Stuff the Budget

There seems to be something amiss in regard to the county budget. First, the County Executive told that $2 million was mysteriously found to help offset the over $3 million projected deficit. Then he reported the budget was balanced despite a new budget increase of  approximately $1.5 million over last year's $19.7 million budget (7.6% increase). And, last year's general fund balance grew to be a whopping $4.3 million when just a few months ago it was claimed that the county general fund was almost depleted.

It is admirable that the County Commission have steadfastly refused to raise the property tax and apparently the County Executive was in agreement but simply put, the (3.5%) increase in projected incoming revenue does not balance with the 7.6% increase in the proposed budget. 

County budgets are complicated financial structures with many variables that make it all but impossible to give an exact fund balance at any given moment but an unexpected $4.3 million is a stretch of the imagination.

Instead of trying to please irate taxpayers by using creative budget balancing gobble-d-goop the County Executive and Finance Committee Chairman, should explain in simple terms how and why the county can suddenly afford a 7.6 % increase without raising taxes.
What do you think?

Road abandonment.

If you had two driveways, one you used and the other, which ran along the property line you didn't - would you give the one you didn't use much to your neighbor? Of course not! So why did the county commission vote to give a long stretch of Old Chattanooga Road to an adjacent land owner for free even though some residents said they regularly used it? Also, can and should county commissioners legally give away county possessions without a formal bid process?
What do you think? (see the "What do you think" survey on the Home Page)

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