The article printed on the front page of the Oct. 22 Tribune, headed “Belshan questions room rental for event” is so off the mark that people should be appalled.

When is it all right for any person working for us, the people, to spend our money because they want to go to a place that is elegant, rather than going to the space provided for such a meeting? When were the people of our government given the right to spend our money frivolously rather than using the facility provided? Not only that, but the reporter, Michelle Haacke, maligns Dan Belshan for his astute observation that this is wasteful spending of our taxpayer monies.

If you follow the news, you will find that if an employee of a business approves spending money frivolously, he/she/they are reprimanded, could lose their job or could be convicted of fraud if the money were considered stolen. In government it is only called wasteful spending and the elected officials look the other way and approve the wasteful spending. I would think that it is time for Albert Lea and the Freeborn County government to clean up its act. As we have seen in the last few years several elected officials have committed crimes and some have been prosecuted. None have been prosecuted for spending money frivolously. It is only called wasteful spending.

No wonder the voting public is up in arms over the government’s handling of our tax dollars and want a change. It is about time to hold our elected officials’ feet to the fire and stop this nonsense.

Would the Tribune please report the facts, instead of siding on the side of the person/persons who constantly waste our money. The people who buy and read the Tribune would applaud the fact that at least one news organization tells the truth. Wasteful spending is stealing taxpayer dollars while commissioners and city council members look the other way. Meanwhile, we the taxpayers get to pay and pay!

Helen Gold

Oakland