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Budget shortfall has Cowlitz County looking for cuts

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 12:30 AM PDT

By Tony Lystra

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Cowlitz County faces a budget shortfall of at least $2.4 million this year and an additional shortfall of at least $2.7 million in 2009, county officials said Monday

Specific cuts are not yet being discussed, but county commissioners said they will ask all of their departments to reduce spending by a total of 4 percent of the county’s $40 million general fund.

“We’re going into tough times,” Commissioner Axel Swanson said. “I’m really worried. ... It’s the most important thing on this desk right now.”

Claire Hauge, the county’s finance officer, said the shortfalls are the result a reorganization of world financial markets following a national credit meltdown; a slowing local economy that has brought layoffs among the county’s major employers; and state statute, which limits the county’s property tax revenues to annual increases of 1 percent.

Sales tax revenues are flat, Hauge said, and low interest rates have deflated the county’s returns on its investments.

The news comes just seven months after commissioner George Raiter predicted in his State of the County address that new manufacturing jobs and a diversifying economy might stave off the effects of this year’s national economic slump.

“That didn’t happen,” Raiter said Monday. “We don’t expect growth in the economy.”

The county’s financial outlook is, at best, expected to remain strained for the foreseeable future, he said. If it worsens, Raiter said, “drastic cuts” will be necessary.

The shortfalls affect 34 departments, including the Sheriff’s office, jail and courts. Hauge noted that departments usually finish the year at least 4 percent under budget. But, she said, the county is now making the reductions mandatory for this year and 2009.

The reductions, Hauge said, will be left to the discretion of department heads, and some departments will be asked to scale back more than others.

“I’m hoping the departments will cooperate,” she said. “They understand the situation we’re facing.”

If all goes according to plan, Hauge said, the county will be able to use its reserve fund to offset the deficits.

The county receives property tax payments twice each year and uses its reserves to operate during the months between those payments. If the economic picture doesn’t worsen, Hauge said, the county will have enough reserves to last through 2010. But there is “no margin of error,” she said, and the 2010 budget “must be in balance.”

Hauge said the situation closely resembles that of 2001, when manufacturing plants closed, the state’s 1 percent cap on property tax revenues was being implemented and a national slump undermined the economy.

In that case, as with this one, the county could have weathered any single problem, she said, but all of them combined forced commissioners to scale back spending.

“It’s like the perfect storm we had in 2001,” Hauge said. “This is another perfect storm.”

Only two years ago, the county appeared to be emerging from its economic troubles. In 2006, with revenues forecast to increase, commissioners added 28 new employees to the county payroll.

Hauge recalled Monday that she’d been “nervous about adding that many staff positions that quickly.”

A year later, commissioners approved what they called a “hold-the-line budget” for 2008 and 2009. At the time, Swanson said 2008 would be a “hold-your-breath kind of year.”

Asked if the county had hired too many employees too fast, Swanson, who began his first term in January of 2007, noted that he was not on the board when the 2006 budget was drafted.

Although revenues were increasing, he said, the commissioners “probably could have been a little cautious.”

Still, Raiter said Monday that he doesn’t believe the county overextended in 2006.

“You have to go on the best economic information you have,” he said.

The new employees, Raiter said, included public defenders, whose expense was offset by the elimination of contracts with freelance lawyers. He also noted that the county didn’t add employees in 2007.

Raiter said continuing interest from new employers could bounce the county out of this slump faster than the rest of the country. A glass company is expected to open in Kalama, he noted. A new grain elevator should begin construction at the Port of Longview. And, although he wasn’t specific, Raiter said an additional new employer may soon bring 200 jobs to the county.

“We will see a quicker upturn than the national economy,” Raiter said.

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feistyone wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:01 AM:

" Bet they didn't think about taking a cut in pay like most people have had to do. "

bizowner wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:44 AM:

" Surprise, surprise. The County has been spending like we are in boom times - look at the $350k they are spending on starting their own fine dining restaurant at Hoffstadt Bluffs -just a year after dumping another $350k into it. We are cutting basic services for this? Just wait - recent property value declines won't fully impact property tax revenues for another year or two..... "

Rural Citizen wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:03 AM:

" I think it is really bad when the commissioners announce a "new employer" coming to the area and KEEP IT SECRET until all the permits are in place. What if the people of the community don't want environmental pressures? Shouldn't we be allowed to speak up at the permitting meeting.

