The fines to the community could be over $10,000.00 plus legal cost to defend such cause to a community struggling to keep the current day to day operations of local government operational. This is another example of the public trusting their elected officials representing them with honest and open minds. As an American Citizen it is important to stay involved in all aspects or your local, state, and federal government by attending meetings, researching, ask questions, and report any corruption. These small communities like the larger communities relies on state and federal grant money to assist and repair towns through out America. When the population dwindles, the smaller towns must fight harder to obtain funding for their communities because the voter basin is drying up not making much of a difference; therefore, their funding stops.
When the government assistance stops property taxes and sales tax must be raised in order for the community to survive. This effects every household making many families to flee the smaller communities for work and in order to pay their bills. Soon the property values drop, the homes and commercial buildings begin to decay, and an once thriving town becomes a ghost town.
It is time that the small communities across the United States to form an alliance like many small businesses have in order to pull support in the State and Federal Government but to have the resources to reduce spending by purchasing, contracting, supplies, and sharing resources. Making the bidding process open and have full transparency and posting all contracts and notices for the public to view. All meetings, minutes, financial records, salaries, expenses, etc available to the public to inspect and review at anytime. The amount of money being wasted in government is amazing. It is time we take control back of our government, hold all elected officials responsible for their campaign promises and actions, and preserve the communities for our children and grandchildren.