EDITORIAL: BOC avoiding tough decisions
The Jackson County Board of Commissioners is about to make a big mistake.
The county’s 2009 budget calls for dipping into reserve funds to the tune of $2 million to fund an increase in spending next year.
Yes, the money is in the bank. The county does have a good reserve fund.
And yes, the economy is down and revenues from sales taxes, fees and other items are flat compared to the last few years.
But it appears that the BOC is simply passing the buck in the 2009 budget by forcing the next BOC to have to make some tough choices. It’s unlikely the economy will recover enough within the next 12 months to generate the kind of income needed to fund the county’s budget without a tax hike for the 2010 budget.
In other words, rather than controlling spending now, the BOC is pushing off the tough choices — raise taxes or cut spending — until the new board is in office.
The underlying problem is that the current BOC has been too focused on the millage rate without being focused on controlling costs. As long as the millage rate didn’t go up, the current board didn’t really care about spending. The result has been double-digit growth in the county’s spending and a proposed 19 percent increase next year.
But eventually, that will catch up. No public agency can continue to increase spending at a rate faster than income growth, which is exactly what the county is doing.
Like a lot of local governments, Jackson County became addicted to double-digit income growth during the boom years. The booming tax digest funded a booming county government. Money flowed in like manna from heaven.
Now, in slower times, the county can’t seem to shake that addiction to easy money.
True, the new jail is adding more costs to the 2009 budget and the county’s debt service payments have ballooned. But both of those were choices this board made without making any real plans of how to pay for them.
In its 2009 budget, the BOC is simply going to the bank and digging out reserve funds to pay for its lack of diligence in controlling costs.
That’s no way to run a government.
Yes, the money is in the bank. The county does have a good reserve fund.
And yes, the economy is down and revenues from sales taxes, fees and other items are flat compared to the last few years.
But it appears that the BOC is simply passing the buck in the 2009 budget by forcing the next BOC to have to make some tough choices. It’s unlikely the economy will recover enough within the next 12 months to generate the kind of income needed to fund the county’s budget without a tax hike for the 2010 budget.
In other words, rather than controlling spending now, the BOC is pushing off the tough choices — raise taxes or cut spending — until the new board is in office.
The underlying problem is that the current BOC has been too focused on the millage rate without being focused on controlling costs. As long as the millage rate didn’t go up, the current board didn’t really care about spending. The result has been double-digit growth in the county’s spending and a proposed 19 percent increase next year.
But eventually, that will catch up. No public agency can continue to increase spending at a rate faster than income growth, which is exactly what the county is doing.
Like a lot of local governments, Jackson County became addicted to double-digit income growth during the boom years. The booming tax digest funded a booming county government. Money flowed in like manna from heaven.
Now, in slower times, the county can’t seem to shake that addiction to easy money.
True, the new jail is adding more costs to the 2009 budget and the county’s debt service payments have ballooned. But both of those were choices this board made without making any real plans of how to pay for them.
In its 2009 budget, the BOC is simply going to the bank and digging out reserve funds to pay for its lack of diligence in controlling costs.
That’s no way to run a government.
while most companies, public and private are cutting costs, spending and any extra overhead they can, the County just keeps spending.
Why....because it isn't their money! How 'bout that fire training facility??? I am sure at some point it would be nice to have, but when you are already able to get the same training in Gainesville, why spend the money on it now? Wouldn't some good old fashioned common sense be nice in our local governments?
Cut what ??? EMS ? 911? How about some Sheriffs deputies ? I know soil and erosion..oh wait the state fined Jackson county government for NOT enforcing that.
Did you review the budget? Planning and zoning the life blood of smart growth is not filling positions to keep our tax's down...don't whine and cry and write editorials and letters to the editor when you get an industrial park next door (could happen Mike tell the truth)
The problem Folks is that this is the 20Th fastest growing county in the country, the solution is something I hate worse then going to the dentist.. raise tax's and fees.The only alternative is impact fees.. high impact fees.