Oh, I forgot. You're NOT allowed to speak at ANY meeting unless you were there the very first meeting the subject was brought up. In other words, you can't participate in any decisions or have any input in this county unless you attend each and every single meeting from start to finish, WITHOUT PAY that the commissioners have.

With exclusionary rules like these it's no wonder you are planning to put an explosive grain elevator in Longview that if it explodes, can wipe out half the city. "

DW wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:10 AM:

" Why is it when government is cutting back, they always mention public safety as one of the only ways to cut back. It's like there saying if we don't get more of the peoples money, we won't be able to protect you. It's almost a threat. That just grinds!! Public safety should come first, and public assistance and other, "none essential programs", should come second. It would be interesting to get a look at a 40 million dollar budget. I bet someone with just good common sense and objectivity, without personal bias could take a look at those books and say...well, do we really need to do say, make a turn lane on OB and Kessler that puts pedestrians out of sight and possibly in danger from bad guys. I got an idea, why doesn't TDN get a copy of the counties budget and print it in the paper. After all, it is our money, and we should be able to see where it is being spent. Then we would have more of an idea of what needs to be cut. I do not think that cutting the budgets of the sheriff's office or county prosecutors is an option. All that does is advertise the idea of, "Hey, druggies and criminals, come to Cowlitz County, We don't have the money to put you in Jail".....Another flower for our cities image. "

overeducated wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:21 AM:

" Many counties and States are adopting 4-10's as a meaningful way to cut the budget. One less day of power bills and operational costs. Come on Comissioners think outside the box. Why is it always people that have to be cut. "

overeducated wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:30 AM:

" Hey DW the budget is public record. Anyone can go and request it from the commissioners office. Why don't people stop asking the TDN to do their work for them. "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:44 AM:

" Let's Cowlitz County is heavily Liberal Democrat-union supported. Wait, I'm not supposed to say that. This is what happens when you have tax-and-waste politicians in charge. They have no idea what a budget bottomline means. In most businesses, these people would be fired or demoted. Wouldn't that be an interesting way to run local government? "

Louie wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:44 AM:

" Could this have anything to do the the huge increases in property assessment? When home sales are rather flat why did my property assessment increase over 40,000, nearly a 40% increase? I realize this is not for the taxes for the current year but I was dumbfounded by the huge increase and I know the county will do nothing about it.
If my home is now increased in value by $40,000 yet property tax revues can only go up 1% I don't understand how that computes. I know my taxes will go up more than the voter mandated 1%. Can anyone explain that to me?
The credit crunch with the housing fiasco has been coming for quite a long time and if the commissioners didn't see it affecting Cowlitz County they were asleep on the job. "

My Kids' Mom wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:12 AM:

" I'm not getting the "math" involved here. So the budget is tight, and the commissioners are getting a 4.9% raise effective 2009? Also, the county's income is based mostly or solely on property tax revenue right? so the revenue that comes in next year will be based on 2007 values right? That will mean that the revenue will go down in 2009 right? ... since I know that my home value was lower in 2007 than in 2005 or 2006. I can't wait until next year when my taxes will be lower. Oh, maybe that will be the year that they "forget" to re-assess or "don't have staffing" to re-assess. You heard it here first folks. Okay so back to the math: commissioner wages will increase while revenue decreases? What would happen if anyone ran there business like that? Maybe a mathmetician or an economist should run for commissioner. "

Lucky7 wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:47 AM:

" I'm blown away... Cowlitz County's corrupt leadership obviously need some lessons on how to manage OUR money! The county assesor just increased the tax assessed value of my home by over 77K or slightly over 44% in value. This is a home I just built and moved into 3 years and 7 months ago, and this is the second increase in tax assessed value I've recieved since moving in. When I built the house real estate was booming, I understood the first increase in value which occurred the year after I moved in. The people in the assessor's office are a bunch of thieves that are only there to put a feather in their cap for stealing from the citizen's in Cowlitz County. They are so out of touch it's as though they haven't heard that real estate values are dropping & home sales are down, etc.. They're tottally oblivious! "

jessizmomma wrote on Sep 9, 2008 11:09 AM:

