Evidently there are no real fiscal issues in Wake County government. How can we be sure? Because the county manager sent 12 employees to Hollywood for a conference last month.
Cost to taxpayers: $29,825.
As the News & Observer points out, the dozen were in California on the very day manager David Cooke told commissioners about an anticipated $17 million budget shortfall.
This story proves a fatal flaw of government and human nature: People do not show the same respect for other people’s money that they do their own. I’d bet the farm that at least some of the 12 would not have gone to the conference had they been required to spend a penny of their own cash.
Clearly, there is a need for training of employees. But 12 people flying across the country to a resort?
Remember this story — and this one as well — the next time Wake officials cry about needing tax and fee hikes because of all the county’s “unmet needs.”
