Aldermen turn big spenders, buy ambulances, then create their own slush fund!

March 11th, 2008 at 04:32pm Chuck Sweeny

Rockford aldermen have turned spendthrifts. They added two ambulances to the budget at a cost of $260,000, even though the fire department didn’t request any ambulances.

Then, they promptly created their own, $50,000 slush fund, to do exactly what, we’re not sure. It seems as if this money is to be Ald. Nancy Johnson’s cash stash, to be used on lobbying and other projects designed to engage in one-up-manship with the mayor, who orignally wanted the $50,000 for his own lobbying project.

This is going to be money wasted. Aldermen know nothing about lobbying the state of Illinois. The money would only do some good if were put into a bigger pot of money to actually hire a professional lobbyist.

But, next year’s an election year, so I understand full well what Alderman Nancy, the Democrat caucus chair, is doing. She’s having a little fun at the expense of the independent mayor.

Taxpayers have a right to demand to know what this money is going to be used for. But I don’t think they’ll ever find out.

the public

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