January 24, 2008
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:
The old phrase "No Pain - No Gain" Also Applies to Government Operations
In the U. S. economy, the recurring cycles of recessions and "good" times unquestionably have a beneficial, though painful, side effect on the structure of the thousands of businesses that comprise our economic system. When business is booming and factories and business organizations are working diligently to meet the demands for their goods or services, they often choose the easiest and quickest solution to situations in order to maximize their position in the market place. This is often not the most efficient, cost effective solution…but it gets the problems solved.
Then when periods of business "slow downs" occur, these areas of extra cost and waste become more apparent to company management. They now find that they have time to deal with these known problem areas. During these times astute managers begin to look inside of the corporate structure for ways to reduce costs and trim unneeded services, organizational elements, procedures, and staffing. The company trims itself down to only essential, productive elements and becomes much leaner, cleaner, and more efficient. It is the only way they have to assure surviving the recessionary period. When good times finally return, the company emerges as an efficient element of its respective industry, ready to again enjoy maximum profitability and growth.
This positive aspect of economic downturns on organizational structure unfortunately does not occur in Government. When the Federal, State, or Local governments begin to feel a threat to their flow of funding from the public, the usual reaction is to not reduce or eliminate waste and unnecessary services and costs. Instead of doing what should be done, they cleverly cut in some area that will generate the most media attention and public reaction. They do things such as close national parks, eliminate youth programs, or quit buying blackboard chalk for use in class rooms.
The taxpayers of Florida are currently suffering under a heavy burden of costs created by huge government overheads, heavy taxation, and government allowing out of control costs for insurance and utilities. Additionally it appears over regulation of the market by Alan Greenspan (before he skipped town) and the Federal Reserve has killed the housing market, threatened banking institutions, and perhaps has thrust our nation into a recession.
As these things occur, I want you to watch the reaction of government at all levels.
The words "Cut, Reduction, Elimination, Lay Off, Trim, and Unnecessary" are not in the bureaucratic or political vocabulary. Instead of attempting to minimize the cost of government for the common good during these times of economic difficulty, they become defensive and strive to "hold on" to what they have. They will retain this posture as the public suffers through loss of usable income, foreclosures, bankruptcies and reduced standards of living.
The Property Tax Amendment has them scared to death at the moment. They are all bemoaning the fact that critical services will have to be cut if the inflow of tax money is cut to projected levels. They never mention the "unnecessary, unneeded" services that could be cut. They are trying to play the usual "close the parks and don’t buy blackboard chalk" routine as they sense a threat to their "wellspring" of tax monies.
During the years from 2000 to 2006 the state and local governments suddenly found their inflow of money surging upward as sale after sale of property yielded higher and higher assessments. Since all tax money must be spent and never given back to the public, the bureaucracies quickly devised new services, hired new employees, and increased salaries and benefits for everyone in order to get rid of this new money. The size and scope of government spread outward.
Then, when the housing bubble burst, and the revenue levels suddenly became endangered, they began to scream and yell about cutting vital services. BULL MALARKEY! Everything they do is not essential.
It is not essential that they all get a 3-4% raise every year. It is not essential that they get a big end of year bonus. It is not essential that they have eleven holidays each year. Every county employee does not have to get a county car to drive. And most importantly, they do not need to waste money on building a new building when other suitable buildings exist in the community.
In my opinion, it would ultimately be beneficial to our community if our county, city, and even Chipola’s budgets were cut and the bureaucratic management within was forced to perform real management actions like managers in industry are often forced to perform.
I have studied the proposed property tax amendment in detail, and I plan to vote in favor of it. I do not feel that it eases the excess property tax burden enough….but it is a start in the right direction.
RUDAMENTS: ODDS AND ENDS WORTHY OF MENTION
♦ I heard that when those fifty four cars collided into each other on I-4 in central Florida due to an ill-advised controlled burn and unusual atmospheric conditions creating a blinding cover over the busy interstate, the Florida Highway Patrol reacted quickly to the situation. They showed up en masse at the scene and helped the unfortunate drivers at the scene by giving most of them a hefty citation for unsafe driving. Good solution FHP!
♦ A recent editorial in another paper promoted the hiring of a Tourism Director using the TDC regulated bed tax funds. Just what we need, another bureaucrat to spend that pool of tax money that the TDC has been using to do other things such as support local tourist attracting events, festivals, and even helping build the new stage at Citizens Park. When the bed tax was first passed (against my best efforts), I told my wife, Judy, that before it was over, most of the money would be spent creating more bureaucratic jobs. That is just what the chamber and some supporters are trying to do.
♦ I understand the city is purchasing one of those portable traffic signals that flash your speed at you as you approach. Isn’t this distracting to drivers and in direct violation of Marianna’s strict sign ordinance?
♦ The city of Marianna has decided to demolish the remains of the Sykes building. They must feel that they have sat by long enough and let it deteriorate to a point where restoring it would not be practical. They are using that same management approach to the old high school facilities. I view demolishing the Sykes building as another example of bureaucratic failure to properly manage our tax monies. They should have obtained grants for it’s restoration and use as an Emergency Operations Center instead of building the 8.4 million dollar building they are currently constructing out of wasted tax dollars.
♦ Next week I will have some interesting facts about what other counties have done when they needed a new consolidated county administration facility. I can guarantee you that they did not rush to build a $15 million dollar structure in an already crowded area.
Well, I guess I have fired enough volleys for this issue. I hope you will vote wisely on the 29th. The big elections are yet to come. Participate and you will be "Getting It Right"!
