September 6, 2007
By: Sid Riley
This column presents a non-partisan, conservative viewpoint about items of interest in our community and our lives. Focus is on items that are impacting your pocket book, your personal freedoms, and your rights. I hope that you will read the column regularly and that it occasionally influences your opinions and actions. Now, on to the subject of the week:
"Events Of This Past Week Made Me Realize How The Bureaucratic System Works."
The week started with me attending one of the budget workshops that the County Commission is conducting to finalize next years budget. At a previous workshop they had approved a 2.5% raise for all of the 390 county employees, and they were discussing how to utilize $380,000 they had set aside for additional raises for what they called "cost of living" increase. I was a little confused, since in industry all "across the board" increases that are given are usually based on cost of living increases. All other individual raises are based on merit or annual performance and contribution to the profitability of the company
Anyway, they wisely decided to not give the $380,000 as a permanent raise, which would have escalated all wages to the new level, and instead decided to divide the money evenly as a "bonus check" which will approximate $900 per county employee. I was disappointed that they did not discuss reducing the budget by $380,000 and reducing the millage accordingly, but I understood their intent, which was to help the county employees instead of the county taxpayers.
The county budget did not increase this year. They reduced the amount of expenditures normally spent on creation of new positions within the county departments, and held a firm line on expenditures for equipment and new vehicles. They then spent these gains on wage increases. Next year they will probably only give the usual 2.5-3.0% raises and renew the spending on new jobs creation and vehicles.
Then the day after the workshop I received something in the mail that made me blink. I received my 2008 estimated property tax notice. It showed that my property taxes were going to go up by $500.00 next year due to the school tax millage increase and increased assessments. The county bureaucrats are to receive a 2.5% increase plus a $900 bonus check, and my annual income will go down by $500.00! How much is your income going to go down next year?
While I was working on Labor Day and all of the bureaucracy was taking one of their eleven paid holidays, the realization of how the system really works finally sunk in.
The simple truth is, they control the game, they make all of the rules, and we are all forced to play. The only weapon we have in this game is our vote, which is usually misdirected and unfocused.
I’m not sure of the reasons used by the school system to justify their millage increase. All I know is they had enough funding to spend $300,000 or so on a girls softball field, and they weren’t too concerned about letting a $30 million dollar investment, in a new school set idle for a year because of the project finished late due to not being controlled properly, and they continue to let the beautiful old high school complex sit idle and deteriorate.
Through all of the meetings and budget discussions I never once heard words like "reduction", "cut", or "elimination", used. Guess those verbs are not in the dictionary they use. I apologize for being so critical, but this has been a year where they frequently talked about budget cuts, tightening their belts, forced reductions, and lower taxes for us all. Smoke and mirrors again!
Rudaments – Other Items Worthy Of Note:
1. On a positive note, I feel the commissioners made the right decision when they voted to keep the road and ramp open at Round Lake, thus continuing public access to the lake. Also, I was glad they voted to keep the Blue Springs swimming park open on weekends for another month. The public has really used that facility this summer, and will probably continue to use it as long as the weather is warm.
2. I saw a picture of a contingent of uniformed police officers looking mean and strict in a notification that they plan to set up road blocks in Marianna during the coming weeks. They will be checking to be sure that you have your drivers license, insurance card, and registration in your required "documents" that you must carry, and that you have your belt fastened. These road blocks will have nothing to do with revenue generation. This is real crime fighting!
When I see this type of road block I can’t help but relate it to the "Gestapo" tactics as the bureaucracy of Hitler took over Germany prior to WW II. All they need is a hinged rail to raise and lower and shiny black boots to wear. It is great living in a free nation like ours, isn’t it? I hope it stays free.
3. Also, the speed trap continues to operate in Cottondale. They have it set up were the speed signs are the absolute legal minimum distance apart on 231 as you enter Cottondale. If a car merely coasts through the zones without applying brakes, they will be over the limit. Then a Cottondale Cop gleefully waits in the bushes. The presence of this unethical practice is giving the county a bad reputation, and in my opinion should be stopped by the Cottondale City Commissioners and Chief Watford. Now I see why they did not want a by-pass built around the city when they widened highway 231 several years ago.
4. Have you seen that giant hole in the ground that the "code-a-crats" made the Kindlespires dig next to their new recreation facility? It ranks as one of the largest mosquito ponds in the area, and must have cost several thousands of dollars to build. The mosquitos coming from it will really make playing putt-putt golf more fun at night. Personally, I think that the E.P.A. and the code bunch have gone overboard in this approach to controlling run off water. A relatively small percentage of the time it is really needed, and the rest of the time it is a pure waste of money, time, and land because of bureaucratic inflexibility. Additionally, they look like bomb craters and are ugly.
5. Another interesting situation is the grant that our politicians in Tallahassee obtained for the community of Jacob, and the planned project that can’t use the funds as defined by the grant. Our politicians like to identify a black community, get some easy funding for the minority group, have their picture published giving a big check to a black Mayor, and then hope to get the black block vote as a result. This time it appears they rushed a little too fast. At the national level they are all flocking to New Orleans to show those minorities what great political benefactors they are.
One thing this type of political ploy does demonstrate is the fact that if voters ban together and vote in a unified block, they can get their attention. The Black Caucus is doing that.
6. An appropriate ritual that all legislative bodies should use as part of the opening of all public meetings and sessions is the following "Politicians Creed". It should be said in unison just after completion of the Pledge Of Allegiance-
The Politician’s Creed
Tax and Spend,
Revenues Without End,
So Easy It’s Funny,
It is Only Tax Money,
Easy Come, Easy Go,
Grow, Bureaucracy Grow!
This coming year is a year of opportunity for voters to begin to stop the philosophies of the past that are threatening to ruin our lives and our nation. If you really believe that these flawed beliefs that government must continually grow, and that all available funds must be spent each year, are wrong - then we must all begin uniting to create enough voting power to influence what types of people are in positions of authority. If we unite and vote wisely next year we can have an impact, and, "We Will Be Getting It Right!"
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