Shocking, elected officials using dirty words, and right out in public. Oh, I am not talking about the F bomb or the S word, no, no, no, worse, much worse. The politicians are using the T word, as in taxes.
In my opinion, that’s the dirtiest word they can use because they never seem to use the C word, as in cutting spending.
I’d like to be able to find the numerous ways in which those in charge of the budgets are finding to pad their own pockets and cut those areas first before they take more money from those of us who have worked hard all our lives. How about no more money spent on trips and entertainment? How about taking those expensive cars away from people who are earning enough to provide their own transportation? Also, let them buy their own meals.
There are ways they can cut; they just don’t want to cut.
The only answer they can find is to increase the role of government and expand programs, even those that are proven to not work.
Commissioner Mike Hammond said, “I’m hopeful we can get through this year without a tax increase.” He said that he would be more inclined to go with the commission taking a vote on increasing the sales tax, and then, let the voters vote on whether to increase it or not.
According to Hammond, a quarter cent hike, going from 9.25 to 9.5 cents, could bring in another $14 to $17 million a year. Raising property taxes 3 percent would cost a Knox County homeowner another $20 a year, assuming it’s a $100,000 house.
I wonder how much they could find in savings if they got 10% of everything saved?
On another note, I have spent the last few days without electrical power. My house was hit by lightning one of those nights when a storm rolled through. I was at home when it happened and the best way I can describe it is to say it sounded like a sonic boom. After I heard this huge boom, I walked into my kitchen and the blast had blown my door open. We have two large storage cabinets on our porch and the doors on them were blown open as well. Of course, the power went out.
KUB sent a worker out who told us that he could confirm that we had been hit by lightning. He said we were in bad need of an electrician. He said from the look of things there had been an explosion and we were lucky we didn’t have a fire. The electrician who arrived to repair the damage found that our electric panel had been blasted. Wires had the covers melted off of them and there were black, powdery looking streaks over and behind the breakers. He also said we were lucky we didn’t have a fire.
Existing without electricity certainly makes a person more appreciative. Luckily, we have great neighbors who allowed us to run an extension cord over the fence and hook up to their power until things here were back in working order. Thanks!!!! Brian and Dennis.
