Is Free Money Really Free? | Eastern North Carolina Now

    For many years Beaufort County has taken advantage of grant money when it is available. Most times the grant requires the County to provide additional or matching funds. This is a great way to get items that would not have previously been available if we had to pay for it all ourselves.

    The County has seen an influx of money because of COVID. This money can only be spent on certain items and we have done a good job managing those funds. County employees and our teachers have all seen bonuses because of this COVID money. Some non-teaching positions in the school system have not gotten the same payouts as our educators and that is to me unfair. These maintenance workers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and school bus drivers worked, some of them not missing a day, during the shut down of our schools. These personnel should be first in line when money not directed at teachers is given out.

    The Beaufort County Health Department, under director of Jim Madison, has done an excellent job handling this pandemic. A lot of money has flowed their way and he has spent it on items needed to fight this monster. However a recent presentation at the Commissioner Meeting was disconcerting.

    Mr. Madison asked to spend $190,000 on a trailer to do COVID testing. Not vaccinations, but testing. Tests are currently administered at the Health Department, a church, medical offices, and at home. Just before asking for that money he gave a report that showed COVID was on a decline. He also said that this trailer was the Cadillac of trailers and at that price I hope so. I did a little research myself and found one that did what I thought was the same thing for $60,000 less. It would only take one person to set up and the one being bought will take at least two. I also found a smaller trailer for less than $50,000 that looks like it will do the same thing and only needs one person to set it up.. It even had a bathroom in it. I hope that when the Health Department gets this trailer that they use it for multiple things and that they include giving vaccinations and health screenings.

    Beaufort County is also slated to get five million dollars ($5,000,000) from a lawsuit resulting in the national opioid settlement in May. I hope we have a plan for that money. I am sure that some of it will be in the realm of educational presentations. Will we hire more people to do this? Will First Responders get Narcan and training on how to use it? Just what will the money be spent on?

    I was given an old truck once. I really appreciated the gift as I did not have a vehicle to drive once I got home from work. While it was free it required a lot of upkeep and repairs to keep it road worthy. The free money we are getting is just like that. It may be free today but what about tomorrow? I bet there will be a need to build a shelter to house the trailer in and maybe even a fence to go around it.

    Our citizens deserve a break. The County currently has enough money in the reserve funds to allow a 10% reduction in property taxes. That means a person paying $500 in property taxes would only spend $450. That doesn't seem like much but to a citizen struggling it can mean the difference of putting food on the table or buy medications.

    As County Commissioner I will work to ensure we don't waste your tax dollars. Vote for Tandy Dunn and remember you can only vote for one Candidate for County Commissioner.

poll#146

Should Beaufort County's Commissioners fund more projects, while adding to the county government work force, or, should these servants to the People work to cut wasteful spending, and give the taxpayers of Beaufort County a break on taxes, possibly starting a new purpose for their existence?

  Yes, please spend more; so much needs to be done in Beaufort County, and we need more government employees doing it.

  No, please work to be frugal; more mindful that this is the public's money, and return to taxpayers what is not absolutely needed.

  Why should I pay attention to stuff?

697 total vote(s)     What's your Opinion?