DuPree AWOL during budget hearings

[beggingforrelief]

You would think that something as important as the City of Hattiesburg Budget, the Mayor would have enough sense to be present instead of running to Washington to flash his smile to Bennie Thompson.

DuPree was supposed to be elected Mayor to handle city business. The budget is the backbone of the city and again, he is out of town when discussion and decisions need to be made.

[Little-ole-me]

Let's just HOPE that he will not Run for Re Election and will get some very SMALL do nothing job for old Bennie Thompson. So that we call all say GOODBYE Dupree.

[Imapepper]

IF I was a reporter for WDAM or H'Burg American this is what I would ask him: Why didn't you reschedule your trip to Washington (second time going!) to be at the council meeting to discuss the budget? Is that trip more important than the people of Hattiesburg who you have sworn to serve? Isn't it time to be the leader that the city needs to grow and become the great city that it could be?

I think its time for the media to start doing its job and ask the hard questions. They let these questions slide and we want to know!:smt009

[SoMissTV]

Henry Naylor criticized the mayor last night on WDAM for being absent during the budget process.

[58ford]

Henry Naylor criticized the mayor last night on WDAM for being absent during the budget process.
Naylor? Wow, I gotta pay more attention.

[Kitty]

IMO, it comes across as arrogant and disrespectful to miss such an important meeting.

Surely the lobbying trip to DC could have been scheduled for a different time.

[SoMissTV]

Link to Budget story at WDAM.com (http://www.wdam.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?clipid1=1749403&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=Hub+council+OKs+budget+after+depot+spat&d1=132767&redirUrl=www.wdam.com&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage)

[Kitty]

According to the WDAM story, Ms. Delgado refused to speak with News Seven, but did speak with other media organizations.

I wonder why?

[virusprotection]

I thought that was strange mr. naylor was all about the Mayor's absence. Usually, budgets are ready to go at this date (you would think) so it should have been routine (of course it wasn't leave to the burg council).

I wonder what that was all about!:smt102

[firefly]

You would think that something as important as the City of Hattiesburg Budget, the Mayor would have enough sense to be present instead of running to Washington to flash his smile to Bennie Thompson.

DuPree was supposed to be elected Mayor to handle city business. The budget is the backbone of the city and again, he is out of town when discussion and decisions need to be made. Are you surprised???! Well, you know that he left the city in the most capable hands--chicken woman!!! Maybe she cooked the council members a chicken dinner!:smt118

[Maggie-Doodle]

IMO, it comes across as arrogant and disrespectful to miss such an important meeting.

Surely the lobbying trip to DC could have been scheduled for a different time.

You are exactly right...I can't imagine WHY putting his trip off one week would have made a difference....it isn't like he didn't know that Monday was the deadline on having the budget finished.

From what I gathered Delgado was mad and thought the three councilmen was trying to railroad the budget in...that the mayor would have given a veto to the whole thing in order to keep the train station under the cities control, especially since they were wanting to keep the jobs of their three friends who were hired to run the depot...in reading about the depot the city would save approx. $250,000.00 by letting the Convention Center folks run the depot...

I can hardly wait to see what Mayor-"Dr." Johnny Dupree has to say come Monday at his press conference!

I am surprised at how "shy" Carter Carroll has become of late....he used to voice his opinion and speak his mind, lately I don't hear him saying much.

[Ted]

You would think that something as important as the City of Hattiesburg Budget, the Mayor would have enough sense to be present instead of running to Washington to flash his smile to Bennie Thompson.

DuPree was supposed to be elected Mayor to handle city business. The budget is the backbone of the city and again, he is out of town when discussion and decisions need to be made.Hmmmmmm - - - -
considering previous results, maybe the further away from all that the better.;)

[beggingforrelief]

So Dupree is considering vetoing the budget. Here we go again folks, the COH has a mayor who's priorities are not based on the good of the city but on racial and political lines.

The council has proposed a budget that will save the citizens approximately 4.5 million dollars and that money can be used to improve the infrastructure of the city. It may even be an avenue to give the firefighters a fair and equitable raise. I don't think Kim Bradley, Dave Ware or Carter Carrol would have developed and approved a budget that would have jeopardized the city standing on the funding for the train depot. But remember the two council members who voted against the budget have a proven track record of financial mismanagement (both personal and professional).

I hope the fiscally minded members of the council stick to their guns and over ride DuPree's potential veto of the budget.