The old phrase "No Pain - No Gain" Also Applies to Government Operations
In the U. S. economy, the recurring cycles of recessions and "good" times unquestionably have a beneficial, though painful, side effect on the structure of the thousands of businesses that comprise our economic system. When business is booming and factories and business organizations are working diligently to meet the demands for their goods or services, they often choose the easiest and quickest solution to situations in order to maximize their position in the market place. This is often not the most efficient, cost effective solution…but it gets the problems solved.
Then when periods of business "slow downs" occur, these areas of extra cost and waste become more apparent to company management. They now find that they have time to deal with these known problem areas. During these times astute managers begin to look inside of the corporate structure for ways to reduce costs and trim unneeded services, organizational elements, procedures, and staffing. The company trims itself down to only essential, productive elements and becomes much leaner, cleaner, and more efficient. It is the only way they have to assure surviving the recessionary period. When good times finally return, the company emerges as an efficient element of its respective industry, ready to again enjoy maximum profitability and growth.
This positive aspect of economic downturns on organizational structure unfortunately does not occur in Government. When the Federal, State, or Local governments begin to feel a threat to their flow of funding from the public, the usual reaction is to not reduce or eliminate waste and unnecessary services and costs. Instead of doing what should be done, they cleverly cut in some area that will generate the most media attention and public reaction. They do things such as close national parks, eliminate youth programs, or quit buying blackboard chalk for use in class rooms.
The taxpayers of Florida are currently suffering under a heavy burden of costs created by huge government overheads, heavy taxation, and government allowing out of control costs for insurance and utilities. Additionally it appears over regulation of the market by Alan Greenspan (before he skipped town) and the Federal Reserve has killed the housing market, threatened banking institutions, and perhaps has thrust our nation into a recession.
As these things occur, I want you to watch the reaction of government at all levels.
The words "Cut, Reduction, Elimination, Lay Off, Trim, and Unnecessary" are not in the bureaucratic or political vocabulary. Instead of attempting to minimize the cost of government for the common good during these times of economic difficulty, they become defensive and strive to "hold on" to what they have. They will retain this posture as the public suffers through loss of usable income, foreclosures, bankruptcies and reduced standards of living.
The Property Tax Amendment has them scared to death at the moment. They are all bemoaning the fact that critical services will have to be cut if the inflow of tax money is cut to projected levels. They never mention the "unnecessary, unneeded" services that could be cut. They are trying to play the usual "close the parks and don’t buy blackboard chalk" routine as they sense a threat to their "wellspring" of tax monies.
During the years from 2000 to 2006 the state and local governments suddenly found their inflow of money surging upward as sale after sale of property yielded higher and higher assessments. Since all tax money must be spent and never given back to the public, the bureaucracies quickly devised new services, hired new employees, and increased salaries and benefits for everyone in order to get rid of this new money. The size and scope of government spread outward.
Then, when the housing bubble burst, and the revenue levels suddenly became endangered, they began to scream and yell about cutting vital services. BULL MALARKEY! Everything they do is not essential.
It is not essential that they all get a 3-4% raise every year. It is not essential that they get a big end of year bonus. It is not essential that they have eleven holidays each year. Every county employee does not have to get a county car to drive. And most importantly, they do not need to waste money on building a new building when other suitable buildings exist in the community.
In my opinion, it would ultimately be beneficial to our community if our county, city, and even Chipola’s budgets were cut and the bureaucratic management within was forced to perform real management actions like managers in industry are often forced to perform.
I have studied the proposed property tax amendment in detail, and I plan to vote in favor of it. I do not feel that it eases the excess property tax burden enough….but it is a start in the right direction.
RUDAMENTS: ODDS AND ENDS WORTHY OF MENTION
♦ I heard that when those fifty four cars collided into each other on I-4 in central Florida due to an ill-advised controlled burn and unusual atmospheric conditions creating a blinding cover over the busy interstate, the Florida Highway Patrol reacted quickly to the situation. They showed up en masse at the scene and helped the unfortunate drivers at the scene by giving most of them a hefty citation for unsafe driving. Good solution FHP!
♦ A recent editorial in another paper promoted the hiring of a Tourism Director using the TDC regulated bed tax funds. Just what we need, another bureaucrat to spend that pool of tax money that the TDC has been using to do other things such as support local tourist attracting events, festivals, and even helping build the new stage at Citizens Park. When the bed tax was first passed (against my best efforts), I told my wife, Judy, that before it was over, most of the money would be spent creating more bureaucratic jobs. That is just what the chamber and some supporters are trying to do.
♦ I understand the city is purchasing one of those portable traffic signals that flash your speed at you as you approach. Isn’t this distracting to drivers and in direct violation of Marianna’s strict sign ordinance?
♦ The city of Marianna has decided to demolish the remains of the Sykes building. They must feel that they have sat by long enough and let it deteriorate to a point where restoring it would not be practical. They are using that same management approach to the old high school facilities. I view demolishing the Sykes building as another example of bureaucratic failure to properly manage our tax monies. They should have obtained grants for it’s restoration and use as an Emergency Operations Center instead of building the 8.4 million dollar building they are currently constructing out of wasted tax dollars.
♦ Next week I will have some interesting facts about what other counties have done when they needed a new consolidated county administration facility. I can guarantee you that they did not rush to build a $15 million dollar structure in an already crowded area.
Well, I guess I have fired enough volleys for this issue. I hope you will vote wisely on the 29th. The big elections are yet to come. Participate and you will be "Getting It Right"!
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