Editor,
A candidate for an at-large seat on Westfield’s City Council makes claims that are untrue.
Listed below are false statements that Troy Patton has made. I follow each with the facts.
1. “Westfield’s Council needs financial expertise.”
He does not know that municipal finance radically differs under the law from CPAs practice.
Go to Westfield’s OpenGov website.
2. “Grand Park is losing money.”
Grand Park’s income exceeds the cost of maintenance. The taxes produced by new commercial development, only because of Grand Park, will exceed bond service threefold. Grand Park was conceived to create a needed commercial tax base – it has succeeded.
3. “Westfield’s bond rating is so low it will have to pay high interest rates.”
Westfield is so trusted that recently it got a bond for an almost unheard of 1.89 percent.
4. “TIF bonds cheat schools”.
Tax increment financing makes new commercial development possible. Schools benefit greatly in the long run and get referendum taxes up front.
Mr. Patton has rarely been seen at city meetings. The other at-large candidates on the ballot, Jim Ake and Cindy Spoljaric, have been very busy with city business and have served above the call. They deserve your vote May 7.
Mic Mead, Westfield