[virusprotection]

IF I was a reporter for WDAM or H'Burg American this is what I would ask him: Why didn't you reschedule your trip to Washington (second time going!) to be at the council meeting to discuss the budget? Is that trip more important than the people of Hattiesburg who you have sworn to serve? Isn't it time to be the leader that the city needs to grow and become the great city that it could be?

I think its time for the media to start doing its job and ask the hard questions. They let these questions slide and we want to know!:smt009
If you had any real knowledge of why he was in Washington, you would shut up and see what those trips mean to us and the money he has brought in through his efforts. Because you make unqualified statements from your perch from the west, south, north or east you vision is skewed through bulged eyes of deceit and hate that you don’t see or realize that what he is doing benefits your sorry behinds as well. Get a grip the council did what they wanted to do and they never try to compromise. From what my source tells me Carter Carroll is the one that messed up the timing because he was out of town and they had a choice with or without him or the mayor and of course the 3 majority rule. All you people do is complain and make knee jerk responses to things and never pick up a piece of paper in this city to make it better. Most of you are probably are behind on your taxes where you live and if I had my way I would take away you sorry voting privileges. Talk Talk Talk Talk but its the walk walk walk that needs to be seen. Call city hall and find out what's really going on. But I guess you don’t have a phone to call on do ya.

[SoMissTV]

If you had any real knowledge of why he was in Washington, you would shut up and see what those trips mean to us and the money he has brought in through his efforts.

Okay, I'll bite:

Please list money that our mayor has personally brought into this city via lobbying trips. I'd like to see the dollar amount, the use of the money, and the method by which it was obtained. If you cannot provide this information, then you have no credibility.

[Bahlk]

Okay, I'll bite:

Please list money that our mayor has personally brought into this city via lobbying trips. I'd like to see the dollar amount, the use of the money, and the method by which it was obtained. If you cannot provide this information, then you have no credibility.

You're not holding you're breath are you SoMiss? I know i'm not

[sackett22]

Due to the fact that Dupree wasn't at the meeting to vote on the budget, I believe he should lose his veto privelages for this one. Make it policy. If you have to be there to vote, then you should also have to be there to veto.

[Maggie-Doodle]

If you had any real knowledge of why he was in Washington, you would shut up and see what those trips mean to us and the money he has brought in through his efforts. Because you make unqualified statements from your perch from the west, south, north or east you vision is skewed through bulged eyes of deceit and hate that you don’t see or realize that what he is doing benefits your sorry behinds as well. Get a grip the council did what they wanted to do and they never try to compromise. From what my source tells me Carter Carroll is the one that messed up the timing because he was out of town and they had a choice with or without him or the mayor and of course the 3 majority rule. All you people do is complain and make knee jerk responses to things and never pick up a piece of paper in this city to make it better. Most of you are probably are behind on your taxes where you live and if I had my way I would take away you sorry voting privileges. Talk Talk Talk Talk but its the walk walk walk that needs to be seen. Call city hall and find out what's really going on. But I guess you don’t have a phone to call on do ya.

I do not agree with you...I failed to make that clear on the rep....I DISAGREE with your assesement! I am sure the mayor did not have to pick the week of the budget to go to Washington...IF he had been that interested in the budget he should have kept his butt in town!

The problem comes in because he doesn't want his three cronies to loose their jobs at the train station IF the convention center takes over....his pals will loose their lucrative pay and benefits...IMO they are overpaid to begin with!

I don't understand why the Mayor has veto power when the majority of the council voted FOR the change...I actually was thinking he only voted when their was a tie on something...I suppose though it is like the president vetoing something even though Congress has passed it....not entirely sure it is the right thing with either...

[tax-watcher]

Only a true-blood bureaucrat(the three white city councilman) can advicate taking $250,000.00 from one city cofer and put in another city cofer and present it as a tax-savings.:oops:

[SoMissTV]

Only a true-blood bureaucrat(the three white city councilman) can advicate taking $250,000.00 from one city cofer and put in another city cofer and present it as a tax-savings.:oops:

I'm sorry, what does race have to do with anything?

[threekidspa]

I'm sorry, what does race have to do with anything?
Around here, everything, apparently.... :smt102

[Fish-Bait]

Only a true-blood bureaucrat(the three white city councilman) can advicate taking $250,000.00 from one city cofer and put in another city cofer and present it as a tax-savings.:oops:

Your spellin' is pathetic.:-D

[amanda]

Only a true-blood bureaucrat(the three white city councilman) can advicate taking $250,000.00 from one city cofer and put in another city cofer and present it as a tax-savings.:oops:

Three white city councilmen? Always the race card. Amazing.

[Fish-Bait]

Yeah, they is advicating things to the cofers...

