Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

City on the brink: Petersburg can’t pay its bills and time is running out
WaPo ^ | 09-05-2016 | Gregory S. Schneider

Posted on 09/05/2016 3:14:33 PM PDT by NRx

...This city of 32,000 just south of Richmond is facing a financial crisis unusual for fiscally conservative Virginia — or any state. In at least the past four years, the city had spent all of its reserves and then kept spending money it didn’t have. It took out short-term loans based on anticipated tax revenue to keep paying bills.

When the loans ran out, it stopped paying. Some fire and rescue equipment has been repossessed. The city trash hauler is threatening to stop pickup. And lenders will not give Petersburg any more loans.

In his 46 years minding state ledgers in various roles, Virginia Finance Secretary Ric Brown has never seen anything like it. “As a rule, most Virginia localities are in pretty good shape,” Brown said.

What’s more, there is no mechanism in state law to help Petersburg — no provision for bankruptcy, no set way for the General Assembly to step in.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Government; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: bluezones; petersburg; richmond; virginia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last
To: NRx

Borrow some loot from Chicago. They’ve got plenty.


21 posted on 09/05/2016 3:29:56 PM PDT by Libloather (Embrace the suck.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All


Less Than $1995 To Go!!
Just A Reminder
Please Don't Forget
To Donate To FR
This Quarter

Sponsoring FReepers are contributing
$10 Each time a New Monthly Donor signs up!
Get more bang for your FR buck!
Click Here To Sign Up Now!

22 posted on 09/05/2016 3:30:03 PM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: blueunicorn6

[There’s the money quote.]

Or the NO money quote. ;)


23 posted on 09/05/2016 3:31:03 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Be a blessing to a stranger today for some have entertained angels unaware)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: citizen

Great scam our politicians have -spending our money to buy votes for themselves, so they can live the high life.


24 posted on 09/05/2016 3:31:16 PM PDT by P.O.E. (Pray for America)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Not enough overseers on that plantation. Too many “citizens” on welfare. Not enough tax payers there. 80% Black means 80% not paying taxes.


25 posted on 09/05/2016 3:33:04 PM PDT by batterycommander (Surrounded? Stay clammed and call for artillery. USNA 65)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: NRx

[Some fire and rescue equipment has been repossessed.]

Uh oh, if rioters start burning buildings like they have in other cities......


26 posted on 09/05/2016 3:35:20 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Be a blessing to a stranger today for some have entertained angels unaware)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NRx

Terry McClinton has asked the state government to look for ways to cut their spending across all agencies to meet an anticipated budget shortfall.
This did not happen during the McDonnell administration.
I remember Tim Kaine closing parks and DMV’s when he was governor to cover shortfalls during his tenure.


27 posted on 09/05/2016 3:37:01 PM PDT by outofsalt ( If history teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DoughtyOne
I know it’s from wiki, but your suspicions are correct -

Because Petersburg has a predominant black population (which votes heavily Democratic), the city has been a Democratic stronghold. It is represented by Joseph Preston in the House of Delegates (63rd District) and Rosalyn R. Dance in the State Senate (16th District). Both Preston and Dance are Democrats. Six of the City Council representatives are confirmed Democrats including the mayor and vice-mayor. All the local constitutional officers are also Democrats. In 2008, Petersburg gave the second-largest percentage of votes for the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama than any other municipality in the nation

28 posted on 09/05/2016 3:37:06 PM PDT by az_gila
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: NRx

I hope St. Joes is OK?


29 posted on 09/05/2016 3:37:36 PM PDT by Mashood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NRx

Petersburg’s ethnic demographics tell you all you need to know.

http://petersburgva.usl.myareaguide.com/demographics.html


30 posted on 09/05/2016 3:38:10 PM PDT by Toliph
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NRx

My father was employed in the area, lived in Petersburg for a few years in the early 70’s and back again for a few years in the mid 80’s. It’s been a pit forever.


