Guest op-Ed: Where does all the Money Go?

By Councilor Fred Capone

Words like ‘Transparency’ and ‘Accountability’ are thrown around daily by public officials. However, transparency and accountability in government are often very difficult to find.

One common question I am asked is: “Where does all the money go?” 

It is well-known that I take my responsibility for fiscal oversight very seriously as a city councilor. As one of four boys raised in a single parent household, I understand the need to allocate limited resources in a prudent and responsible manner. Throughout my tenure in elected office, I have gone over every annual budget, line-by-line, and consistently ask questions regarding funding requests.  This is to ensure that what is requested truly benefits all our residents and not just a select few individuals. When I served on the Ways and Means Committee, I reviewed every single bill paid by the city.  It was a real eye-opening experience. Every resident should have that same opportunity.  As your councilor, I have requested more transparency as to how our city spends money.  If elected Mayor, I will make all city expenditures accessible to the public, both on-line and in person.  After all, it is your money. You deserve to know where your money is going and how it benefits you.

Additionally, our city website should be up to date and user-friendly. It is a tremendous source of information and can serve as an invaluable asset to our residents.  However, if the information is not updated, accurate and easily accessible, it does not benefit our residents.  Despite my repeated requests that the website information be updated, much of the information on the city’s website is still outdated and many topics are difficult to navigate.  As Mayor, I will ensure that the website remains current and it will be reconfigured to make it more user-friendly so that information can be easily obtained.

These are just a few changes I would like to implement if elected mayor.  For other areas of concern or ideas, please visit my webpage at www.fredcaponeforeverett.com.

Fred Capone is the Councilor for Ward 1 of Everett as well as a candidate for Mayor in the upcoming election.

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