Vance resident Jamie Harris voiced her concerns over the Vance County budget during the regular meeting of the Vance County Board of Commissioners on Monday evening.
The text of her presentation is presented below:
“I am here this evening on behalf of many Vance County taxpayers, including myself, to once again remind the commission that we are losing critical time in dealing with a most important issue. For more than two months, taxpaying citizens have asked the commission to begin analysis and deliberation on the upcoming budget. To date, there’s no clear evidence of any interest or progress by the commission on this matter.
In the past decade, Vance County’s budget has increased 25 percent over and above inflation. Taxpayers cannot support this trend any longer. For over a year now, out of sincere concern and willingness to better our county, many citizens have made substantial effort to assist this commission. We feel that citizen involvement allows us to point out serious matters that concern us, so that you as a commission can focus on taxpayers’ perspectives and interests.
One such method was to obtain past years’ county departments’ budget information – and more recently – this year’s submission sheets for review. Our cursory review suggests that substantial taxpayer money could be saved. For example, savings would occur if we contained budget growth within some departments to not exceed our county’s population growth and inflation rates. These departments include our school system and social services infrastructure. We think more specific output indicators would help you in your budget deliberations. More importantly you need to insist on these indicators to better identify just how close we are to the tipping point of no return.
Where we could identify indicators, such as the planning and development department, we found that the primary workload has decreased – but for years the department requested and received additional funds and now anticipates the need for additional office space. In fact, in recent years, permits issued and inspections completed have declined in that department ranging 25 to 35 percent. In contrast however, in the last decade, the department budget has nearly tripled – currently topping $800,000 Vance County taxpayer dollars per year.
Still, another county department did not bother to submit a budget request; nor have they explained past spending activities or future plans on how approximately $300,000 would be spent next year.
Do we ever conduct any lessons learned analysis? As our elected county decision makers, you give us minimum feedback on the results of some of your decisions. For example, we noted that your business development people recently sold the shell buildings that you built and we have held for many years in an attempt to bring jobs to our community. Indications are that we have spent major dollars on maintenance and interest in executing this project. Vance taxpayers would like to know how costly this project was and whether it would be beneficial to repeat it in the future.
We wonder if you are aware of the lack of transparency in government operations and the absence of critical performance indicators. Have you studied the information that we as taxpayers have? We question whether county administrators are giving you sufficient information so you can make appropriate informed decisions. Are you satisfied with our current status and forecasts? If not, what are your recommended solutions and basis for them?
Recently, a county official suggested there was no need for hurry. He stated “legally” the commission had until June to submit a budget. However, that official failed to consider that “legal deadlines” at best, only measure time. They fail to measure the quality of a project or product and its effectiveness. Indeed, haste makes waste. And no longer can Vance County taxpayers afford that waste. Your taxpayers would like to see a sense of urgency on your part.
In order to improve our county’s direction, we think administrative changes must occur. Those administrative changes hinge on the budget. A failure to adequately study and adjust this coming year’s budget will surely become an endorsement for the continuance of our current ongoing ills.
As concerned taxpaying citizens of Vance County, we will return next month to study your progress on this matter.”