Reduce the budget  (by: Vote 2010  -   7/7/2009)

I vote for reducing the budget and not increasing milleage to $8 per 1000. Wringht needs to go for wanting to hike taxes on the residents under this screwed up economy.

county layoffs  (by: Curious  -   7/4/2009)

Dear wife of county employee, I am not sure that the commissioners actually care for their employees. Everyone out here feels your pain, we really do. Pet projects seem more important than people's lives to county commissioners and Michael Wright. They sit there and ignore the public, and tell you what is good for you like we are all small children. Bates and Stokes have done nothing so far to support the county employees, Stewart doesn't want anyone to talk about anything she thinks will, and Maxcy just mouths the words and they all let Macbeth bill as much as he wants while stifling the public's rights. We will see at the upcoming meeting if commissioners really care about their employees, or if they want to continue their pet projects at your family's expense.

county layoffs  (by: wife of county employee and concerned citizen  -   7/3/2009)

Isnt it ironic that during plans to layoff 32 county workers whom we depend on to do important tasks such as keeping our roads safe, keeping water and debris off roadways and maintaining our beautiful county, that Michael Wright has the audacity to hire a development director (former employee of his from West Palm Beach) Mark Hill. Is Mark Hill going to replace the six road/bridge employees work that will now be neglected due to having a short staff. How did he get hired to manage growth when growth is being cut back by laying off the workers who are taking care of the ever growing residents of Highlands County?

Padding pockets  (by: Preston H. Colby  -   7/3/2009)

Dear Conservative: If you think the Commissioners pay is out-of-line. Wait until you review the contract with the external auditors, NCT. I encourage you to read it and and then tell me where the auditors are entitled to $200.00 per hour and their secretaries are allowed to be billed at $75.00 per hour, to the taxpayers. I can't find it in the contract, maybe you have better eyes than I do. As matter of fact I can't find ANY rate of pay in the contract. Good luck... Regards... PHC

  (by: Yeah, I said that  -   7/3/2009)

The County Commissioners salaries are set by the State of Florida and they MAY not be able to simply give themselves a pay cut or stop their salaries. I stress the word may in that sentence. I do not know what legalities are when it comes to the salaries of the Commissioners.

County Job Losses  (by: Preston H. Colby  -   7/3/2009)

Tom: I think you forget that the County ONLY hires their friends. And friends take care of friends, especially if it's with taxpayer money. You don't really expect them to cut their friends, do you? Remember, "... that not the way we've always done it...". Sound familiar? Regards... PHC

Correction  (by: tom Walsh  -   7/3/2009)

The figure mentioned for the proposed Lk Placid Civic Center should be $600K, not 4600K as written, My cap key sticks occasionally. Sorry.

Job Losses & The Budget  (by: tom walsh  -   7/3/2009)

I would like to correct P H Colby's post. The Budget Gap is $8.8 Million of PROPOSED expenditures over ANTICIPATED revenues. I also wonder how much money, or rather budgeted funds, is left over from previous budgets? I wonder how many of the programs could be cut and that money be used to offset the proposed deficit? For example, the $600K for a Lake Placid Civic Center mentioned by Mr Wright. If that project was deferred for a few years, the 4600K could be included in this proposed spending plan (Budget) thus reducing the deficit to $8.2 Million. I have to think there are more projects like this. On the other hand, if all one can think of doing is spending money, they won't see anything of this nature.

Budget "Gap"  (by: Preston H. Colby  -   7/3/2009)

The BOCC County Administrator wrote the Commissioners June 30, 2009, that the budget “gap” is $8.8 million of expenditures over revenue. Why not make up this “gap” by doing an analysis of what the private sector is already doing, that can be contracted for cheaper than having the county employees do it. Since the private sector already has the equipment, employees and infrastructute how can it be “better” and “cheaper” than to pay for that all over with government funds? Example - the county asphalt plant (that’s the one that can’t produce FDOT grade asphalt). There are hundreds of other private services and products that can be contracted out cheaper. The bigger problem for the political animals on the Commission is having the discipline and incentive to look for possible areas, products and services to cut. Regards… PHC

Another Solution  (by: Conservative  -   7/3/2009)

What if the county commissioners gave up their salaries & benefits for a couple of years? Not that their service is not important, but during "these times" cutting costs should not be exclusive to the county personnel -- give the BOCC $1 a year and no perks, save a few more service related positions and let's get through this crisis. The USA would also be in better shape if our "leaders" were actually there to lead and not to pad their own bank account.

32 job losses  (by: Al Morone  -   7/2/2009)

County commissioners should take a 50% pay cut IMMEDIATELY!

CUT THOSE SIX FIGURES  (by: MRCONSERVATIVE  -   7/2/2009)

THEY NEED TO CUT OR ELIMINATED THOSE USELESS POSITIONS, SIX FIGURES OF TAXPAYER MONEY FOR THEM TO BS INSIDE A AIR CONDITION OFFICE ALL DAY.

I vote  (by: Shutt  -   7/2/2009)

to cut spending to account for the projected shortfall and to further decrease the overall budget 5% beyond projected tax revenue decreases.

  (by: The ghost of Tom Joad  -   7/2/2009)

Good point Tom

32 Job Losses  (by: Tom Walsh  -   7/2/2009)

Question: Why is the County immune to job losses when 10% of the people in this country are out of work? If Mr Wright feels that the County can't get along with 32 fewer people, why not have EVERYONE take a 5% paycut? was that option explored? Probably not. Instead, he proposes a 12.5% tax increase and has the gall to say it is not an increase under the law. Mr Wright, to go from a millage rate of 7.1 to 8.0 is a tax increase. To reinstitute the Occupational taxes is a tax increase. Obama and the Democratic congress are proposing a 1.2 Trillion dollar tax increase in the form of Cap and Trade and now you want more taxes. the state has increased the auto fees (taxes) and the cigarette taxes. Tell me Mr Wright, where does it end? We are already the most heavily taxed country in the world and still you want more. Isn't it time to say STOP!!