BUDGET ISSUES ARE SO SIMPLE

If all we know about this year's failed Berkeley County budget was explained in today's Post and Courier article, wouldn't our life be simple?  Unfortunately, that is not a fact.  We continue to marvel at the ability of our local news media to repeatedly miss the point.  In today's article, the reporter seemed to think the inability of Berkeley County government to meet its obligation to Trident Tech was the only reason this budget failed. Well, with all due respect, there were many other unresolved issues that contributed to this debacle.

• One Councilman took offense at the fact that this administration wanted to more than double the funding for the Storm Water Management Program without any legitimate justification. One Councilman was thinking far enough ahead to know, if the increase in the SWMP was allowed to stand, in short order, a FEE would surely be imposed on the taxpayers of the unincorporated areas.
• Another Councilman didn't like the idea that over a MILLION DOLLARS was in one department's budget as a "place holder". Another $200,000 was in another department's budget "in case we need it".
• A number of Councilmen took offense that over TWO MILLION DOLLARS of appropriations was scattered throughout the departments, quoting no justification at all. 
• Some Councilmen disagreed with the fact that, in this budget, the Fund Balance exceeded its optimal 15% by over 9 % because the Supervisor "has plans for that money".
• Being as there were so many MILLIONS of dollars just floating around this budget, several Councilmen wanted the 29% of the confiscated property tax relief returned to the taxpayers.

Long and short of it, the FY 2012/2013 proposed budget for Berkeley County government was a disgrace.  MILLIONS of TAXPAYER DOLLARS were hidden in every crack and cranny throughout the document. Justifications for expenditures were laughable.  

This administration attempted to pull a fast one with this proposed budget. First, they provided Council members with a disk version instead of a hard copy.  When one tried to access the information on this disk, the documents appeared sideways on the screen.  Since the version provided no means of rotating the documents, one would have had to recline in order to read them. But, no one anticipated the fact that one nosey taxpayer would foot the bill to obtain a printed copy for analysis. 

Then, the administration orchestrated a dog and pony show in lieu of real "budget work shops".  This theatrical event presented only information that was favorable to the administration and denied information to Council members that would have generated the opportunity to ask specific questions about questionable issues. The "questionable issues" were conveniently avoided.  Then came the "readings".  During the discussion periods, damning information began to be exposed. It was painful to watch and listen as each morsel of "truth" was slowly extracted from reluctant members of the administration.

Finally, at Third Reading, an accurate picture of this administration's intent came into focus and the majority of the  members of County Council were not favorably impressed.  "NO", we do not want to continue to inflate the Fund Balance.  "NO", we do not want to increase the budget for the SWMP with no justification.  "NO", we do not want to demand that our constituents pay a new FEE in a few months. "NO", we do not agree with padding the budgets of all the County departments.  "NO", we refuse to violate our commitment to Trident Tech. "NO", we refuse to buy this pig in a poke.

We would like to thank the brave members of County Council who exercised their legal duty to the taxpayers of Berkeley County and voted "NO" to this monstrosity.  

NOTE:  Our special raspberry awards go to Mr. Call, Mr. Schurlknight, and Mr. Pinckney for voting FOR this document.