Citizens deserve fiscal responsibility
Over the past several weeks, I’ve raised questions about our city’s debt and overall financial position. I believe our citizens deserve to understand not only where we stand today, but how the decisions we make now will affect Versailles for years to come.
Not all debt is bad. Many projects financed through debt are worthwhile investments in our community, providing our police and fire departments with the tools they need and improving parks, public spaces and other services that contribute to our quality of life.
But taking on debt requires careful consideration of what we can afford, how it will be repaid and what obligations we are leaving for future city leaders and taxpayers.
For perspective, the median household income in Versailles is $62,368, while the median value of an owner-occupied home is $286,100. Families understand the importance of prioritizing needs, planning for the future and living within their means. I believe city government should approach its finances with that same discipline.
When I left office, the city had no debt and 3.2 million dollars in the rainy-day fund. Today, the city has taken on significant financial obligations. Rather than simply criticizing those decisions, I want to focus on what we can do moving forward.
I believe we should set a goal of rebuilding our fund balance to at least $3.5 million by the end of the next fiscal year. We should empower our existing city employees to work efficiently before creating additional positions, look for partnerships that allow taxpayer dollars to go further, avoid duplicating events or services already being successfully provided by private organizations, and aggressively pursue money that is rightfully owed to the city.
Fiscal responsibility does not mean we stop investing in Versailles. It means making thoughtful investments while protecting our ability to meet tomorrow’s needs.
The decisions we make today should reflect the Versailles we want to leave to the next generation. That requires careful planning, responsible spending and willingness to ask difficult questions.
That is the kind of conversation I believe our community deserves.
Fred Siegelman
Versailles
Future of Woodford County at crossroads
Who you elect on Nov. 3 will determine the future of Woodford County—not just for the next year, but for the next 10 years and beyond.
Woodford County is at a crossroads. We can continue down the path of rapid development and sprawl embraced and propagated by the past administrations of Siegelman and Traugott, or we can recognize that the “build, build, build” philosophy has consequences.
Consequences we live with daily.
Look at Edgewood Farm. Prime Kentucky farmland turned into a shopping center.
Look at Versailles Road. Coming soon: residential and commercial development on both sides of the road almost to the BG Parkway.
Look at Troy Pike. Apartments and a retail center that will bring yet more vehicles onto a road never designed to carry that level of traffic.
And Versailles Road becoming a six-lane highway.
These aren’t isolated decisions. They were part of a larger pattern. If we continue with this mindset, where will we be 10 years from now?
If you care about Woodford County’s small-town charm and agricultural economy, listen carefully to what the candidates are saying.
We cannot solve today’s traffic problems by building a bypass. A bypass may move traffic today, but it also opens the door for additional development and traffic problems 10 years from now. It is not a solution.
Our countywide housing problem can’t be solved one Habitat for Humanity house at a time. Housing affordability requires a comprehensive strategy. Mayor Dake has put forward ideas and acted on them, proving she understands the depth of the problem and makes finding solutions a priority.
Farmland preservation means more than the words “preserve farmland” on campaign material. We need to use conservation tools like easements, PDR (Purchase of Development Rights) and other strategies to protect farms permanently. Farms must be profitable, so the next generation is willing to stay on the land.
Judge Kay understands this; he has initiated funding for a PDR program, pledged $250,000 toward it and is updating ordinances to protect farmland.
This election should be about more than campaign slogans.
Candidates can promise sustainable growth. But buzzwords are easy. Look at the record. Look beyond the superficial statements and demand substance.
Woodford County has a choice: continue with “build, build, build,” or demand thoughtful, sustainable growth, which recognizes that land, infrastructure, housing, jobs and quality of life are all connected.
Decide the future of Woodford County now. Make your choices wisely.
Katherine Ewen Harper
Versailles
Why transparency matters
According to Thomas Jefferson, “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” Freedom of the press is a core pillar of democracy protected by the First Amendment to ensure that the government remains accountable to the people.
Recently, the president of the United States and the Woodford County Republican Party banned press coverage of events. At the White House, it was news outlets that ask normal questions of a sitting president. In Woodford County, it was the local party’s annual dinner, which usually includes press coverage.
The Woodford County Democratic Party invited The Woodford Sun, which covered the event.
The president has many violations to hide. Almost daily, there is news of a corrupt deal or decision. Here, one can only speculate why the press was kept away. With the elections soon, Woodford County voters want to know what each party stands for. Transparency is very important to us. One party was transparent. The other was not,
What are they hiding
Lisa Watkins
Versailles