We just moved there last Nov. Since then, we have been finding out what a screwed up little town it is. It's run by 3 old guys on a town council.
First off, they hadn't paid a good amount of taxes to the IRS. The town had to take out a loan to pay for it and put up the police car (there is only one) as collateral.
That's the first one we found out about. Now we find out that the water company there has operating expenses of about 90k and takes in about 60k. So prices will be raised. Everyone's will be about doubled or in some cases even more. Okay. Now, we find out that the former town clerk took care of all the financials. She would show the books to the council members but they didn't understand them and she was "good with numbers". She has since left the job, erased her computer and there are no records. The last time the state auditor was there was in 2003. No one knows why it was so long ago. At that time, the town had a surplus of around $300k. When asked there the money went the only answer we get is "I don't know". No one is searching out the former town clerk. No one has any answers. The town is broke and water bills are going to skyrocket. At every town meeting there are people in there begging to have an extension on their water bill. How will they pay it now?
The town council keeps using the threat that if they can't pay, the town will go into foreclosure. What I would like to know is, what will that mean for the townspeople? Will it be taken over by Martinsville and the water company taken over by a private company? If so, I don't see that as bad. The town council has proven they have no clue. Any advice?
Thanks
Jason
I think so too. But apparently the state board of accounts hasn't looked in on Paragon since 2003.