In a friendly conversation last night, the question was raised whether it was more ethical to collect unemployment or to take a job with the government and spend one’s strength growing government in exchange for government money.
Fortunately, government isn’t faced with hard decisions like the rest of us. Reporter James Shea did a commendable job of “highlighting the nonsense” of political discussions in budget discussions held by the Henderson County Commissioners.
First, the commissioners decided to proceed with the construction of a $1.46 million Health Department expansion. The expansion will free up space for the city’s, evidently burgeoning, tax collections.
But tax collection is not the only government department that’s booming. The commissioners decided to move forward with building a new law enforcement center. After all, crime rates were expected to escalate in the economic downturn. Unforeseen soil bearings increased the cost of the project from the budgeted $6 million to $7.4 million.
Chairman Bill Moyer voted against the project. “This is a time when we should be looking to reducing taxes on our citizens and not incurring more debt,” he said.
Well, the schools are also in need of expansion. Unfortunately, the county will lose $750,000 each year due to the revocation of a state allotment. (State government must fund its expansion, too.) The commissioners entertained county staff’s recommendation to postpone construction.
Lastly, the county wants to invest in the satisfaction of its citizens’ recreational needs.