" Guess I know why my property taxes went up 20% since April. "

DW wrote on Sep 9, 2008 11:53 AM:

" Overeducated, my point is not to have TDN do the work for us, my point is to get thousands of copies of the counties budget to ALL of the people, not just the 10 or 12 that will go request it. I think it would make good reporting also. Get the budget out in front of the people and lets see where the #'s really fall. "

Gondolapete wrote on Sep 9, 2008 12:16 PM:

" What amazes me even more is most of you people who are outraged at Govt. spending are the same ones who want to elect Obama. He will make Bush's overspending appear frugal!!! "

speak into the microphone wrote on Sep 9, 2008 12:28 PM:

" RE: Rural citizen, If you bring a rep from the A.C.L.U. you will be able to talk. This is what was done @ the city of Kelso meetings "

DUH wrote on Sep 9, 2008 12:44 PM:

" Hey Gondolapete, you wanna blame Obama for the 200 billion dollar bill that Bush just dropped in the laps of us taxpayers for the fannie mae bail out? "

Lucky7 wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:27 PM:

" Bush's failed policys are also the root of the cause of the real estate collapse! "

Louie wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:45 PM:

" The administration in DC has gotten us into this huge financial deficit. Where are the commissioners when all this is economic turmoil is happening in America? Don't they listen to the news? Remember Regan, the guy all the Republicans loved?...it's called "trickle-down-economics!" It just trickled into Cowlitz County and we taxpayers are going to be the recipients of the Republicans screw-ups. Do you have any idea how much $$$$ we owe CHINA? Bush has handled the Presidency with blatant stupidity. "

RealityCheck wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:46 PM:

" To Louie - I believe that the county can't raise taxes more than 1% overall. This means that some people's (or businesses') taxes must have gone down. I know ours didn't - the assessed value of our home has gone up 55k in 3 years. I sure would like to know who got the break.......... "

Atrucker wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:46 PM:

" The Bushes caused the Fed mess in the banking system once before . Oh history repeats itself , Fed morgage system messed up by Bush and buddies so they fix it , but not really .
this family belongs to the Alumanati and if you think they care about what happens to you think again . The S!@#$ is about to hit the fan folks . Werther it be county , state , federal it will not matter. The new world order is about to happen . "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:48 PM:

" Whoa Duh, you'd better go back and see which party brought Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac to life. It wasn't the GOP. Bush didn't drop anything on you. He never created it. He's no more responsible for it than Reid and Pukelosi, Clinton and Foley. Quit playing your blame Bush for this and blame Bush for that when you wouldn't recognize a fact if it bit you in the but. "

skeezix wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:51 PM:

" Gondolapete, I feel compelled to remind you that at the end of the last Democratic Administration, this country had not only a balanced budget, but a budget surplus. It's time to get over the notion that Democrats are taxers and spenders. The current administration has taken us from a budget surplus to the largest deficit in history.... "

DW wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:52 PM:

" duhhhh, you think it will only be 200 billion?? Remember also Congress spends the money not the Prez. So what you should have said is the liberal democrats in CONGRESS just dropped a $200 billion bill on the laps of us taxpayers. And the cost of this bail out will be much much much higher. How 'bout 2 trillion. And also, the reason Fannie and Freddie are in this position is, starting about 10 years ago, democrats in CONGRESS pressured these lending institutions to give loans to lesser qualified applicants. When the housing bubble started to burst a couple years ago, CONGRESS washed their hands of this and let it fall on us the taxpayers. We have no one else to blame for this but CONGRESS. Oh, and did you know that the majority party in CONGRESS is the DEMOCRATS. Just wanted you to get your facts straight before you blame Bush for another one of the liberals messes. "

country gal wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:54 PM:

" How is it that the assessor has the authority to increase the property tax? How did that come to be? Aren't the employees that work for the state/federal happy with their salary? After all, they're making far more than what I and most of us are making. Personally, I think it's pretty darn rude of them to even ask us for more money @#%$*&? We shouldn't have to pay anymore that what we've been paying for the last few years. If the employees that work for the state/federal sincerely cares about the American people, then it's high time they start living off of credit, balance & prioritize the budget, take a pay cut if necessary. Come on, give us American people a break! "

