Mel Bakersfeld: Joe, this is Mel. There's no more time. Stop all engines and get out. Repeat. Stop all engines.Joe Patroni: I can't hear a thing. There's too much noise. Hold on. We're GOIN FOR BROKE!
Ray Boudreaux: Huh? Oh. Gee Whiz. Not me!
Once again, Ray Boudreaux, husband of City Council member Brenda Thiel and director of the Fayetteville Executive Jetport, is submitting an unbalanced budget. For next year, Boudreaux is projecting a $30,000 drop in revenue from this year, and he will ask Alderman Thiel and her colleagues to approve a budget deficit of $68,700. He says he expects the Council to approve his deficit budget without any questions or problems.
Director Boudreaux is on the payroll at about $90,000, accounting for more than 12% of the entire budget and 131% of the entire deficit. He is supposed to find high-rolling tenants to rent hanger space at the Jetport, but the facility continues to lose tenants to surrounding cities.
Bob Nickle, head of the Fayetteville Airport Board, says, “All we’ve got to do is get a tenant that can pay us a reasonable amount of money ... that really takes care of a whole bunch of this.” Bob didn't say who had failed to "get a tenant" and caused the deficit.
I have an idea. Put the jetport up for bid. Sell the thing to the highest bidder. No more city shortfalls for a few years. Everybody else gets a raise.
ReplyDeletecant do that, all these high rollers from around the state need somewhere to fly their planes to that is close to the football stadium three times a year.
ReplyDeleteSell it to the U of A Athletic Department.
ReplyDeleteGood idea. Then the Walton Arts Center could use the hangars for performance spaces.
ReplyDeleteThe airport has been a loser for years, since the Waltons got federal tax dollars to build the "regional" airport in Benton County for the convenience of Walmart's vendors. Dan Coody kept it open and didn't worry about the costs or deficits any more than he did about the massive cost overruns at the sewer plant. Lioneld Jordan has done nothing to correct the problem either, despite his populist rhetoric and promise to cut out waste in government.
ReplyDeleteAs long as Boudreaux has friends on the Council, the money will continue to be like sand down a rathole for the days of our lives. It is not just Brenda Thiel's blatant conflict of interest and nepotism, but Bobby Ferrell is also part of the problem. He acts like a watchdog against spending, but he has turned a blind eye to the waste of money on his friend Ray and the government subsidy for the airport that benefits his corporate friends. Other members of the council sit silent like monkeys, seemingly unconcerned while city employees go without raises to fund Ray Boudreaux and the Corporate Jetport.
Some intrepid journalist should station herself down there on f-ball gameday.
ReplyDeleteTake a headcount over the course of the season, divide that number into the total cost of running the thing & present them with an invoice.
Users need to pay the full boat (so to speak).
Problem solved. Next!
(hat tip to J Hodgman).
Does 90K-RAY also get an unmarked city car for all that work he doesn't appear to be doing?
ReplyDeleteI think that Mr. Franks would consider drinking coffee for $20,000 a year, which would balance the budget. It is something that should be considered if the mayor and city council ever grow a pair and get serious about eliminating waste.
ReplyDeleteDo you think Smilin' Steve Clark has a potential "Tennant" that will support Chamber Cowbird buddy Ray's airport deficit? hmmmmm.... more nepotendencies.
ReplyDeleteThis is a disaster. All of those facilities at no cost and no depreciation, and the Airport Board can't even come in with a budget that balances current operations? Firing Boudreaux would solve the immediate problem, but Bob Nickle should be next. The Airport Board's first duty is to show financial responsibility to the citizens of Fayetteville, not run up a deficit to subsidize the corporate executives and financial elite who want an airport for their own amusement.
ReplyDeleteTime for a price hike to cover costs.
ReplyDeleteWhat are they gonna do, threaten to fly into Springdale and drive to razorback stadium?
Ray has actually been reducing the costs to reward the companies that were behind on their rent. Just sell the damn thing. It could be developed by the city for affordable homes or it might make a great dragstrip.
ReplyDelete