Climb With It Or Swing By It
This week Jefferson County residents let their lack of action speak louder than words. After several weeks of wondering, the Jefferson County Budget Committee now has their answer. The wheel tax increase will stand. It does not surprise me that the issue will not go to referendum. Getting 1046 qualified signatures is not as easy […]
Join Me in the Cheap Seats
Do we trust our government? That is the question that is at the root of this week’s debate. The Budget Committee met for their first go at the the budget for 2015-2016 and much of their discussion centered around what, if any, amount were they comfortable raising property tax. Across the board, Committee Members expressed […]
The Time Is Now
We are starting one of my favorite weeks of the year. No, not the kick off of budget season, which happens this week. And not the regrouping of the the audit committee, which also happens this week. I am referring to Holy Week. It is a time when we can, and should, step away from […]
Lengthy Discussions
It may be reaching to think that other people’s offices are like mine and that tax abatements and wheel tax are the hot topics of conversation. But, in my neck of the wood it is the stuff that lengthy discussions are made of. Suffice it to say that there is some disagreement regarding the viability […]
What’s Best for Them
As parents, we are always trying to do what is best for our kids, whether it be a little or a lot. From which school to attend, to bedtime routines, we are always conscious of what is best for our children. Heck, there are even some who are worried about their kids while they are […]
Wanting in One Hand
I am old enough to understand that you don’t always get what you want. And sometimes you really don’t need what you get. That seems to be the case in Jefferson County, as we move into budget season. It kind of seems odd to call it budget season but what else can we call it? […]
A Done Deal
Mis-communication is a witch. Sure everyone, at some time or another, stumbles in getting their point across. Sometimes it is because we don’t want to listen. Sometimes it is because we are so mired in our position that we can’t hear what the other person is saying and we react accordingly. Whatever the reason, the […]
A Warm Thank You
I usually love a good snow. However, one that is accompanied by freezing rain and ice cannot ever, in my book, be considered a “good” snow. Let’s face it. No matter what an individual’s feeling on the powdery white stuff is,last week’s “wintery mix” was a mess. Though I must admit that there was a […]
Here We Are Again
After more than a decade of debate and several years of actual work, Jefferson County can see the light at the end of the tunnel in regard to the school building program. Oh, I know what some are thinking. Yes, we are still renovating Jefferson County High School and Building 8 repair and renovation are […]
Getting My Goat
I love a good gamble as much as the next person. In fact, some in my family might say that I love gambling more than the next person, unless that person is Kenny Rogers holding four of a kind. But, there is a difference in rolling the dice and ROLLING THE DICE and there is […]
A Question of Integrity
In a former life, I was a football fan. And by fan, I mean that I went to high school and college games for the social interaction and watched a little football by default. It should come as no surprise that Deflate Gate escaped me for awhile. What is probably more surprising is that I […]
Double Trouble
Last week the County Commission took a step toward readying Jefferson County for what is projected to be our highest debt payment year, with 2016 debt payment figures to top $8 million dollars. In a rather controversial move, Commissioners voted 17-3 to double the wheel tax. Why the wheel tax? Some believe it to be […]
Busted Again
We have reached a fork in the road in Jefferson County. On one side is a rock wall and the other a plunging drop. Before us is the path to debt or default. Not really the position that anyone wants to be in but this is, unfortunately, where we find ourselves. Simply put, we just […]
Pay for It Now and Pay for It Later
I have always been a proponent of education and believe that it is the foundation of a prosperous society. Education is a privilege and in our society, a thirteen year education has become a right and, yes, a mandate. When my grandfather went to school, many young people did not complete the 12th grade. Granted, […]
Majority Rules
This week we said a fond farewell to 2014 and ushered in a brand new year. While last year was riddled with the excitement that comes with an election year, I expect that 2015 will have some of its’ own moments to offer. Straight out of the box, the County Commission will be faced with […]
Let The Sun Shine In The New Year
I always find the ending of the year to be a time of reflection. It provides the opportunity to revel in the things that were done right and access the wrong turns. Usually, this time of year there is little else going on in Jefferson County and we are all just coming off several weeks […]
