The purchase of the Youth Development Center property demonstrates a disturbing lack of focus of the Hudson City Council. It is beyond the scope of city government to "invest" constituents' money in any project and to any degree, at any time.

The idea that money from state or other sources may have been contributed to this property purchase and lowered its effective cost to constituents is irrelevant. Such money contributed by larger government sources is in reality funded by other taxation of city taxpayers. It is not the job of city council to invest our money.

If taxpayers desire to invest in real estate projects with their own money they are free to do so.

Further, the purchase of the park property demonstrates that local taxes are too high. The existence of a "reserve fund" from which our money for this project came is not in the best interests of taxpayers. Such a fund presents an opportunity for misbehavior of our city council. Quite simply a reserve fund represents excess taxes.

City management of taxpayer money should involve the conversion of the reserve fund into a proper capital fund associated with a long term capital budget. Such a capital budget requires a justifiable plan and helps to focus city government. (I am sure a capital budget already exists.)

Any money remaining after such a capital budgeting process should be refunded to taxpayers annually. The "reserve fund" should be eliminated.

City government is not a non-interest paying bank designed to hold our money indefinitely for special projects that may materialize on the future.

Off-budget projects requiring special financial needs should be funded though special assessments.

It is time to refocus city government.