The city's budget section titled General Expenses shows expenses
for the "Sister Cities" program in the amount of $25,000 for FY 2003
and $30,000 for FY 2004. Nothing was budgeted for FY 2003 and
suddenly we see an allocation.

The Mayor is on record as having said that the city does not pay
for this program, the Newport County Convention and Visitors Bureau
(NCCVB) pays for it versus a $10,000 allocation in past years. There
are definitely monies allocated from NCCVB for Sister Cities, whose
money principally comes from hotel tax receipts (81% in 2002,
$1,987,334 of $$2,499,992 total revenues). This is the group
dominated by Rep. Paul Crowley.

We need a full accounting of the value of the sister city
programs. What does the city get from these programs in real
dollars? What is our return on investment? (When is the last time
you saw a trip report from our councillors describing what they
learned from a trip?) If they can't account for that, why not? Who
goes on these trips and why? Who is financed by either the city or
NCCVB and for what (air fare, hotel, meals)? What is our reciprocal
agreement with these cities. As we consider cutting school expenses
and other city expenses, how do we justify continuing these junkets?

How many Councilors can go on a trip and how often? The Mayor is
on record as having said that no councilor will go on more than one
trip a year and no more than three councilors on any one trip. I am
not sure that Councilor O'Neill has missed a trip, other than
perhaps Japan. Four councilors went to Italy this last year. In
fact, the Italian trip has some very interesting eyewitness accounts
of councilor escapades from the students who went. Perhaps the
Councilors would like to give the taxpayers an account of their
deportment on these trips, especially the Italian trip.

Fred