Beaufort County Budget, Increased Spending | Eastern NC Now

Beaufort County Budget, Increased Spending

BY: HOOD RICHARDSON

We are again in the Beaufort County Budget season. A time when there is a lot of concern. At the end of the day, no one does anything other than to allow spending to increase. That is because our budget is a laundry list of what our employees want, how much money commissioners can give to their favorite charities along with some State and Federal mandated social services mandates. It is compiled by the County Manager.

The amount of property taxes levied on the taxpayers is caused by the amount of money in the budget. There are four people who control the budget. There are two Democrats and two Republican RINOs (Republican In Name Only). There are five Republicans on the Board of Commissioners, but two Republicans have formed a coalition with the two Democrats. They vote as a block. The two RINOs are Fake Frankie Waters and Randy Walker. The two Democrats are Ed Booth and Jerry Langley. This union of the Democrat and Republican Parties has been supported by the Beaufort County Republican Party for at least ten years.

This is a center left liberal coalition. It votes like Democrats. The coalition refuses to address spending and believes their loyalty is to County employees and Democrat social programs. Consequently, spending increases every year.

This year there is a 5.41 percent increase in spending, amounting to $4,166,400. Where is this money coming from? About $2,023,967 will come from increased property tax collections. The other two million will come from increased sales taxes, new building construction and other sources. Notice that the two million from increased sales taxes and new construction is somewhat risky should there be a recession.

The talk among elected officials and the bureaucracy is always about efficient, low cost, economical government. However, that is not how budgeting is handled. The focus is on increased wages for all, and what do we need to continue to maintain doing the way we are doing it now. The goal is to maintain the status quo. We do not want to upset anyone by changing something even if it is for the better.

One of the largest impacts to every citizen of Beaufort County is illegal drugs. About half of the work of the Sheriff, Social Services, and the Health Department is caused by illegal drug use. Schools are also impacted. This amounts to about ten million dollars annual out of pocket (direct) expense to Beaufort County taxpayers. That is about one fourth of the property tax. There are additional costs that are paid by State and Federal agencies. Coming down heavy on illegal drugs would save us a lot of money. To that end, Beaufort County Commissioners have refused to pass a resolution presented each month for the past three months to lobby the Legislature for stiffer penalties for selling drugs. There are serious issues with whether or not illegal drug policy in North Carolina is effective. Some say we are putting a band-aid on a cut artery. The County Commissioners refuse to get involved.

The budget presentation complains about the impact of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”. Some of the cost of food stamps is being shifted to counties. This is the first signal that the Trump Administration believes there are serious problems with the food stamp program. There always has been. Is feeding people who refuse to work a good idea? This is a huge welfare program used by liberal politicians to buy votes. Maybe we need to reduce the size of this program and find alternative ways to feed people who are genuinely in need.

Beaufort County uses the theory that there will always be inflation, and it is just good policy to increase spending every year by the inflation rate. This year we are increasing more than the inflation rate. This policy supports continued inflation and never uses zero based budgeting to control costs.

Focusing on the tax rate is a red herring. Refusing to focus on the application of good management practices, zero based budgeting, and  addressing  illegal drug use will produce what we now have which is: high taxes, a laid-back work force, a large population on welfare, and a continued failing society. This is all within the duty of elected officials. Focus on elected officials.