Finally, the NEWS has uncovered a scandal in Brewer. It’s an overwhelming one, dealing with $1.8 million in “secret funds”;funds that were discovered by an “underling,” of which the Brewer City Council was unaware all this time.

I would like to help the NEWS and the Brewer citizens and taxpyers, who I believe have been mislead by the articles appearing in your paper. Your reporter asks, “Why was it kept secret?” in discussing the reserve accounts.

Brewer, under the very able and prudent leadership of former City Manager Harold F. Parks, and our present Finance Director Jane Warren, can be proud as punch that these two individuals were making the smart money-making decisions.

When your reporter called me about the so-called “granddaddy” windfall, I tried to explain how the accounts were set up years ago. And also, how councilors would only have to refer to the latest audit report to get a fair understanding of the reserve accounts and other such issues.

Of course, the NEWS failed to mention that Parks has for years included up to $300,000 out of the “fund balance” in the budgets toward any tax increases. So apparently, this is one of those secret funds that helped the taxpayers greatly. It should also be noted that the “undesignated funds” mentioned were also used for street paving and capital improvement programs. The citizens of Brewer never had to question or worry about how the finances in this city were being handled under Parks or Warren. They should be very concerned how it is being spent.

For instance, last fall the Lemforder TIF bonds reached maturity, which brought in a nice windfall for our citizens. I tried, and failed, to convince the council (4-1) to turn this money back to the taxpayers. And in January, the council again, by the same vote, killed my proposal to not have a tax increase.

If anybody is truly interested in learning more about the city’s finances take a look at the latest audit report on pages 31-41 and 47. There are “shocking revelations” in there, especially the “overdraft” by the Brewer School Department of some $108,034, which is on page 31 under heading of School Categorical Programs.

The NEWS might well consider hiring an ombudsman to join its staff for the readers’ best interest. I suggest the next time you want to seriously delve into municipal finances you send a reporter who may have a background in the complex subject of the same. Larry T. Doughty Brewer city councilor