You cannot be at number 20 and reduce services,planning and management..your creating a bigger mess that will be even less manageable in the future...I don't like it but that's the answer.
For all those that will say " we can't afford it!" It's pay some more now or a whole lot more later.
The real culprits are the BOC members 10 years ago that failed to build infrastructure and bring in professional management now someone else has to clean up the mess.Think long and hard Mike Buffington...what you write today may effect our children tomorrow.
Come ON, people...THINK about it.
Don't take it personally Mister Buffington, but I don't care much for most of your opinions. However, I'll give credit where credit is due and you ARE RIGHT about the BOC not stepping up on this one. The increases aren't because the county is growing, the increase are because the BOC (and pretty much everyone else) wants to live beyond their means and insists that the county needs things that we've done just fine without up to this point. Oh MY, Hall County has a fire training facility and it’s too much to ask of our firefighters to go to another county to train...so we need to raise taxes to build a training facility here. No, I'm not picking on our firefighters, they do an outstanding job with little credit, and I don't begrudge them a training facility. But we don't NEED one. We can USE one. It would be HELPFUL to have one. But we don't NEED one. THAT is the point. The county is paying for things we don't NEED, because "we" WANT it.
Now...who volunteers to have the axe fall on THEIR pet project or county funded facility or activity? (...so quiet I hear nothing but crickets chirping.)
Step right up, people...volunteer your additional tax money, or volunteer to cut out your rec department funds, or put out your own fires when your home is burning, or volunteer to hire your own private security so we can cut some deputies (since the Sheriffs department is already underfunded for a county our size...btw, thanks for the GREAT job you do with what you have to work with Sheriff Evans and your deputies!)
Hey...BOC members...if you want to raise MY taxes again, how about at least using less money for people sitting around goofing off in the county offices avoiding eye contact with the citizens because they don't actually want to DEAL with the people paying their salaries, and how about more money for deputies and patrol cars and fire equipment and repaving some of the roads in our county?
In other words, DO THE JOB YOU WERE ELECTED TO DO. Cut the waste, and only spend money on what we really NEED. Then, if there is any left, see what you can AFFORD.
It sure is easy to spend someone else's money, isn't it? I bet if you BOC members had someone else deciding to spend YOUR personal money, you might not like it much. Now be honest...if you can...and admit you don't really think too much about spending tax payer money because it’s not coming out of your personal checking account. (Oh sure, you pay taxes too...but I bet you never have YOUR taxes so high that YOU can't find a way to pay them like some of our residents do.) Is it too much to ask that you think about the people you are supposed to be serving?
I guess it must be.
Tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes is the rule.
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirts,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.
Tax his booze,
Tax his beers,
If he cries,
Tax his tears.
Tax his bills,
Tax his gas,
Tax his notes,
Tax his cash.
Tax him good and let him know
That after taxes, he has no dough.
If he hollers,
Tax him more,
Tax him 'til he's good and sore.
Tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
Put these words upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me to my doom!"
And when he's gone,
We won't relax,
We'll still be after the inheritance TAX!!
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
IRS Penalties (tax on t op of tax),
Liquor Tax,
Luxury Tax,
Marriage License Tax,
Medicare Tax,
Property Tax,
Real Estate Tax,
Service charge taxes,
Social Security Tax,
Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
Sales Taxes,
Recreational Vehicle Tax,
School Tax,
State Income Tax,
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax,
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax,
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax,
Telephone State and Local Tax,
Telephone Usage Charge Tax,
Utility Tax,
Vehicle License Registration Tax,
Vehicle Sales Tax,
Watercraft Registration Tax,
Well Permit Tax,
Workers Compensation Tax.
COMMENTS: Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and there was prosperity, absolutely no national debt, the largest middle class in the world
and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What happened?????
SCREAMS CORRUPTION, I wonder who got paid off for that
eyesore? Bunch of scum buckets!
If Bicknell can straighten out that CI and get us a county run Fire department that is managed by a professional Chief he will be the most successful chairman ever...sounds like some stories in there Mike B ( wink wink)