Commissioners' retreat both encouraging and disheartening | Eastern NC Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

    Beaufort County Commissioners held a planning retreat Friday (February 17, 2012). It was both encouraging and disheartening.

    It was encouraging because for the first time in recent memory we saw the board getting good solid information....data if you will. Much of that data centered on building a new jail and we will have more on that later after we complete our research. An expert from the School of Government reviewed county financial data and the public was treated to the best overview of where the county stands that we have seen in our coverage of the Board of Commissioners. We credit the new County Manager, Randell Woodruff, for organizing a useful exercise for the board. And the board responded commendably, with but a couple of exceptions. The amount of material furnished was substantial and we will report on it as we have completed a thorough study of the numbers.
Beaufort County Commissioners at their day long planning retreat. Not pictured Beaufort County Commissioner Stan Deatherage. He's taking the photo: Above.
    Disheartening was the fact that in an annual review of where the county stands and where it needs to be headed there was relatively little said about economic development. We find that not only astounding but disturbingly incompetent. It does not take a rocket scientist to see even with a glance, that the county's financial picture would be significantly different if it now had the money it has wasted in failed economic development policies over the last decade. To review the county's financial condition, particularly with regard for whether it can soundly take on another dose of massive debt ($20 million or more they were told) and not factor in its economic development strategy is...well, the best word is still: incompetent.

    The absence of assessment of its economic development program does not bode well for the county. It can only be interpreted as "The Ostrich With His Head In The Sand" syndrome. The problem, with ignoring its economic development strategy, is not only that it does not bode well for stemming the losses we have been suffering but worse still it ignores what the county's strategy is going to be to help create an environment in which job-creating businesses can thrive in the county.

    Simply put, what we saw was a board still focused on spending and not on generating more revenue without raising the tax rate.

    At a break in the meeting we asked the governmental finance expert how he factored the overall economic climate of the state and county into his analysis of the numbers and he said: "I didn't."

    We find that amazing. How on earth can reasonable people assess the current financial condition of the county and not consider what is likely to happen in the county's economy over the next few years? Looking at the environment the county will operate in is not simply sound planning but it is essential in making the right decisions. Much of the county's revenue is based on the housing markets and retail sales. To not consider this, and demand sound numbers/projections from its planners is, again the best word is: Incompetence. That is like a business considering a major investment without considering the trends in its markets.

    So while much of what we saw on Friday was commendable we left the day-long session very disappointed. The county needs better leadership than this. Perhaps the upcoming election will remedy the problem.