Gondolapete wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:59 PM:

" I want to make it crystal clear that whatever Bush has cost us, will be 100 times worse if you allow a socialist to take office. That is something you leftwingers cannot seem to Comprehend is it? "

#1 kelso mom wrote on Sep 9, 2008 2:23 PM:

" I agree with the country gal, she makes sense. This is an awful time for property taxes to be going up...the excuse from "Raiter" oh we are alittle behind on assessments...HOGWASH!!!! Get with the program, quit taking teacher aids away from the special education department...the aides are stressed enough. I have an idea...how about all of the big department heads...quit giving themselves a 9% raise, Commissioners included..that way we could have money to put back into our system. But hey that would be too easy Huh??? "

Taxpayer & Voter wrote on Sep 9, 2008 2:44 PM:

" Budget shortfall. New restaurant. Have you seen improvements in the services provided by Cowlitz County? Are you going to dine out at the new restaurant? Will County residents get a discount at the restaurant? The curent Commissioners just gave themselves a raise. Who are you going to vote for in the District 1 and 2 November elections? Isn't it time to oust the "good ole' boys/girls" and get in some new thinkers? Or just go along with the pack and keep up the budget shortfalls and projects prioritized not according to what benefits most county residents. "

DUH wrote on Sep 9, 2008 2:51 PM:

" Yeah yeah yeah, whatever Dw and Bad Boy. Good ol GW and the Republicans took a deficit surplus and turned it into a 9 trillion dollar debt. Don't forget, over the last 8 years, republicans were the majority for how many of them? Stop trying to shirk responsibility and accept the blame for once. "

DUH wrote on Sep 9, 2008 3:20 PM:

" Maybe we should just say it was "Gods Will" "

cheney119 wrote on Sep 9, 2008 3:43 PM:

" As a Longview resident I'd be hard pressed to see how cutting the cutting the county budget would hurt me. Fill me in. Cut it in half if you like. "

flatbakman wrote on Sep 9, 2008 4:40 PM:

" I have worked for others in business and they were sucsessful. I have owned and run my own business for many years now, and it is sucessful. But in neither case were they run as inefficently as any government entity. If they had of been, they would have gone out of business. Maybe people should wake up and get rid of the politicians that are running our government at all levels and put business minded people in charge. "

PanDering wrote on Sep 9, 2008 5:10 PM:

" Wait a minute, did I read the same article you all read? Okay, okay the headlines put a negative spin on things with its "Bleeding Red Ink" title, but the county's budget issues doesn't look any different than the school district's, or the City of Longview or the state's or the
US for that matter.
What did we all expect? That the county had some kind of miracle child budget and cuts or belt-tightening (which is what Longview reportedly needed to do!) could be avoided?
As far as assessment of property. That's a job that is done for all of the above stated "agencies"/cities so they can have revenue, including the county and the state. Taxation is how government gets revenue. Got a better plan?
I haven't looked at my property tax statement totals lately, but I remember it does have line items of: At least 50+ % for our schools; some for Fire Districts; Some for diking districts; some for veterans; some utilities; some for mental health and so on.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know we have to pay for services.
Geez Louise move to some other country and see what that governement would do to your wages, taxes, home ownership, gas, roads etc. Grow up and get a life and "quitcherbeefin". "

msfans wrote on Sep 9, 2008 5:13 PM:

" To TDN: I along with many other county residents would like to see a copy of the budget. If you could post that would be great. It's not about you (TDN) doing our work for us. It's that you can reach a lot more people in a short amount of time and look at all the blogging it will create. :) As for the Property tax issues, how about the county assessor's office contacting THE DAILY NEWS with some kind of justification for these giant increases. Now for all the home owners in the area, You have the power to change this. Simply form a group or get a petition going against these increases to inform OUR elected officals that we are not paying anymore for their over inflated assessments. Remember you have the power to stop this. They can't and won't steal everybodies houses. Now I am not advocating anarchy towards your local government just let the officials know enough is enough. We do not own a home for the simple fact that I will not Now or ever support a system that is over inflated and constantly threatens home owners. Until home prices get down to realistic numbers for OUR area, not compared to other areas home prices, will we own a home. There is no justification for a house built in the 40's or 50's, which most homes in this area were built, to have a price in the 160+ range. Lets get real here. "