[amanda]

Yeah, they is advicating things to the cofers...


Ya' know....them cofers are expensive. Gotta get'em somewhere. :smt118

[Bahlk]

You beat me to the punch with the spelling fish-bait

[tax-watcher]

You are right, race should not be a factor, however it was a quick and easy way to identify the three councilmen who voted for the budget.

[Fish-Bait]

You beat me to the punch with the spelling fish-bait


I was standing in for SoMissTV.:clap:

[amanda]

You are right, race should not be a factor, however it was a quick and easy way to identify the three councilmen who voted for the budget.


Please explain what that has to do with ANYTHING? So they were white? Maybe the other two were just ill-informed or maybe THEY voted the race card?

[Fish-Bait]

It's Triple-D ya'll.

[politically incorrect]

Ya' know....them cofers are expensive. Gotta get'em somewhere. :smt118

Cofers? Or coughers? Is this another thread about smoking?:smt118

Of course Dupree is absent from a meeting. Is he EVER in Hattiesburg? He has proven that the city apparently does not need a full-time mayor.:smt009

[carsalesguy]

It's Triple-D ya'll.

naw- last time i heard her keyboard was too gunked up with chicken grease

[SoMissTV]

You are right, race should not be a factor,

Okay. However, your budget understanding is limited. By converting the operating management of the depot to the HCC, the city eliminates the personnel and maintenance allocation for the facility. The HCC receives income from a 2% food and beverage tax within the city limits. This money is earmarked for the HCC, and cannot be moved elsewhere. By using the HCC's earmarked funding to pay for the upkeep and staffing of the depot, the city saves money from the general fund. Does that clear it up for you?

[tax-watcher]

I find it encouraging that you could not find fault with my message, only my spelling.

[amanda]

I find it encouraging that you could not find fault with my message, only my spelling.


Oh, you had a message? Didn't get it. Sorry. :smt118

[tax-watcher]

My message is: HLTCC was set-up by senate bill to bring in tourists and conventions, and since, they do such a poor job, the approximate $4,000,000 brought in by the beverage tax yearly is wasted. The City of Hattiesburg should request an ammendment to the senate bill to allow all of this money to flow into the city's general fund and earmark it for tourists and conventions instead of 7 commissoners funding pet projects across Hattiesburg.

[SoMissTV]

The City of Hattiesburg should request an ammendment to the senate bill to allow all of this money to flow into the city's general fund and earmark it for tourists and conventions instead of 7 commissoners funding pet projects across Hattiesburg.

Which project isn't worthy of funding? The civil rights museum at Eureka? The performing arts facility at the historic Saenger theatre? The African-American Armed Forces museum at the USO building? I can't tell whether you're anti-armed forces, anti-civil rights, or anti-performing arts.

Let the commissioners do their jobs; that's what they're there for. Giving the money to the city council is like giving them a blank check; I'd rather not do that.

[tax-watcher]

I'm against wasting taxpayer money. I wish the commissioners could do their job: they cannot bring tourists or conventions to Hattiesburg, and they allow about $3,000,000.00 a year of tax-payers dollars to be spent on an entity that should be self-supoporting. The City Councilmen are elected officials while the Lake Terrace Commissioners answer to no-one.

[SoMissTV]

they cannot bring tourists or conventions to Hattiesburg

Well, you have to have some things to attract conventions and tourism, like say, a performing arts center, museums, and a variety of places in which to meet. This takes money and a dedicated staff. I don't believe that the LTCC, the HCC, or the HTC have made every decision correctly, but I do believe that the influence of the convention and tourism commissions have been a positive one upon Hattiesburg. Thanks to the 2% tax, we've renovated a beautiful theatre, we're about to start on a historic school and USO building, and we have useful, well-maintained facilities in which to meet.

Incidentally, it should be pointed out that the Hattiesburg Convention Commission and the Hattiesburg Tourism Commission are not the same thing. They are different boards with different missions and different sources of funding. Convention receives money from the 2% food and beverage tax, tourism receives it from a lodging tax. It should also be pointed out that not all conventions are from out of town; a town the size of Hattiesburg needs a facility large enough to handle local convention needs, and that's what we have. It has served us well, and will continue to do so for years to come. Now, if they'd only fix the drained lake...

[SoMissTV]

they allow about $3,000,000.00 a year of tax-payers dollars to be spent on an entity that should be self-supoporting.

For the record, a great majority of convention centers are not self-supporting. Rather, they spur economic investment and sales tax receipts as an indirect benefit.

