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Payback bad deal for FF
Published Wednesday, June 18, 2008
That the Minnesota Department of Human Services made a $9.7 million error was bad enough.
The fact that, through the back door, they are passing the error down to taxpayers in Minnesota – possibly the Fergus Falls School District to the tune of $75,000 – is simply unacceptable.
Part of a complicated system which determines Medicaid pay-out requirements, DHS now says it overpaid the Otter Tail Family Services
Collaborative $75,000 in 2004, money that was given to the Fergus Falls School District and already spent. Four years later, DHS is asking OTFSC, who has then asked the school district, to pay the money back, at a time when money is tight, to say the least.
State Rep. Bud Nornes and Sen. Dan Skogen should lead the charge to have the Legislature use state funding to provide similar funding to the government entities who have been forced to finance the error.
In the private sector, if a company makes an error and overpays another company or individual, the company simply accepts the loss and moves on. Gov. Tim Pawlenty and the Legislature ought to do the same.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by wes (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems that the school district had no problem with
spending the money.
Posted by otterfan (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wes--I don't think the school knew it was money given in error.
Also, It is obviously the human services mistake and they should own up and pay it back.
Posted by Newshound (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Elect more Republicans. Get more sloppy government service. The STATE should absorb this and absolve the FF community.
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The school (as much as it pains me to say it) is not at fault here. OTFSC is partly responsible. I'm not great with numbers here but your telling me that someone, anyone would not notice a significant increase in payment and not think to at least have it checked out with the state? These are the kind of mistakes that have Fergus Falls on it's financial heels! Unless things change drastically the government will always get their money back. In the case of the surplus checks we all are receiving, you know what your due and if you get too much and cash that check for extra money, sooner or later the Government will find out and you will pay it back. That's the way it goes and that's why smart and responsible fiscal managment is so crucial today in Fergus Falls so this won't happen again. However this IS Fergus Falls and I am sure more blunders will happen at the expense of the ever dwindling taxpayers of Ottertail County and Fergus Falls.
Posted by ranger (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 10:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"blunders will happen at the expense of the ever dwindling taxpayers of Ottertail County and Fergus Falls".
Hometown- Im not sure if I understood your point but I'm pretty sure that the taxpayer base is going up every year. Ottertail county population grows every year. If you look at the amount we pay for taxes and how they increase every year, I would think the tax base gets bigger not dwindles.
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
RANGER,
My point is that Fergus Falls is slowly and surely taxing people right out of the city and the county. People are not going to live in a place where you can't make a decent living and where crime is seemingly increasing year after year. Finally, there is a reason Fergus Falls are in financial straits and this is just another example of why.
Posted by kdutch86 (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 11:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If people are being taxed right out of the city and the county why are people still here? Why are you here? I didn't know Fergus Falls is in financial straits. Interesting.
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kdutch86,
I was raised there and do not live there for a miriad of reasons, No real jobs, crime, drugs, etc. Not all mind you but many people have left for the very same reasons And Yes, Fergus Falls is falling apart financially and physically. Have you taken a good hard look at what is going on in Fergus these days. The Mall, folks going to Fargo to shop, no new businesses, the school levy, and financial mismanagment for years. Also, the drug problem has reached almost epidenic proportions, and the police know that they have only scatched the surface about drugs and illigal activity going on in Fergus. I am frankly suprised you seem so naive as to what's going on around you. Again, this financial slip up (as I have said before) is just one of the many reasons Fergus Falls is and has been going in the wrong direction for years. Don't get me wrong, there are folks trying to lead the was for Fergus Falls and her future, my concern is that it may be too little too late.
Posted by luvmyboys (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Crime and drugs? I've lived here my whole life... and other than a broken car window here & there, and a wayward criminal getting off on I-94 and heading our way, there's not much crime. Drugs, yes, but they are in EVERY city...big or small, and it's not in "epidemic proportions" in Fergus Falls as you report. Mismanagement of $$? Yup, here and there as well. And again, other towns can claim the same. But we're not falling off the map because we're in SUCH dire straits. Good grief... you don't live here, and you're WAY off base.
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on June 19, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LUVMYBOYS,
I lived in Fergus Falls From 1979 to 1993 and in that course of time I have seen an ultra thriving mall wind up with what 4 stores total? And your trying to tell me that the job opportunities are just overflowing? I think not. Further, take a drive almost anywhere in Fergus and all you see are old house and businesses that are in need of serious repair or updating. It's embarassing to be quite frank.
Drugs many times are equated with anti social behavior which many, many times leads to crime. There is a very serious meth problem in Fergus Falls it's just not at your front door everyday, yet. If you choose to bury your head in the sand about where exactly Fergus Falls is headed that's your choice. But the fact remains that if Fergus Falls doesen't get some real leadship to change the way things are done, then I assure you things will only get worse.
Finally, I think people are misunderstanding why I am speak out about this and I will give you the reason why.
First, it's my hometown, and it always will be.
Second, I love my hometown and have many family and friends who are still there.
Third, I have seen what my hometown is capable of and with the current state of affairs I can assure you this is NOT it.
Posted by luvmyboys (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OK, first of all, you need to re-read my post. I didn't say ANYTHING about job opportunities "overflowing". I will however say that your statement about "no real jobs" is inaccurate and offensive. I'm sure there are people working and living in Fergus Falls who would take great offense to that as well. I myself have worked at the same job for 15 years, and it is a wonderful job. What is a "real job" to you? To me, anyone who goes to work and receives a paycheck has a "JOB". It doesn't matter where you work... it only matters that you're working. Secondly... how is a run down house or business the problem of the city? If my house is in disrepair, then it's my problem to clean it up and make it look good - and that holds true for a business owner. And finally, I'd say it's probably a good thing you don't live here anymore. Especially if our town embarrasses you so much. I'm not embarrassed to say Fergus is my hometown. I love this city and it's people. It is a beautiful place to live. Does it have issues? Of course it does, but so does every other town.
Posted by hometown (anonymous) on June 20, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
LUVMYBOYS
First of all, The Job matters because many jobs don't pay enough to pay the basic bills. Therefore I would classify a real job as one that would pay a person enough to pay their bills without having to work a second job. Those are few and far between in Fergus Falls. Most likely the reason you can do it is because you have had the same job for 15 years and have risen though the ranks. If so I applaud your efforts. As far as run down house and businesses it DOES make a difference because those are the kind of things that attact new businesses and new families. And finally Fergus Falls is not like every other town, because every other town isn't building a school they can't afford, running off businesses with higher taxes, and contiuing the cycle of keeping people working poor. You are seriously deluded if you think there are not major glaring problems with Fergus Falls these days and (as I have said before) you can bury your head in the sand and pretend that Fergus is doing great but the fact is it's not. This is not aimed toward the good citizens of Fergus Falls, It is aimed directly at the leadership of Fergus Falls. I too love my hometown but if you have lived there your whole life, as you say, then surely you can see the noticable decline I have over the past 30 years.
Posted by TKay (anonymous) on June 21, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Come on back, hometown and get elected to a leadership position and help with the problems you are reporting. Be part of the solution to strengthening Fergus Falls!
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