01/12/2012 The Other Guy, Jeff Bryan

To say the turnout at the final 2011 City Council meeting was a surprise might be an understatement; however, the same cannot be said about the vote.
Knowing full well about the Dec. 31 deadline to complete the transaction and sign off on $6.5 million in financing, the pending vote to approve the deal was a no-brainer.
That the City Council ruffled the feathers of 1,500-plus folks to the north of the city line is no surprise either.
However, this isn’t a decision that affects the folks in Rainbow Springs.
This is going to have an impact on the residential and business taxpayers inside the city limits.
It might not come quickly, but it will come.
If those who live in Rainbow Springs follow through on their promise to boycott Greenlight Dunnellon Communications, it’s going to make for a tricky situation when it comes to the financial obligations the city locked itself into in November 2010. You know, the $7.3 million in financing for a system that has yet to launch.
Hypothetically, let’s say those 1,500 folks would have signed up for the triple play combo feature Greenlight recently touted in its rate study, added a couple of features to it and were paying on average about $135 per month for services. That would total $202,500 worth of business per month, more than $2 million per year.
Of course, that’s just gross revenue, not net figures.
Let’s say the 1,500-plus residents and businesses add the same features, minus the business rates established by the City Council. That’s another $2-plus million in net revenue flowing in.
It would certainly make it easier for the city to pay off its $7.3 million in bonds a lot quicker; perhaps enabling city leaders to lower taxes because of the potential profits coming in.
Take away the revenue steam from the potential Rainbow Springs’ residents and it paints a bleak picture.
Two questions not brought up at the Council meeting regarding the fate of the pair of utilities the city agreed to purchase, I found interesting.
First, and foremost, when the City took over the Rio Vista system, those folks were required to pay a deposit to connect to the city system. Will those folks in Rainbow Springs and Juliette Falls be required to do the same?
Second, and perhaps the most important factor in the City Council’s decision to double the size of their utility customers, is how will this affect the billing department? Is the city equipped to handle the massive amount of billing that will be required to double the system, or will taxpayers now face the likelihood of a new employee being added to the city rolls, benefits and all?
Certainly, all of the numbers and figures are a lot to digest. However, the city needs to keep the public in the loop on the financial status of all bond obligations. It’s their right to know, they’re paying the bills too.