Mandeville News

  It's Game Over for the National Association Realtors (NAR) Monopoly The recent settlement in the National Association of Realtors (NAR) case has sent ripples through the real estate industry, marking a significant shift in the dynamics of buying and selling homes. The case, which exposed long-standing practices that many considered unfair and monopolistic, is poised to bring about changes that will benefit both buyers and sellers. The NAR, a powerful force in the real estate world, has long been criticized for its control over the buying and selling process. With nearly 9 out of 10 home sales handled by agents affiliated with NAR, the organization held considerable influence over commission rates, listing practices, and access to crucial market data. One of the primary grievances against the NAR was its role in maintaining high commission rates, typically around 5 to 6 percent of the sale price. This fee, split between the seller's and buyer's agents, often translated ...

  In recent months, the City of Mandeville's financial situation has been under scrutiny, prompting discussions and reflections on its budget, expenses, and annual financial audit.  Rick Danielson, a key figure in Mandeville's community, recently shed light on the city's fiscal challenges and the urgent need for proactive measures. See Councilman Rick Danielson’s post here: Councilman Rick Danielson's Facebook Post In a candid message to the public, Danielson emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability regarding the city's financial audit.  After the audit was finalized and posted on March 6th, Danielson provided a recap of the auditors' findings, delivered during a recent Mandeville City Council meeting on March 14th. The central issue highlighted by Danielson revolves around the city's expenditures surpassing its revenue, leading to the depletion of its fund balances or savings.  In Fiscal Year 2023 alone, the city spent $4 million m...

 The impending elections in Mandeville, Louisiana, are under the significant influence of external forces , with a resident of the city serving as a crucial figure across three Political Action Committees (PACs). This individual holds key officer positions not only in Mandeville's Greater New Orleans Region (GNOR) PAC but also in PACs based in New Orleans, Slidell, and Baton Rouge . The images for this article were created from open records on the Louisiana Secretary of State website. Are any of the external PACs with their mailers, robo-callers, and texts influencing your vote? The GNOR PAC, where this resident endorses candidates like Madden , Volgetanz, Zuckerman, and Burguieres, is just one facet of their broad influence. Furthermore, this person's involvement extends to MandePAC and Three Rivers PAC , showcasing a substantial reach and influence that transcends city boundaries. The interconnected nature of these PACs, all with the shared resident of Mandeville in promin...

  As Mandeville enters the sixth month of the 2024 fiscal year which started September 1, 2023, a grim financial reality looms large.   According to the city's latest financial report, the city of Mandeville is already grappling with a $1.57 million deficit, with projections indicating a potential $3+ million deficit for the entire year unless immediate and drastic spending changes are implemented. What's particularly troubling is that this trajectory is putting Mandeville on course for four consecutive years of deficit spending. The Madden administration inherited a strong financial foundation, thanks to the careful stewardship of previous fiscally conservative administrations. However, it appears that this legacy is being squandered, endangering our city's future financial sustainability. The latest financial report reveals that the general fund now stands at approximately $13.2 million, a stark $10 million decrease from when the current administration took office. This...

The auditor's presentation lauded the city's robust net position, highlighting the ratio between assets (such as buildings, properties, and cash on hand) and liabilities. However, a critical concern arises from the current operational scenario where expenses exactly match revenues, as highlighted by the auditors. They indicated that the city would have balanced its books had it refrained from spending on capital projects. This lack of surplus for crucial capital endeavors underscores a dangerous trend where expenses are escalating without a parallel rise in revenues. This alarming situation urgently calls for immediate financial adjustments to avoid a perilous imbalance. The city grappled with a substantial $4.3 million deficit this year, despite clarifications that only $1.2 million was allocated to Ida-related expenses in 2023. Even without considering these costs, a $3 million deficit remains, indicating a troubling pattern unless spending is changed. The data reflects a ...