[tax-watcher]

Convention centers only spur economic investment and sales tax receipts if they bring new dollars into the city in the form of out of town conventions.

[noway]

The council voted 3-1 to override the mayors veto.. Triple ddd was not in attendance. Interesting why DDD was not there..

[SoMissTV]

Convention centers only spur economic investment and sales tax receipts if they bring new dollars into the city in the form of out of town conventions.

I'm assuming you mean conventions that bring in people from out of town (and for overnight stays). Remember, though, that the HCC-managed facilities also bring in visitors from the surrounding pine belt area to various shows and demonstrations. There are many functions held that attract day visitors from Laurel, Collins, Wiggins, Columbia, Petal, Richton, and the unincorporated area of west Hattiesburg. These visitors eat at our restaurants, fill up at our gas stations, and shop at our places of commerce and retail. It is difficult to accurately assess the direct economic impact of the managed facilities, but combined, the facilities contribute to the high quality of life in Hattiesburg, while providing positive economic impact to the community.

[SoMissTV]

The council voted 3-1 to override the mayors veto.. Triple ddd was not in attendance. Interesting why DDD was not there..

Smart political move on her part. This way she can tell her constituents that she didn't support the depot management transfer, but she protects her relationship with the HCC, which is managing (and paying for) two large developments within her ward.

[Maggie-Doodle]

Smart political move on her part. This way she can tell her constituents that she didn't support the depot management transfer, but she protects her relationship with the HCC, which is managing (and paying for) two large developments within her ward.

With that being said, note she did vote against the change when it was first voted on...both she and Naylor voted for the city to keep management in it's hot little hands instead of the Convention Center.

[SoMissTV]

With that being said, note she did vote against the change when it was first voted on.

When she knew she would be overruled. Like I said, it's a great way to save face while protecting her relationship with the HCC.

[tax-watcher]

I'm assuming you mean conventions that bring in people from out of town (and for overnight stays). Remember, though, that the HCC-managed facilities also bring in visitors from the surrounding pine belt area to various shows and demonstrations. There are many functions held that attract day visitors from Laurel, Collins, Wiggins, Columbia, Petal, Richton, and the unincorporated area of west Hattiesburg. These visitors eat at our restaurants, fill up at our gas stations, and shop at our places of commerce and retail. It is difficult to accurately assess the direct economic impact of the managed facilities, but combined, the facilities contribute to the high quality of life in Hattiesburg, while providing positive economic impact to the community.
Local small businesses have for years complained that HLTCC takes tax money and unfairly competes for local business. It seems that you are verifying that this un-fair practice is alive and well. The bill authorizing the 2% food and beverage tax was not intended to subsidize local events.

[SoMissTV]

The bill authorizing the 2% food and beverage tax was not intended to subsidize local events.

I'm not entirely sure that was the intent of the bill; do you have a copy that you can post for me?

[Maggie-Doodle]

Local small businesses have for years complained that HLTCC takes tax money and unfairly competes for local business. It seems that you are verifying that this un-fair practice is alive and well. The bill authorizing the 2% food and beverage tax was not intended to subsidize local events.

I must be mistunderstanding something..I don't get that the 2% food and beverage tax is subsidizing local events ONLY the building(s) that houses the events! To me there is a difference in helping pay for the event (ex. concert) and/or paying the money for a physical place to hold the event.

[Bahlk]

City council overides the veto with Delgado being absent (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070919/NEWS01/709190304)

[Bahlk]

Okay, I'm a little slow on the uptake

[Imapepper]

City council overides the veto with Delgado being absent (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070919/NEWS01/709190304)




Hmmm......curiouser and curiouser :confused: :smt009

[wilebill]

I thought this was supposed to be a temporary tax?I think a lot of people were under this mistaken assumption, I know I was. Usually taxes like these are levied until the debt is paid off, then the tax is phased out. Not in this case.

I'm not crazy about the 2% food tax in Hattiesburg being used to support the LTCC or any other quasi-government entity that doesn't have to answer to the taxpayers. It just doesn't seem American to me.

[tax-watcher]

I'm assuming you mean conventions that bring in people from out of town (and for overnight stays). Remember, though, that the HCC-managed facilities also bring in visitors from the surrounding pine belt area to various shows and demonstrations. There are many functions held that attract day visitors from Laurel, Collins, Wiggins, Columbia, Petal, Richton, and the unincorporated area of west Hattiesburg. These visitors eat at our restaurants, fill up at our gas stations, and shop at our places of commerce and retail. It is difficult to accurately assess the direct economic impact of the managed facilities, but combined, the facilities contribute to the high quality of life in Hattiesburg, while providing positive economic impact to the community.
Hattiesburg has always enjoyed people from the surrounding areas spending money in Hattiesburg: this is why Hattiesburg is called the "Hub City". HLTCC cannot claim these people come to Hattiesburg because of their efforts.

