As a result of concerned citizens like Michael Hagberg and Joy Schreiber exposing various matters impacting Belleville (despite the administration's best efforts to stonewall them), it has become clear that the city's fiscal problems are more far-reaching than envisioned.

The administration's failure to monitor performance under redevelopment agreements against the underlying proposals is nothing less than fiscal negligence.

The indiscriminate issuance of TIF debt and subsidies in the face of declining revenues and increasing expenses, coupled with severely underfunded pension plans, will be a burden on the city for years to come.

The stigma of receiving "adverse" audit opinions speaks volumes as to the administration's disregard for accurate, honest accountability to the residents.

Even more atrocious is that the administration neglects to prepare any kind of long-term budget, which would show clearly the projected financial impact of the items delineated above, not to mention the city's neglected streets, sidewalks, etc.

Unfortunately, it has become obvious that my plans to serve as treasurer on a part-time basis, if elected, wouldn't allow me to even start to scratch the surface in terms of making the needed fiscal reforms, which would be unfair not only to the residents of Belleville, but my clientele as well. Therefore, I am forced to withdraw my candidacy for city treasurer.

I do have renewed hope for the city, knowing that there are individuals working for the right reasons to implement the needed changes and put Belleville back on course.

Kent McCoy

Belleville