Wednesday, August 7, 2002
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Wednesday, August 7, 2002 |
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Vote in some new blood Who will I vote for this year? The main issue for me as a citizen in Fayette County is my tax bill. I recently moved from Pike County to Fayette County. My property taxes went up dramatically. Less land, less house, less services, more taxes. The only positive element of the increased taxes is the great fire department in my area, Rest Community. Pike County operated a fire service which was primarily volunteer as opposed to a professional fire service it was excellent, mind you just a little more peace of mind with paid 24/7 staffing. However, county water is not available to me and there is no cable television service in my area. Two services I once enjoyed. Do not misunderstand me, I am happy in Fayette County. It offers an equivalent quality of life I once enjoyed in Pike County. However, I do not see the value for my additional tax dollars. Furthermore, I do not see our county commissioners taking on the responsibility required of public officials. That is, to be fiscally responsible for the hard-earned dollars of citizens, much like the relationship between a corporation and its investors. Public officials, too, should have to yield year over year efficiencies in the way tax dollars are spent. They, too, should search for inefficient processes in our county government and better them. They, too, should not receive automatic pay raises and similar to corporate employees be paid on based on performance in other words, positive returns for our tax dollars equals good performance. The only creative solution to overspending our current administration could come up with is an increase in the taxes and a reassessment in the mail recently notifying me my bill will be going up again this year. Basically, they do not know how to hold themselves to a budget, and we, the citizens, are making up for their lack of competence. My personal voting agenda is to get new blood in office. True leadership. Those who can think creatively, who care for the citizens, and who will take the job seriously. Most of all, those who will take a hard look at the county budget and drive out unnecessary spending. Let's do our part as citizens to put the right people in office. If our county commissioners can't shape up, vote 'em out. Monique Avery Fayetteville
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