31 posted on 09/05/2016 3:38:55 PM PDT by HotKat (Politicians are like diapers; they need to be changed often and for the same reason. Mark Twain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NRx

Fang & I have been loading up and carrying our bags of trash
to the county collection center for 30 years. For our
compost, we have composted food scraps, etc. for all that
time; so very little stinky garbage. - We save our old
newspapers and take them to the local animal shelter from
time to time. (One shelter quit using papers; but the larger
shelter has kept accepting them.)


32 posted on 09/05/2016 3:39:53 PM PDT by Twinkie (John 3:16)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NRx

From wiki...

“Because Petersburg has a predominant black population (which votes heavily Democratic), the city has been a Democratic stronghold. It is represented by Joseph Preston in the House of Delegates (63rd District) and Rosalyn R. Dance in the State Senate (16th District). Both Preston and Dance are Democrats. Six of the City Council representatives are confirmed Democrats including the mayor and vice-mayor. All the local constitutional officers are also Democrats. In 2008, Petersburg gave the second-largest percentage of votes for the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama than any other municipality in the nation.[citation needed]”


33 posted on 09/05/2016 3:40:40 PM PDT by Gen.Blather (`)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: az_gila

Thank you. I nosed around the city internet site and couldn’t derive anything related to the political party of the mayor.

You may have found it in a city history site.

I appreciate you tagging me in on that.


34 posted on 09/05/2016 3:41:33 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (He wins & we do, our nation does, the world does. It's morning in America again. You are living it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Gen.Blather

Just noticed you mentioned you fond it on Wikipedia.

Great. Thanks again.

Democrat! Par for the course...


35 posted on 09/05/2016 3:43:30 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (He wins & we do, our nation does, the world does. It's morning in America again. You are living it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: outofsalt

It’s not the color of their skin it’s the Democrat Party.

RICHMOND, Va. (WVIR) -
Governor Terry McAuliffe is warning Virginia lawmakers to brace for “tough decisions ahead” to address a budget shortfall.

The Democratic governor delivered remarks on the budget before the House and Senate money committees Friday morning.

The projected shortfall for the current-two year budget is $1.2 billion. That’s in addition to a shortfall of about $280 million carried over from the budget year that ended June 30.

McAuliffe says one reason for this is lower than expected income and sales tax revenue collections.

McAuliffe said the state will fill some of the gap in the current fiscal first year with about $125 million that was supposed to cover raises for state employees, teachers and other state-supported workers.

House leaders and the governor seem to agree already on avoiding cuts to education.

“We must have the courage to embrace innovation and to grow in new directions. We must move forward with our blueprint to develop a skilled workforce,” McAuliffe said.

State leaders are expected to draw on the roughly $378 million rainy day fund to help address the budget hole. Leaders are also concerned with the possibility of another wave of federal spending cuts in October 2017.


36 posted on 09/05/2016 3:44:28 PM PDT by outofsalt ( If history teaches us anything it's that history rarely teaches us anything)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: DoughtyOne

The Democrats own this mess.


37 posted on 09/05/2016 3:46:59 PM PDT by joshua c (Cut the cord! Don't pay for the rope they hang you with.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: joshua c

Yep, they sure do.


38 posted on 09/05/2016 3:48:48 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (He wins & we do, our nation does, the world does. It's morning in America again. You are living it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: DoughtyOne

http://dailycaller.com/2016/08/19/semi-literate-mayor-of-bankrupt-city-denounces-critics-as-racists/#ixzz4JQDx2iGq


39 posted on 09/05/2016 3:48:59 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (TRUMP THAT BEYOTCH!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: az_gila

[In 2008, Petersburg gave the second-largest percentage of votes for the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama than any other municipality in the nation.]

Ah, good. He’ll find a way to bail them out by printing some more fake money.


40 posted on 09/05/2016 3:50:45 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Be a blessing to a stranger today for some have entertained angels unaware)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-62 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson