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Source of Title Blog

A $5 Million Error: Just a simple mistake?
by Robert Franco | 2011/07/14 |

Cities across America are facing huge shortfalls in their budgets.  This means services are being cut and departments are seeing their budgets slashed.  Perhaps it is because these budget shortfalls are so common that nobody notice that the projection of an $11 million shortfall was off by about $5 million in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Source of Title Blog ::

According to KRISTV in Corpus Christi, the Nueces County Appraisal District had initially projected that the city would see a 6.6% drop in property value revenues.  However, the actual number was a 2% increase.  The difference in revenue is about $5 million more than initially projected.

The county's chief appraiser, Ollie Grant, called it a simple mistake.  Apparently, a computer program doubled the Homestead Exemption on the total amount of value. 

"We realize what what the city went through, they made a lot of cuts in different things, and we do apologize for that," Grant said. "But it's something we didn't do purposefully, everyone makes mistakes," says Ollie Grant with the Nueces County Appraisal District.

The city was ready to vote on the following year's budget to cut jobs and services because of an $11 million budget shortfall... now it has an extra $5 million to play with. 

"I am alarmed that we... went from 6 percent down to 2 percent up. That's just in my world unacceptable behavior to any consulting entity or any entity that was providing information," Councilman Mark Scott said.

The city posted this question on their Facebook page: "What would you do with the extra money?"  Though the city still faces a $6 million shortfall, some of the anticipated cuts may not be necessary.  A Senior Citizens group is asking for its budget to be restored.

Hey, mistakes happen.  I suppose it is better that the mistake was found now, rather than after the new budget was passed and funding was slashed.  And, it could have been worse... imagine what would have happened if the projected revenue was $5 million more than it actually was.  Services would have been funded only to run out of money before the end of the year.

Still, if you ask me, they should spend some of that "extra" money on a new computer system.  Or, perhaps, hire somebody that knows how to properly use it! 

 




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Categories: General Interest, Technology

521 words | 4512 views | 2 comments | log in or register to post a comment


Just Wondering...

"Still, if you ask me, they should spend some of that "extra" money on a new computer system. Or, perhaps, hire somebody that knows how to properly use it!"

 You don't suppose they ran it through that system.. twice... do you?

I mean to make sure they came up with the same answer/figure again? The SECOND time? I mean... without "adjusting" anything else?

Dang if those computers NEVER are in error, then who(m) must've made it? A power surge perhaps? or in the other direction, a brownout threw it off?

One of the many continuing "mystery's" that seem to plague mankind, no doubt.

I wonder if they'd been more accurate using an abacus.

 
by Donald Petersen | 2011/07/18 | log in or register to post a reply

I like this article Robert

And totally agree with Donald. it never ceases to amaze me how easily a Public Servant takes on the attitude of less responsibility with the Public who elected them and pay their income and those great benefits they get.

 I agree with Donald on the fact that it is a human error 'cuz somebody designed/misused that system.  Just imagine what would happen if any one of us had a system "anomaly" and tried to pass that one off on the IRS...LOL!

Thanks, Kris Bjorge 

 
by Kristine Bjorge | 2011/07/19 | log in or register to post a reply
Source of Title Blog

Robert A. FrancoThe focus of this blog will be on sharing my thoughts and concerns related to the small title agents and abstractors. The industry has changed dramatically over the past ten years and I believe that we are just seeing the beginning. As the evolution continues, what will become of the many small independent title professionals who have long been the cornerstone of the industry?

Robert A. Franco
SOURCE OF TITLE

 

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