Gainesville Regional Utilities: We Own It, We Deserve to Know How They Spend Our Money
As I outlined in my October 30th, 2009 Letter to the Gainesville Sun(1), Gainesville Regional Utilities(GRU) is owned by the city of Gainesville. If you are a Resident and Taxpayer in the city of Gainesville, whether you know it or not, you are also a part owner. You provide the capitol for this business to exist, and you hire or fire its Board of Directors when you vote in the City Commission and Mayoral Elections.
As a part owner of GRU I feel that I am entitled to have a few additional line items added to my monthly bill/statement. How much of the money I am paying will result in profit for the company, and how much of that profit is transferred to the city general fund. As a part owner of this large business I think it is only fair for me to be kept in the loop.
On November 2nd the Gainesville Sun ran another letter from a Gainesville resident who felt that he did not need to be kept in the loop(2). Why anyone would feel the unction to write a letter that basically says they don’t want to know how their personal money is being spent is beyond my ability to comprehend, but I digress… If this person or anyone else does not wish to know how GRU is spending their money, they can easily choose to not look at those line items on their statement.
I hope that you agree with me that GRU should keep its investors more in the loop on how it is spending your capitol and you will continue to urge your Commissioners and Mayor in this direction. [Click here for their contact info]
I would like to thank Ron Cunningham, for quickly running my rebuttal letter on November 5th(3).
–Robert Krames
Gainesville Resident
Sources:
