Masterful Budget Work by Commissioners Poling & Kilmer

Remember the old saying, you have got to watch what you ask for because you might just get it. The Democrats wanted to increase funding for every social service program going and that is just what the Commissioners handed them. The Commissioners budget included raising the subsidy for Bloomington Hospital’s CHAPS health clinic, increased the grants for social service agencies, doubled the subsidy for the Monroe County Historical Center and they even threw in a little additional funding for the Monroe County 4H program. Now along with the increased cost of funding the additional courts and let’s not forget the County employees will need a raise since they didn’t get a raise last year, the County Council will have the task of funding all of these and more with a mere $390,000 increase in the tax levy.

The Democrat controlled County Council ran their last campaign based on promises to increase funding to virtually every social service agency and they didn’t stop there. They also promised the county would get a new juvenile treatment facility and they wanted improved treatment and services for jail inmates. Now let’s see them deliver the goods! The reason they made all of those promises is very simple; they don’t understand the funding process. The County’s budget has been razor thin the last several years and the cold hard fact is there is never enough money to fund everything. Conservative Republicans tried their best to be honest with the voters in the last election about what was realistic and what was not. The voter’s spoke, they wanted pipe dreams and lollipops.

What this basically means is hold onto your wallets folks because I have a feeling what we will see next out of the Council will be similar to the little message on your rear view mirror: Tax Increases Are Closer Than They Appear. Remember the Council has already shown favoritism for raising taxes outside of the frozen levy to cover increased funding for Options for Better Living. The Council is now positioned to do the impossible, make good on their promises or dip into the County’s cash reserves to fund their pet projects. Let us not forget our former Mayor, John Fernandez, used this same budgeting technique to fund the cities current financial train wreck. Actually, I can hardly wait until the official budget hearings when the Democrats have to start making cuts to some of their pet budget items. Hopefully our three Republican Council members will use this opportunity to the fullest and let the Democrats stew in their own juices. They asked for it and baby they got it!