Staff
♦ For weeks Salisbury Mayor Paul Woodson, dodged questions about “mutual terminations” “golden parachutes” and “wrongful terminations”. Oddly, Woodson told us yesterday Fibrant was not yet profitable even though he was quoted a few months ago as saying the city’s fiber optic network turned the corner and was showing a profit. Make up your mind Mayor. You surely know Fibrant lost millions and siphoned millions from the water and sewer funds? Yes?
Yesterday Woodson again denied responsibility for oversight over the city manager’s office even though state statutes tell us such oversight is part of a Mayor’s job description. Woodson also said during City Council’s meeting he wanted to quell rumors that the city is broke. Rumors? Drive around the city Mr. Woodson and observe the very clear evidence that Salisbury, N.C. is down on it’s heels.
Our humble burg shows all the accepted symptoms of a city financially drowning. Some city watchers described Salisbury’s financial plight as “bankruptcy without the paperwork being turned in.” Sadly because of the city government’s ongoing battles with what’s real, our public likely won’t know until either the state takes over the city’s legal guardianship or state law enforcement does a forensic audit and calls in a financial mortician.
Visible clues that Salisbury, N.C is hurting financially:
• Breakdown of City Services. As the city’s budget spiraled downward from its unsuccessful fiber optic network, many city employees found themselves out of work. Large vacancies appeared in the city’s police and fire departments rosters. Not only does this gross understaffing lead to a lack of public safety and well-kept city properties and streets, it also means the city of Salisbury has lint filled pockets.
• Because of a lack of city funding: property taxes rise, solid waste fees go up, and water and sewer utility hikes come about. You are witnessing this now.
• Manpower shortages in the streets department leads to badly maintained streets. Potholes go unfixed and in winter snow removal lags.
• Badly understaffed police and fire departments in financially strapped Salisbury. The public safety suffers from the city only having 65 police officers and having undermanned fire vehicles.
• City groundskeepers are a greatly diminished breed. City properties become overgrown with tall weeds and grass. Kudzu plants shroud “no parking” signs and many city properties become like overgrown jungles along the Amazon.
• Vandalism, graffiti, gang tags, and broken windows abound throughout the city and go unrepaired for long stretches.
• Many homes for sale in Salisbury as a result of the breakdown in conditions here. People are leaving for more stable and safer environments.
• Many abandoned and decaying buildings throughout Salisbury that the city lacks funding for their removal.
