I read in disgust a report on the Lafayette County Board Finance Committee's discussion of the 2010 county budget. They sound like a bunch of playground bullies in a non-productive fight.
Now at the 11th hour of budget planning, they are using the Lafayette Manor as their scapegoat. This financial crisis did not happen overnight. There were red flags all over in the fall of 2008 when they borrowed $500,000 to balance the budget.
Where were their heads all spring and summer when it was very clear there was a shortage of funds? Where were their heads this year, when they gave big pay raises to several individuals? Now they are going to hire a consultant to study Human Services raising costs, which is like shutting the barn door after the horse is out!
In checking out the 2008 Lafayette County financial audit report, it shows General Government at $2,307,709, Health and Social Services at $1, 202,163, Public Safety at $2,463.297 plus an overrun of $232,675; the Sheriff's Administration, which is a part of Public Safety at $1,383,051, plus an overrun budget of $169,199; Culture and Recreation, of which Extension and the Fair are part of this, had a budget of $494,276, but they underspent $12,422 in 2008.
I encourage citizens to review all county departments expenses, as all records are public information.
Where are the Lafayette County Board's priorities? Is the Lafayette Manor less important than trying to stop the Belmont grain bin or giving the racers in Darlington free use of the fairgrounds?
We need the Lafayette Manor for people that need care!
What we don't need is the current leadership of the Lafayette County Board, of which there is no leadership.
Now at the 11th hour of budget planning, they are using the Lafayette Manor as their scapegoat. This financial crisis did not happen overnight. There were red flags all over in the fall of 2008 when they borrowed $500,000 to balance the budget.
Where were their heads all spring and summer when it was very clear there was a shortage of funds? Where were their heads this year, when they gave big pay raises to several individuals? Now they are going to hire a consultant to study Human Services raising costs, which is like shutting the barn door after the horse is out!
In checking out the 2008 Lafayette County financial audit report, it shows General Government at $2,307,709, Health and Social Services at $1, 202,163, Public Safety at $2,463.297 plus an overrun of $232,675; the Sheriff's Administration, which is a part of Public Safety at $1,383,051, plus an overrun budget of $169,199; Culture and Recreation, of which Extension and the Fair are part of this, had a budget of $494,276, but they underspent $12,422 in 2008.
I encourage citizens to review all county departments expenses, as all records are public information.
Where are the Lafayette County Board's priorities? Is the Lafayette Manor less important than trying to stop the Belmont grain bin or giving the racers in Darlington free use of the fairgrounds?
We need the Lafayette Manor for people that need care!
What we don't need is the current leadership of the Lafayette County Board, of which there is no leadership.
