[old timer]

Again, CFAB has given the "we're closing on Jan. 10th" emergency money to Boot Hill Museum (subject to City Commission and County Commission approval), and again, not one question asked. No questions about budget, nor activities to raise money, nor about expenses. Nothing.

This year Rick Sowers voted for it. Last year, Mr. Sowers voted against it. No reason given for the change. Nothing asked, nothing noted.

Given the lack of professionally trained museum management at Boot Hill (but a nice bunch of hard workers, please note), and the lack of any large scale fund raising, or asking for outside guidance or help from museum leaders in Kansas and the region -- guess no one wants to know why Boot Hill can't operate within a smaller budget.

Their financial statement includes the unique manner of listing the grants from the City of Dodge City as budgeted income -- then the lack of the grants as a loss -- thus the confused and probably not within accounting rules listing of a "loss" of (in Jan. 07) - $54,804.69 compared to Jan. 2006 -- and the loss is -- due to the gift from City of Dodge City being smaller.

Huh? What's that -- ok, once more -- Boot Hill Museum included in 2006 the emergency grant of $275,000 from the City of Dodge City; they included in 2007 budget the emergency grant of $150,000 -- then, crazy I know -- they listed the difference of -$125,000 in the grant amount as a loss. This is emergency money, remember. It should not be in the budget as income, but rather listed as extra item.

Confused? I know I am. But, since no one on the CFAB had any questions about changes, budgets, or anything at all -- just goes to show that if you run things in a creative way, play with numbers, etc., you get a bonus from CFAB. And from CFAB -- no plan, no rules, no hearings. Not even a presentation from Boot Hill required. Could some city or county commissioner rise to the ethical point of asking some questions ? Oh, never mind............