In the headlines these days are a lot of reports about budget strategies. Various government entities lack funding, and so they are appealing to the masses for support in their requests for disbursements from other government agencies.
In a slight change of pace, Macon County Commissioners Ron Haven and Paul Higdon have argued property owners, and not county employees, deserve the proposed $750,000 wage increase. Haven wants to lose the 1.5-cent increase imposed in 2010 for schools. He argues sufficient funding has been available without it. At 42% of its operating budget, Macon County’s fund balance is one of the highest in the state. General statutes only require reserves to total 8%. To boot, Higdon wants the county to pay back what it collected from the extra tax since its imposition. The rebate and reparation could pour $4 million into the local economy.
“I’m not an economist, but I can read a budget sheet,” Higdon said. “There is no sign that we’re looking to cut anything.”
Unfortunately, when this kind of thing happens, it is usually just posturing, office holders defining themselves as fiscally conservative on votes they know they’ll lose anyway. And so, I egg Haven and Higdon on, wanting to see them form a majority coalition.
