Beaufort County Budget Public Hearing: Velma Hickman | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Publisher's Note: Here begins a short series on the comments that were made by members of the public in the public hearing on the Beaufort County Budget, held at the beaufort County Community College on June 20, 2011. If you made comments, and you would like them published, please send them to us here at BCN.

    In the present economy all of us should acknowledge that budget cutting is necessary. We can't afford the proposed 2011-2012 budget. You have done straw voting and made miniscule changes. You need to get serious and look further than the "working out budget" in the Sheriff's department. CALEA, which costs the county money, does not provide better law enforcement service. All we have to show for CALEA is a framed certificate on the wall.

    Looking elsewhere, actually, the Chambers of Commerce should be self-supporting and charities are not government's responsibility.

    Also, the Economic Development Commission should be funded completely by the Committee of 100 and grants if they want it continued. Thorough research of Tom Thompson's jobs report to the commissioners indicates that the true jobs number created by the commission is quite a lot less than he reported.

    Now let's look at the Beaufort County Schools' budget. It can be lessened without cutting classroom teachers and teacher assistants by looking at administrative personnel primarily in the county office and by looking at an across the board percentage cut of supplements to salaries. Also, it is probable that some proposed capital outlay projects that are not absolutely necessary can be delayed. And lastly, there is their 2.9 million dollar savings that can be tapped.

    I do want to commend Dr. Phipps for trying to do the best thing for all of the people of Beaufort County. But his board chairman made it known to you that Dr. Phipps must do what they say. I am asking you not to raise taxes.