  In a surprising turn of events, Councilman Zuckerman, our chair, has changed course under pressure from Councilman Danielson and Mandeville mayoral candidate Jeff Lyons.   After initially refusing to place the financial audit review and Q&A item on the council agenda, Zuckerman's stance shifted in response to the mounting pressure. Specifically, when asked to include the audit presentation on the agenda for the upcoming council meeting on March 14th, Zuckerman insisted on delaying the presentation until the budget hearings in July & August. This decision contradicted Mayor Madden's promise to present the audit findings on March 14th. Mayor Madden, in paid ads, has touted financial health while the audit results contradict those statements drastically. Many citizens have voiced concerns about the city's financial situation, describing it as dire, dangerous, or even "broke."   Despite these concerns, Councilman Danielson's efforts to prioritize tra...

  The long-awaited annual financial audit report is finally out! With Mayor Madden, council candidates, and concerned citizens eagerly awaiting its release, transparency has been at the forefront of our minds. However, Councilman Danielson's attempts to bring transparency to the forefront were met with resistance from Councilman Jason Zuckerman, our Chair. When asked to add the audit presentation to our upcoming council meeting on March 14th, Zuckerman refused, insisting on delaying until the budget hearings in July & August, despite Mayor Madden's promise for a March 14th presentation. We, the citizens of Mandeville, deserve transparency and accountability from our elected officials. Let's demand that the audit findings be presented THIS Thursday, March 14th. Contact Councilman Zuckerman (jzuckerman@cityofmandeville.com) and let him know we expect answers before the election. Our city's financial health is too important to wait. It's time for Councilman Zuckerm...

  After withholding financial details for 6 months, an audit reveals 10 pages of violations including Louisiana State Law violations, City Charter violations, and violations of accounting principles.  There are no penalties for violations and it is up to citizens to hold officials accountable through lawsuits. See the below summary of the more serious violations.  There were more.  See the audit link at the end of this article. Deficit - Fiscal Year 2023 Ending Balance: Beginning the fiscal year with $19,087,246.00 and ending with $14,730,783.00, Mayor Madden presided over a deficit of approximately $4,356,463. This marks a continuation of the deficit trend from FY2022, which stood at around $4,200,000.00. General Fund Balance Photo by AJE General Fund Mismanagement:  The primary operating fund of Mandeville, LA, faced significant challenges under Mayor Madden's leadership. Increased public works expenditures,  including salaries ,  benefits , repairs...

Mayoral candidate Jeff Lyons has released a video countering Mayor Madden's paid advertisement and disputing the mayor's assertions regarding accounting practices, accolades from the CRI (Carr Riggs & Ingram), and the city's financial stability. In Mayor Madden's video, he asserts that Mandeville is in excellent financial shape with no deficits and a healthy fund balance. However, Mr. Lyons argues that city documentation and the CRI presentation indicate a different reality. While CRI did commend Mandeville for its strong General Fund balance, Mr. Lyons notes that it was attributed to the previous administration. Furthermore, he highlights that CRI recommended conservative financial projections, which were disregarded, with all CRI projections indicating a decline in the city's financial health. See the  CRI Mandeville Forecast Presentation Mr. Lyons also challenges the mayor's assertions regarding current accounting practices and contrasts them with those o...

Mandeville residents are raising concerns over Mayor Clay Madden's delayed release of the FY2023 Audited Financial Report, initially promised by March 1st. Despite the commitment, Mayor Madden now pledges to release the report on March 6th, a mere three days before the start of early voting.  According to the Mandeville, LA City Charter, the mayor is required to furnish a complete financial report to both the city council and residents within 45 days following the end of the fiscal year, which concluded on August 31, 2023. However, with the report now 137 days overdue, questions arise as to whether the mayor intentionally withholds critical information during his reelection campaign, as early voting commences on March 9, 2024. Council at large, Rick Danielson, sheds light on a five-month-long struggle to obtain the FY2024 budget document, including the closing General Fund balance from the end of FY2023. Despite numerous assurances from the city finance director and a subsequen...