DW wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:26 PM:

" Like I have said before. We do not have government by the people, for the people. We have devovled into government that comes at the people. PanDering, you should not quitcherbeefin. You soon also will have an axe to grind when something finally hits you were it counts. The reason we are in this situation with local, state, and federal government, is that we are all fat and happy with our lives, and very few pay attention to what the heck is going on, much less vote. My friends, no matter what side of the fence you sit on, either Conservative, Liberal, Independent, or Free the Pot Smokers crowd, the poo is starting to hit the fan and I hope y'all are ready for the ride of your lives. "

Cheney119 wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:45 PM:

" Hofstadt Bluffs is an excellent topic; WTF is the county worried about Hofstadt Bluff when they can't provide basic services. How much are did we waste on the convention center? Don't you wish we still had the money on reserve you spent on the gold plated jail. But the consensious, democratic, republican, independant is the county will have to cut back!!!! Just like everyone else has to. Dah! "

Louie wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:47 PM:

" Thanks RealityCheck! "

cynic954 wrote on Sep 9, 2008 7:54 PM:

" Louie & Lucky7 I want to thank you for complaining about how much your assessment went up. I asked my girlfriend how much hers went up. She said that she couldnt tell,after looking at it I saw the exemptions and special programs part. Turns out that she qualified for that and will be getting a refund from the county. Thank you again. "

dsd wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:05 PM:

" Well now we all know why our property taxes went up so much. Thank god there is only a 1% allowable increase or we all would be broke. "

bizowner wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:11 PM:

" The 1% Property Tax increase applies to the total property tax collected ( excluding voted-on levys) and does not affect the appraised value - only the tax. Say the average property value in the County increased 15% last year then if your home increased less than that your total tax bill must go down, more than that it would go up.

Clearly our County leadership has been acting without regard to these limits and now are caught looking surprised. They have been living off new construction taxes which are outside the limits and those have slowed - no surprise there.

http://dor.wa.gov/content/getaformorpublication/publicationbysubject/taxtopics/propertytax/onepercentqna.aspx "

PatRiotic wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:43 PM:

" I'm with Cheney 119. Who cares if they cut the budget? Isn't that what we want them to do? Make 'er lean I say. Take out the fluff. I don't like the price of the !@##@% gas but I use it and cut somewhere else. "

Old Charlie wrote on Sep 9, 2008 11:35 PM:

" Typical Democrat mentality, "blame Bush." Democrats definitely have a problem with reality, however come January they can start blaming McCain, as they never blame themselves. By the way, who has the lowest approval rating, the President or the Congress? "

Drayvan wrote on Sep 10, 2008 9:55 AM:

" Why is everyone sounding so shocked and surprised? The County has always done what they wanted, despite the voters... Anyone remember the $9 million dollar Juvenile Detention Center that we paid for, despite the voters saying no to building it? That's why they keep secrets and get around limits on taxes (WOW, the COUNTY ASSESSOR raising assessed values... surprise, surprise), they know we won't do anything but squawk, moan, and lament. C'est La Vie! "

r-man wrote on Sep 10, 2008 1:16 PM:

" Somtimes I can not belive what I am reading. Sure we pay alot in taxes but have you ever thought about what you are getting in return. do your kids have a school to go to, does a bus pick them up everyday, do they have a place to play baseball,football or soccer any time they want. can you go to a lake in the middle of your town that is clean and always taken care of. our roads are some of the best that I have seen and if there not they get fixxed. does a fire truck,emt's and police officer show up as soon as you call them. I could go on and on, I think that you should look at what you are getting and until you are in there seat, "you get what you get and you dont throw a fit" just like I tell my children when they cry like babys such as you are. "

Common Sense wrote on Sep 10, 2008 2:20 PM:

" I don't get you guys. If everyones aim in this world is to have the best quality of life possible (which means many things for many people), why is everyone opposed to taxes? (I know that many are getting excited at this point but hear me out!)

