First Budget Meeting

Not much was accomplished at the first meeting to create a budget for the coming year but there was much discussed much of it centered on the fact that the county has dipped into the emergency or Fund balance until there is very little left. From 6 million in the fund balance to less than a million in the new budget.

The statement was made that something would have to be done to address the problem of less money coming in while more is going out. Immediately the suggestion was made by Commissioner Lovell that a property tax is the only way. Shortly after that suggestion Commissioner Campbell proposed a Wheel Tax as a means of bringing in one and a half million dollars. I was allow to make a suggestion and stated that cutting spending was the most logical means of balancing the budget. You begin with cutting the pay of Commissioners, this was mean with great objection from Mr. Lovell. I continued that new hires should be required to pay part of their medical expenses, and that every department should be told to cut their budget 20%.

With a shrinking tax base, decreasing population and decrease in students the only thing that is continuing to go up is the unemployment rate and spending. Thursday will be the second meeting on the new budget. Allen Barrett