[Kitty]

I think the exposure of the mayor's desire to trade off the shift in management of the train depot in exchange for the city council support of Beverly Commodore is very interesting.

[tax-watcher]

Okay. However, your budget understanding is limited. By converting the operating management of the depot to the HCC, the city eliminates the personnel and maintenance allocation for the facility. The HCC receives income from a 2% food and beverage tax within the city limits. This money is earmarked for the HCC, and cannot be moved elsewhere. By using the HCC's earmarked funding to pay for the upkeep and staffing of the depot, the city saves money from the general fund. Does that clear it up for you?
I still have a hard time understanding your logic. HLTCC is a component of the City of Hattiesburg. If you take $250,000.00 from one city bank account (HLTCC's account) and put it in another city bank account (GENERAL FUND), how can you call it a $250,000.00 tax savings? The city indicates it will take $250,000.00 for them to operate the Train Depot: I'm convinced, based on experience, it will take $500,000.00 for HLTCC to operate the Train Depot: all taxpayer money.

[tax-watcher]

I must be mistunderstanding something..I don't get that the 2% food and beverage tax is subsidizing local events ONLY the building(s) that houses the events! To me there is a difference in helping pay for the event (ex. concert) and/or paying the money for a physical place to hold the event.
The $3,000,000.00 of tax-payer money used annually to keep HLTCC afloat, goes much, much further than paying for the physical plant. The next time you eat out you may be helping to subsidize another MTV 16th birthday party.

[Kitty]

Did anyone else notice in today's HA the train depot story which stated the train depot office manager is paid more ($44,290) than the city spokesman ($38,110)?

In the same story, it was revealed that the city council was prepared to create a new position for the train depot office manager as an events coordinator in the city's public relations office.

As part of the deal, the train depot office manager would have been allowed to retain his current salary, and the city spokesman, as the senior official in the PR office, would have received a $6,000+ salary increase to put him $500 above the proposed events coordinator position.

According to the story, the mayor would only accept that offer if the council agreed to support the current chief administrative officer.

[Scarlett O'Hara]

I saw that, too. I think I'm in the wrong line of work.....Maybe I need to apply:laugh:

[Bee Line]

Did anyone else notice in today's HA the train depot story which stated the train depot office manager is paid more ($44,290) than the city spokesman ($38,110)?

In the same story, it was revealed that the city council was prepared to create a new position for the train depot office manager as an events coordinator in the city's public relations office.

As part of the deal, the train depot office manager would have been allowed to retain his current salary, and the city spokesman, as the senior official in the PR office, would have received a $6,000+ salary increase to put him $500 above the proposed events coordinator position.

According to the story, the mayor would only accept that offer if the council agreed to support the current chief administrative officer.
My wife & I talked about that too today. The train depot manager gets another city job at $44K+, the two depot workmen get other city jobs at, we assume their current salary, John Brown gets a raise to almost $45K. How does this save the city money???:smt102

[firefly]

I t doesn't save the tax payers' money. BUT that does not matter one iota to Dupree because he will do ANYTHING to save his buddies' jobs, no matter how detrimental it is to the tax payers & the citizens of Hattiesburg! Chicken Woman & a few other leeches NEED TO GO!!!:smt009

[tax-watcher]

I t doesn't save the tax payers' money. BUT that does not matter one iota to Dupree because he will do ANYTHING to save his buddies' jobs, no matter how detrimental it is to the tax payers & the citizens of Hattiesburg! Chicken Woman & a few other leeches NEED TO GO!!!:smt009
It's not only the Mayor, it includes the 3 Councilmen that tried to ram this thru disguised as a tax-savings. They tried to put lipstick on this pig and slide it thru. If it was not so detrimental to Hattiesburg small businesses and the Hattiesburg economy we could enjoy setting back and watching these clowns self-distruct.

[tax-watcher]

I saw that, too. I think I'm in the wrong line of work.....Maybe I need to apply:laugh:
No, you need to apply for Rick Taylor's job. Rick Taylor is the Operational Manager of the Hattiesburg Lake Terrace Convention Center. Because the salary is hidden in the ADP's books, we don't know exactly what it is, but it's mega.

[Maggie-Doodle]

The next few city council meetings should be very very interesting...people need to go ask questions about all this mess! I will see you there!