If taxes pay for cops, firefighters, hospitals, etc...then we are safer.
If taxes pay for better roads, better education, better health care systems, etc...then we are safer and happier community.
If taxes pay for the assisted living for those that can't help themselves (children, mental health issues, loss of work, insurance for the under insured) then that spells a better place to raise children and families.
Everyone needs to put taxes and lawmakers in perspective. It seems that many people are placing the word taxes and lawmakers into the arena of "us against them." Call me an idealist here, but I feel living in a safer state, a better community, a better served population regarding healthcare and education is much more important than a small tax increase would cost. Do you folks realize that by not paying now, we will be paying triple when everything hits the fan. Look at the drug problem for an example. For the conservatives out there, your complaint is why should you pay more than the rest. My answer; $30 a month in taxes is relative to a young couple scraping by and paying $20...Put life into perspective!
~Common Sense "

country gal wrote on Sep 10, 2008 7:30 PM:

" r-man: I have no qualms about paying taxes for better roads, firefighters, law enforcements, education, etc. But taxpayers also pay the salaries of the employees that work for the state, federal, city and county commissioners, judges/lawyers plus their health and retirement benefits. There are just too many of them. I feel the less the government, the more job opportunities and competitions there'll be for everyone. That's why I feel how rude they asked us taxpayers for more money. IT'S TIME TO LIVE OFF CREDIT, BALANCE & PRIORITIZE THE BUDGET. CUT OFF UNNECESSARY PROGRAMS, TAKE A PAY CUT WHATEVER. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! "

PanDering wrote on Sep 11, 2008 11:35 AM:

" r-man,
I am with you. But to pander to "country gal's" statment, I guess we need to think technology to take the place of more county workers so they can be unemployed, and to let the tax payers can save money???? What?
To me that is what is being said here.We want the services, but we don't want to pay the people to do them. That isn't very well thought out. You, the voter ???? hired some authority figures: Sheriff, judges, Assessor, Auditor, Clerk, Treasurer and some financial overseers called Commissioners, but you object to paying them? Then they hired professionals to oversee the work. Who hired people to do the work. Does anyone realize what services the county provides? How does the work get done if we don't pay them. And please drop the argument that "You" the tough-minded would do it for free. Yeah, that would last about the first time someone sues you for your decision making, which would be on a daily basis. If you don't know "What's Cookin' and "How to cook", or you haven't ran for one of those positions, please do us all a favor and stop blogging nonsense. I want to hear real solutions. I will ask a Commissioner. I believe there is more to the story than what TDN reported. "

country gal wrote on Sep 11, 2008 1:16 PM:

" PanDering: you need to reread what I said. I didn't say no pay. I said pay cut! If you don't know the difference between no pay and pay cut, well, no sense in explaining about taxes to you. "

PanDering wrote on Sep 11, 2008 4:17 PM:

" Country gal
I don't think it is me that isn't looking at the full picture. Either you don't work or you don't have respect of the person who works for a living.
With the union demands as they are now days, which means dedicated worker representation, to even entertain a pay cut, for 600 or so public agency workers, would take months of negotiations, thousands of dollars of attorney fees, and no resulting savings. A reduction in force, due to loss of revenue, translates into a free pass to have employees cut, not our pay. "

PanDering wrote on Sep 11, 2008 4:23 PM:

" #1 Kelso Mom
I get it your house, property,farm, or whatever went up in value. How does that relate to higher property taxes? I got my statment and it didn't give a new tax value. "

PanDering wrote on Sep 11, 2008 4:27 PM:

" Sorry to get to this item so late, I was out of town.
Now I have questions.
Drayvan,
What $9M Juvenile Center? They built that without asking. We voted no on funding the adult jail. "

country gal wrote on Sep 11, 2008 6:38 PM:

" Pandering: I am full-time employee for a company that is not affiliated in any way with the state/federal. I have great respect for every person who work for a living. I am a taxpayer like you. What I resent the taxes we pay goes to the employees that work for the state/county/city/federal first and there are quite a lot of them that are overly paid from $60,000 to over $300,000 per year. Then after that it is distributed to the various programs, education, roads, etc. Now these very same employees that are asking us for more money for education, roads and blah blah blah. They also had the gall to give themselves a 3% raise. Because their life is on the line, I'd rather give the firemen and the law enforcements more than I do to any of the state, city, county officials. Time to prioritize and balance the budget. Cut out unnecessary programs and take a pay cut! "

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